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Martin Squires email sent 18/02

Roel, The Japanese on Java decided to send 3.700 Pow"s to construct 3 airfields on neighbouring "islands".
1,700 to Haruku for Palao Airfield, 1,000 to Ceram for Amahei Airfield and 1,000 to Ambon for Liang Airfield.
His Index Card seems to state he had entered a hospital on 15.08.42 for a skin disease, which I assume was clear enough to release him. Then on 30.08.43 he suffered "onset of disease", and died on 09.09.43 with it recorded as Bacillary Dysentery. He was indeed buried at Batoedora Cemetery at Liang , at Low level Base , Ambon District.
I cannot see anything connecting him to Haruku Camp.

Dear Sir
Trying to find information on 1196580 AC2 Norman Griffith JONES, RAF. FEPOW index card has him captured March 8th 1942 and in a camp in Java, in CWGC his record shows him buried in Ambon War Cemetery, having died September 9th 1943. Any and all further information welcome.
Furthermore I noticed the lad was originally buried in Batoe Doea (Liang) Cemetery. Would it be correct to assume that he was in a POW-camp nearby? Most references mention Haruku POW-camp but Haruku seems to be the next island in the row, while Batoe Doea and Liang seem to be places on Ambon island?
Thank you very much and best regards from Belgium

Andrea. .. William Wood (Billie), VX 22572, 2/2nd Pioneer Btl, AIF. Taken prisoner on Java, 08.03.1942. Transported to Singapore as part of "Java Party 5A" on the Singapore Maru. Arriving Changi on 17.10.42. I believe he remained in Singapore until 07.01.1943 when he was sent by train to Penang, Malaya. He was then herded onto the "Moji Maru" and sailed to Moulmein, Burma. This hellship was sailing along with "Nichimei Maru" and both were attacked by B24s. The Nichimei was sunk with 935 Dutch Pow"s. Upon arrival at Moulmein were sent to various camps in small groups of 20 men. William died at 80 KILO Camp of dysentery and ulcers. Reburied after the war.

My Great Uncle, Ronald Flint DOB 9th May 1921 was in Singapore when it fell to the Japanese and was taken prisoner. I have been unable to find any record of where he was held etc. Any information would be much appreciated. He was living in Luton when he enlisted and I believe he was in the RAF.

Looking for any information on: William Alfred Wood, AIF, Service No: 22572 Died 29/08/1943 buried at Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery. Thank you

Information on
Owen Frank Smart, Cpl RAF 534719
Died Changi POW camp 31/03/1943
Thanks

Hi Julia. Reference your Grandfather, Owen Thomas, of HMS Exeter. Unfortunately I have only found three mentions of his name, and certainly not enough information to put his story together.
He did complete a Liberation Questionnaire upon his release, which gives us his service number
D/JX 177484. This form gives us the details that he was taken prisoner on March 2nd 1942 when HMS Exeter was sunk during the second battle of the Java Sea. He records that he was taken to the prison camp on Makassar, and then actually stayed there for the whole of the war. His Liberation Q also shows that he was indeed only 17yrs 5 mth upon capture and that he enlisted in Jan. 1940 when he was only 15 yr 4 mth. Wow!!. His rank in the navy was "BOY", the rank for everyone until their 18th birthday. His Japanese Index card is incomplete on the front so offers no information, the rear has an entry stating "September 1st 1945 incarcerated at Makassar Detention Camp." A second entry states "September 27th 1945 (date unclear) handed to allied forces". Let me know if you want copies of file emailed showing his name.

Looking for information on my Grandfather Frederick Jones NX44774.
Investigation on my own, there has been confusion between 2 POWs with the same name.
My grandfather was in 2/19th Btn and the other 2/18th Btn .
Tracking he"s where abouts as a POW the only things I can confirm is he was captured in Singapore, D Force and spent time in Changi and camp 4
Can you help with his ware abouts while he was a POW.
Thanks, in advance for any information you can provide.

Hi Stewart. Reference A/C 1 Graham Lait, service number 1068929. a very difficult one to search with a lot of contradicting information. Hopefully some facts will be of use to you. His Japanese Index Card shows him as a member of 605 Squadron, and his Liberation Questionnaire show him as originally based at RAF Sho-Kuantan in Malaya. It would appear that he was only there for a matter of weeks or even days, before relocating to Singapore. Soon after the squadron was used for the evacuation of Sumatra to Java. As an A/C1 there is a strong possibility these facts may not apply, in the utter confusion of the area leading up to capitulation. What is known as a fact is that he was taken prisoner at Garoet , Java, on 20th March 1942. He then spent the war in 7 different camps.
Boei Glodok, Batavia Mar 42-Feb 43.. Tandjong Priok, Batavia Feb-May 43. .. Then sent to Liang, Ambon May 43-May 44, recognised as one of the most brutal of all camps, run by Japanese Marines... Mater Dolorosa St.Vincentius Hospital Camp, Batavia Jun 44- Sept 44 ... Cycle Camp, Batavia Sep 44-May 45... Bandung May-Aug 45 ... Cycle Camp Aug-Sep 45. His Index Card, written in Japanese, states "27th October 1945, second extradition by the United Nations Army" This may have been a delayed liberation due to the Indonesian Uprising, or merely poor record keeping.

hi i was wondering if you have any information on my Grandfather Owen Meredith Thoma who was taken as a pow when HMS Exeter was hit,he was 17 at the time.Isaw his name on a list once but have been unable to find it again,many thanks

Hello,
I am looking for info about my father Graham Lait, Aircraftman First Class who died in 1960 when I was 9 so I didn"t get to talk to him about his PoW experience. I understand he was one of the 1200 men of Liang, of whom only 200 returned from building an airfield to the east of the Indonesian archipelago. FEPoW have not been able to help.

