On 5 August 1944 Japanese prisoners of war (POWs) housed in the detention camp in Cowra, New South Wales staged an outbreak. The camp contained around 4000 POWs held in four separate 17-acre compounds. At approximately 2.00am, 378 Japanese prisoners armed themselves with improvised weapons including clubs, bats and sharpened mess knifes. They breached the perimeter, enabling their escape from the camp. This was the first and only escape of its kind on Australian soil.

A Military Court of Inquiry drew several conclusions from the incident. Firstly, conditions at the camp were fully in accordance with the International Convention. Secondly, no complaints regarding treatment had been made by or on behalf of the Japanese prior to the incident. Thirdly, the actions of the Australian garrison in resisting the attack averted greater loss of life, and that firing ceased as soon as control was assured. Finally, many of the dead had died by suicide or by the hand of other prisoners, and that many of the wounded had suffered self-inflicted wounds.

The incident lasted 10 days and resulted in the death of 231 Japanese prisoners with a further 108 wounded. Four Australian soldiers were killed in the event with two being posthumously awarded the George Cross, the highest civil decoration for heroism. A Japanese war cemetery was established by agreement with the Japanese government in 1964. It now contains the remains of all Japanese POWs and civilian internees who died during their imprisonment in World War II.