It's probably one of the best-known images of World War II, the enduring photograph that captures the last seconds of Leonard Siffleet's life.
The photograph came to light after US troops discovered it on the body of a dead Japanese officer near Hollandia in 1944.
Featured in various newspapers and in Life magazine, it was thought to depict Flight Lieutenant Bill Newton, who had been captured in Salamaua, Papua New Guinea, and was beheaded on March 29, 1943. Even today, the soldier is still occasionally misidentified as Newton.
The soldier, who would become known because of the circumstances of his death, was actually Leonard George "Len" Siffleet.
He was born on January 14, 1916, at Gunnedah, New South Wales, Australia. Siffleet, who loved sports and adventure, moved in the late 1930s to Sydney to search for work. He tried to join the police forces but was rejected for having poor eyesight.
Nevertheless, in August 1940 Siffleet was still called up for military service, and he served in a searchlight unit at Richmond Air Force Base for three months before returning to civilian life. Not long after in September 1941, he enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force and joined the 1st Division Signals Company at Ingleburn.
Leonard Siffleet went on a signals course at Melbourne Technical College before he volunteered for special operations in September 1942. He was posted to the Z Special unit. In October 1943 he went to the Z Experimental Station in Cairs, where he would receive further training.
Siffleet was promoted to sergeant on May 5, 1943, and he was assigned as a radio operator in his unit. Not long after his promotion he was transferred to M Special Unit and was sent to Hollandia, Papa New Guinea, with his fellow soldiers.
In mid-September 1943, while part of a team led by a Sergeant Staverman, which included two Ambonese members of the Netherlands East Indies Forces, a Private Pattiwahl and a Private Reharin, Siffleet was underway to Aitape while traveling behind Japanese lines. At some point in October 1943, they were discovered by New Guinea natives and surrounded. Siffleet fired on some of the attackers before fleeing, but he was quickly caught along with his companions.
The New Guinea natives turned them over to the Japanese troops. The men were taken to Malol, where they were brutally interrogated. After being interned there for two weeks, they were moved to Aitape.
On October 24, 1943, Sergeant Siffleet, Private Pattiwahl, and Private Reharin were marched to Aitape Beach. Bound and blindfolded, kneeling before a crowd of Japanese and native onlookers, they were forced to the ground and executed by beheading.
Vice Admiral Kamada, the commander of the Japanese Naval Forces at Aitape, ordered the execution. Yasuno Chikao, who carried out the beheadings, was sentenced to death after the war. The sentence was subsequently commuted to 10 years imprisonment as it was determined he had acted in a subordinate capacity.
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