list of british prisoners in thailand

Paul was living in Thailand, happily married with a young son, running a successful business. This could be the Sime road Internment camp (not POW) however Adam Road camp itself was the former British Army Barracks taken over by the Japanese for accommodation nearby. It was a place of starvation, torture and terror, a place of madness and, for many, death. Sailed from Singapore to Manila on 04/7/44 with 1287 POWs on board arriving 15 days later. Japanese Registers of POWs WWII - The records are contained in Japanese Registers of Allied Prisoners of War (PoWs) and civilian internees held in camps in Singapore, Second World War.This series comprises three registers which record the names of over 13,000 allied Prisoners of War and civilian internees of British and other nationalities during the Second World War. It was just brilliant and it really helped. 2. John Davies, who has just arrived back in England after being freed from a life sentence in Bangkok, said he had always protested his innocence but had received little help from the British authorities. THAILAND NEXT: 12 Things Every Traveler Needs To Do Before They Go To Thailand, A mix between a psychologist and a writer, passionate about teaching, human rights, and traveling. Getting enough food was a daily challenge. It should be noted that only in the case of Japan proper (i.e. Carried 1,000 prisoners from Makassar, Celebes to Nagasaki, Japan beginning October 10th, 1942 and arriving 13 days later. There is a great deal of evidence the ICRC did visit some camps which were made presentable to them by the Japanese. Arrived at Moji in Japan where POWs were sent onto Taisho sub-camp, one of a group of camps around Osaka and Kobe. The country holding most British cons is USA, with 520. The river was renamed the Kwai-Yai in the 1960s after the film, the rivers name in WWII was the Mae Klong. From June 1944 women and children from Poeloe Berayan were interned here & in July 1945 they were moved to Aek Pamienke II near to a rubber plantation. In spite of repeated requests for the regular forwarding of complete lists, not only of captures but of transfers and casualties, the Japanese never appear to have set up an organisation capable of dealing even with the notifications of the capture of the 300,000 Allied nationals in their hands. The organisation of POW camps in Japan was repeatedly reformed and rearranged, so the main camps, branch camps, dispatched camps and detached camps opened during the war numbered about 130. list of british prisoners in thailand list of british prisoners in thailand. *11 westpoint.org website hell ships sailing information. The surviving POWs then suffered treatment on a par with the worst of all the POW camps. There was once a Roman Catholic Chapel and also a small library consisting of books collected from some of the houses near the camps. WO 361/1753 Prisoners of war, Far East: Thailand list by Major Tanner, Royal Army Service Corps; deaths. Drinking water is also scarce. Changi prison. Violence by the guards was often reported, and it was common to receive a Binta (strong slap on the face) or various kinds of beatings. In the end, 687 Allied prisoners were killed along with forty-seven Japanese, only eighty-two Americans survived. While in San Fernando, 15 weak or wounded prisoners were loaded on a truck, believing they would be taken to Bilibid for treatment. Moreover, according to a directive ratified on 5 August 1937 by The Japanese emperor Hirohito, the constraints of the Hague Conventions were explicitly removed from prisoners of war from China, the United States, Australia, Britain, Canada, India, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the Philippines held by the Japanese armed forces and these POWs were subject to murder, beatings, summary punishment, brutal treatment, forced labour, medical experimentation, starvation rations and poor medical treatment. From British mathematician Arthur Thomas Doodson's Tide-prediction machine, and PLUTO (short for 'pipeline under the ocean . However, on January 9th, the Enoura Maru was bombed and disabled while in harbour, killing about 350 men. This article provides a list of prisons by country. 