Chronology of World War II
Sunday, October 24
Australian Commando Beheaded
On October 24, 1943, Australian commando Leonard Siffleet was beheaded on Aitape Beach in Papua New Guinea, along with two Ambonese, H. Pattiwal and M. Reharing. This photograph, of Japanese soldier Yasuno Chikao just before he struck, was taken from the body of a Japanese casualty later in the war.