On 1 September 1945, five Japanese barges, flying the white surrender flag, approached the Australian frigate, HMAS Barcoo to hand over Indian POWs they were releasing to the Allies.
Barcoo and two US PT Boats kept a rendezvous with the Japanese off the coast of Miti Island near Halmahera Island, when 153 Indian POWs were handed over. These 153 Indians were part of a group of 211 men who had been captured in Singapore. Of the original group, 44 died from various causes, 16 were beheaded by order of the Japanese camp commandant and 8 escaped and were still out in the hills.
Captain W F Burton, a British officer in the Indian Army officially received the Indians from a senior Japanese officer. The ship's company looked on in grim silence as the five Japanese barges brought the sick and starving Indians to the ship. Many suffered from beriberi, dysentry and semi-starvation. Medical staff were ready to treat the men as soon as they came on board the Allied ships.