Chloe Dawn ..............check email for more information.

Does anyone have information please on my grandparents, Bill and Maud Miller, who were captured by the Japanese whilst he was the manager of a rubber plantation in Java? Many thanks.

Hello - I"m not sure if I can gain anything from this but my grandad was named William James Dawn & he was a POW in Japan & released after so long. I have very little to go off but have some photographs of gentlemen in his camp

Hi there I am searching for any photos or information regarding James Davidson Ballingall QX18527
Any information would be appreciated. Kindest regards :)

HI Amanda, reference Joseph Towner. I am sure I am not able to provide any additional information to that within the bunch of paperwork you have been supplied with. Service number of 38012227 , and serving with the 200th Coast Artillery Regiment. He enlisted into the army on March 22nd 1941, at Santa Fe, New Mexico, declaring his occupation as Farm Hand. It appears he was missing in action/killed in action on the recorded date of April 9th 1942 which I believe is only day 1 of the Bataan Death March. This suggests he was killed in the Battle of Bataan rather than the March. There are 4 files in the Philippines National Archives for 200th Coast, but I cannot see his name recorded.

I"m looking for grandchildren of Jan Berg (John Berg) born 1916 in The Hague. Thanks for sharing his story!

Mike, thank you so much for your help in our search for further information on Andrew Clark Walker. We are really grateful for the time you took to answer our query. You are providing a really wonderful service. The information you provide is so useful. Thank you again. Lorna

Paul, re Gunner Arthur Cooling, 12 Coast Regiment, 24 Battery. As Arthur was a Hong Kong POW my knowledge is very limited, and can I suggest to contact the expert who is Tony Banham. His website is http://www.hongkongwardiary.com/hkwdhome.html. He welcomes enquiries and his email is listed on his homepage. Some brief details are that he was imprisoned in Shamshuipo on HK until sent to Japan probably on the Maru Shi on 3/9/42, arriving 11/9/42. Sent into Tokyo 1 camp, shipyard, which seems to have had several names depending on which building you were in. Shinacawa and Omori as listed on his liberation questionnaire maybe the same place. On 31/5/45 he was transferred to Sendai 10B, where he remained until liberation. His Japanese Index Card states he was liberated from Shiogama Port on 14/9/45 to the safekeeping of US Major Price. Although I have not located the paperwork giving names, most of the Sendai POWs were taken onto the Hospital Ship USS Rescue. They were then taken to Yokohama. A second ship then took them to Okinawa, and a third ship or flight took them to Manila. I then find his name again as he boards the HMS Implacable on 25/9/45 as passenger 99, and sailed to Vancouver, arriving 11/10/45. Many from the Implacable are known to have then crossed Canada on a 5 day train journey to Halifax, and boarded the Ile de France for Southampton.

My father (George Towner) was just recently contacted by the military regarding his uncle Joseph Towner, they sent a bunch of paperwork and in that paperwork it said he died during the death march of Bataan April 9, 1942. His body was never recovered. This might be a long shot but I just thought id see if there was anymore info on him since my dad and his side of the family is shrouded in mystery bc we don"t have much info on them. Thanks in advance!

Andy.Ward. We cant start without a name. Please repost. first/middle/surname. If you know any of the following it might help- date of birth/where born/where lived/. Army/navy/airforce.?

Good Afternoon and would be grateful for any
information held for my Great Uncle Arthur
COOLING who was POW in Sendai camp. Gunner in
Royal Artillery Service Number 875704

Hi 
My Grandad was a prisoner of war and was made to work on the “ railway of death “
I was hoping to find some information about him 
I have his medals but not his service number
Can you help at all
Thank You in advance
Andy Ward

Lorna, I don"t have much information on Andrew, but hope it may lead you to searching in the right direction for further detail. Driver for Royal Corps of Signals is correct and service number 140357. He was attached to the 77 Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment (77HAA) on Java and was taken captive on 08/03/1942. (Not 1943). On his Liberation Questionnaire (Gratitude to Cofepow) he lists he was taken captive at Garot but I believe it was actually Garoet, where 77HAA had been sent to protect the airfield. His prisons are listed as Garoet, Tangong Priok and then about 20/4/43 he sailed for Ambon. This was known to be a treacherous place as it was under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Marines and their brutality,starvation, and inhumane actions were extreme, as they sought revenge for the sinking of their minesweeper. On 1/5/44 he returned to mainland Java and to the capital Batavia where he remained until his liberation on 20/8/45. However, on the rear of his Japanese Index Card (prisoner card) it states "27/10/45 Extradition carried out". His delayed release may have been the result of the uprising immediately post war against the Dutch.