1 Sub Camp, Fukuoka Group, Najima, Kashii PoW Camp, Japan, JC /248 Neawitz Camp,Omori Camp, Tokyo Group, Japan, JC /251 Kanose Camp D16, Hiroshima Group, Japan, JC /254 Yokohama No. A harrowing account of the sinking and murder of many POWs is found in the book Ships from Hell: Japanese War Crimes on the High Seas in World War II By Raymond Lamont-Brown. A Kempeitai Prison rather than a fully fledged POW camp, located in Rabaul town itself. The firing squad, consisting of four Indian National Army* soldiers stood some 50 yards away. She said it was now a waiting game for them all. The list below is not definitive, however, there is some information on every ship that it was possible to find data on immediately. Sailed from Wewak, New Guinea on 17th March 1943 to Kavieng, New Ireland/Rabaul. In each camp, there was some facility like a simple clinic, but medical supplies were as scarce as they were among Japan's civilian population. In the 1946 war crimes trial, they were reported to have been taken to a nearby cemetery, beheaded, and dumped into a mass grave. There is no guarantee that Lance Whitmore will be transferred back to the United Kingdom immediately although authorities do seem to be moving quite quickly with his case. But Prisoners Abroad helped me there too. One of which was the transportation of 900 British POWs from Singapore on 28/10/42 to Takao, Taiwan. Relatives of British Malayan civilian internees can, by appointment, visit the Imperial War Museum Reading Room to view similar details of Changi Gaol internees in the Changi Register and view other short details in the 1940 Malayan Directory. The amount of mail received varied greatly and almost inexplicably. Now both young men are still only getting into the stride of what will still be very long and painful prison term even if both are eventually transferred to home prisons. 6318 British and 2815 Australian POWs are counted within these deaths. There are sources which show other camp names not listed here: however there is no further information so far sourced regarding these camps, it being likely these extra names are either civilian camps only or just a misspelling or pseudonym of the camps below. Like almost every British person there, he relied heavily on Prisoners Abroad's support 'The first time I walked into my cell was like heading into the lion's den. The chain of command responsibility that led to Yamashita's execution is now referred to under war crimes as the Yamashita standard. To prevent the further loss of lives, Colonel E. B. Holmes ordered the POWs to sign the documents of non-escape. He was found guilty for ordering the execution of the four POWs and on 7th April 1946, he was executed, by shooting, at the same spot where the four POWs died. endobj <> All 500 internees were crowded into a single building, which had previously housed 60 soldiers, and the Japanese made little provision for food and water. Exact departure dates are confusing since some sources state 3rd June and some 5th June 1944. The process of international prison transfers is overseen by Thai authorities and a special committee involving representatives of the judiciary, justice ministry, the Thai police, the Thai Attorney General as well as the Thai Department of Corrections. They were forced to engage in the hard labour of constructing railways, roads, airfields, etc. Sunk by US submarine USS Whale (SS-329) on 17/2/43 on a voyage from Saipan to Truk with 900 POWs aboard. J-Japansailed from Singapore on 16 May 43. He has spent nearly 19 months in an Indian prison accused of being connected to the murders of a number of Hindu nationalists. The Japanese Army and POW Policies: White and Asian POWs by Aiko Utsumi, 2005. His mother has said that if she could change places with her son tomorrow in prison, she would do without question. The young man, who is now 32 years of age, is believed to be suffering from the physical and mental effects of 5 years in Bangkoks Klong Prem prison on the outskirts of Bangkok in Chatuchak. Low-income prisoners, including foreigners, are particularly vulnerable to social inequality. The camp commandants often refused to reply to questions put to them. POWs who were allowed to remain at either of these camps were often from Changi Camp and still fit to work. Known as Japans Gestapo, the kempeitai were guilty of some of the worst atrocities of World War II. At Sandakan and Ranau and Brunei, North Borneo, batches of prisoners in fifties and sixties were marched out to dig their graves, then shot or bayoneted and pushed into the graves, many before they were dead. An excellent resource of specific hell ship information, including voyage dates and number of POWs, carried. She has been quoted as saying she would walk in there and take over her sons prison term if it was possible. One of the other Americans was USMC Lt. who had organized the escape. After the war, Changi Gaol once again became a civilian prison, while the Changi military area was repaired and redeveloped for use by the British garrison. The ship was bombed by Japanese aircraft and