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All the Information in the ‘FEPOW Family’ belongs to the writer and are not ‘Public Domain’. Permission must be obtained before any part is copied or used.
Serving Country
Royal Corps of Signals
Far East History
Far East Prisoners of War
by
Compiled by Ronnie Taylor
Keeping their Candle Burning
Having now acquired land and the essential properties that the land brought them, the Japanese too had obtained prisoners of war, and potential slave labour to be used, not only in the place of capture but to be transported overland and sea to places they were needed.
Transporting oversea would bring the danger of being intercepted a real threat, but go ahead they did. One of the earliest transportations was on the Lisbon Maru from Hong Kong containing many Hong Kong Signals.
Oversea Transports (Hell Ships):-
Lisbon Maru:- Sunk 1942/10/01 by USS Grouper. 49 RCOS deaths.
Singapore Maru:- 1942/11/19 on route. 1 RCOS death
Suez Maru:- Sunk 1943/11/29 by USS Bonefish. 16 RCOS deaths. (Some of those who died were machine gunned by the Japanese in the water)
Tamahoko Maru:- Sunk 1944/06/24 by USS Tang. 6 RCOS deaths
Harugiku Maru:- Sunk 1944/06/26 by HMS Trucilent. 2 RCOS deaths
Hofuku Maru:- Sunk 1944/07/04 by US Aircraft. 55 RCOS deaths
Kachidoki Maru:- Sunk 1944/09/12 by US Pampanito. 20 RCOS deaths
Rakuyo Maru:- Sunk 1944/09/12 by USS Sealion. 21 RCOS deaths
Full story:- https://www.roll-of-honour.org.uk/Hell_Ships/
Overland to Thailand:-
The most appalling number of deaths were within the work parties sent overland to Thailand to construct a railway line from Nong Pladuk, Thailand to Thanbyuzayat, Burma. The Japanese wanted the line finished quickly as it was to be the supply line for the Japanese troops in Burma. The guards applied more force than the PoWs could take, making it a living nightmare with thousands of unnecessary deaths.
Thailand/Burma Railway:- Work Parties. 447 RCOS deaths
Full story:- https://www.fepow.family/Articles/Death_Railway/
Japanese Atrocities
Many guards were very brutal and many were taken to court and hanged after the war for the atrocities committed.
Sandakan:- When compiling the Java Index it was noted that many of the British prisoners captured in Java, died at Sandakan, North Borneo. After reading Sandakan - A Conspiracy of Silence by Lynette Ramsay Silver and The Last March by Don Wall, this was confirmed. Using these valuable sources of information these pages were formed with the help of the Commonwealth War Graves.
There were only six survivors out of the almost 2500 Australian and British imprisoned at Sandakan so the records are not very detailed, but it is hoped they will help those who lost loved ones.
The RCOS are among those who died at Sandakan or on the Sandakan Marches, 30 lost their lives.
Full story:- https://www.roll-of-honour.org.uk/atrocities/sandakan/
Labuan Party:- The 300 PoWs in the Labuan Party met the same fate as those at Sandakan, none of the 300 PoWs survived. There were 11 RCOS deaths.
Full story:- https://www.roll-of-honour.org.uk/Atrocities/Labuan_Party/
600 Gunners Party:- The Gunners 600 Party included 126 officers and men from the 35th’s 144 Battery, 7 Coast Regt., 9 Coast Regt., 11 Coast Regt., 3 Heavy Ak. Ak., 5th Searchlights and the Hong Kong Singapore Artillery. There was also a few from Royal Army Medical, Royal Corps of Signals and Service Corps. On reaching Rabaul 512 were sent to Ballale Island, none survived. There were 2 RCOS amongst those who died.
Full story:- https://www.roll-of-honour.org.uk/atrocities/600_Gunners_Party/
These are but three atrocities committed by the Japanese. Amongst those who survived the war my father lived with recurring nightmares which never went away.
God Bless them all.
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