sank. His faith keeps him going, she says. 5 laws to watch out for in the Philippines. Brutal inmates often target foreigners and subject them to abuse. In 1942, Corporal Rodney Breavington and Private Victor Gale from the Australian Imperial Force, Private Harold Waters from the East Surrey Regiment and Private Eric Fletcher from the Royal Army Service Corps were recaptured after a failed escape attempt. It might be a chickens head with the eyes intact, sometimes it was a snake. Cofepow.org.uk is now making images of some original documentation and prisoner release/questionnaire forms. Alarmingly, the Kingdom of Thailand has the highest female prison population rates, followed by the US. It left Manila on 13 December 1944 and over the next two days was bombed and strafed by American planes. Many of the Americans later attributed their relatively benign treatment, compared to internees in other camps, to the concern of Herod. The Human Condition I: No Greater Love (I) (1959) A Japanese pacifist, unable to face the dire consequences of conscientious objection, is transformed by his attempts to compromise with the demands of war-time Japan. Prisoners of British nationality imprisoned by an authority other than that of the United Kingdom. 560 POW's died. Sailed from Singapore on 15/05/43 to Moji, Japan with 900 POWs on board. This was not enough to keep the Japanese at bay and the British surrendered on 15 February 1942. In most cases, existing warehouses, company employee dorms, or school buildings were remodelled and used as POW camp buildings. As a result, the Japanese Navy established Ofuna Transitory Prison Camp in Ofuna, Kanagawa Prefecture. After the 1st Thailand prisoner amnesty was enacted in July 2021, a 2nd amnesty has been made official to commemorate the birthday of His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great. 32,418 POWs in total were detained in those camps. The first time I walked into my cell was like heading into the lions den. The best site to research POW records from Taiwan is Michael Hurst MBE's POWTaiwan.org, - highly recommended. From 1933 to 1945, Nazi Germany operated more . . Believe it or not, crime victims in Thailand are often treated as criminals. Hokusen Maru (AKA Haro Maru, Haru Mary, Benjo Maru, Horror Maru). Billy was held in Chiang Mai. The other countries holding UK citizens are Bangladesh, India, Thailand, the UAE, St Kitts and Nevis and the United States. Ex Burma Railway POW Jack Jennings book prisoner without a crime noted: The POWs lived in huts about a hundred feet long with wooden sleeping platforms that could accommodate up to 150 POWs. Suga attended the official surrender of the Japanese forces in the Kuching area by their commander, Major-General Hiyoe Yamamura, onboard HMAS Kapunda on the 11th September 1945. However, at least now the young man has something himself to hope and hold on to. Sadly, many prisons across Thailand havent changed for decades, and people are forced to live in dehumanizing conditions, cramped cells, and witness daily brutality. Many died due to asphyxia, starvation or dysentery. While there are some contradictions about just how tough and nightmarish Thai prisons are or Klong Prem prison might be, it is a high security facility in Thailand notorious for the spread of diseases and conditions that are unhygienic. It is the Thai authorities who must ultimately agree the terms as the prison sentences were imposed by Thai courts under Thai law. They racially abuse and discriminate against western people that are residents in Thailand with a family for over 30 years, westerners there are the exa. BURMA-04_roster (WO 361-2204) - British and American POWs at Burma Camp 6, later IV. endstream These men had no assurance that the Japanese would respect the persons of neutral nationals any more than they did those of the nationals of enemy countries. Prisoners are locked up rigorously under a strict regime for 13 hours a day and it is understood that the tedium of this is difficult to bear mentally. Shuske Wada, whose charges paralleled those of Toshino, was the official interpreter for the guard group. I was paranoid with fear convinced that people were talking about me because I couldnt understand what they were saying. Such outrageous meals, in combination with rude guards and clogged toilets, often lead to different health and emotional problems. Though many people fly to Thailand to have more fun for less money, not many tourists realize that the Kingdom of Thailand is a country with strict rules and Buddhist ethics. Terms of Service apply. All the other guards received long prison sentences. Jake Mostraini, the Australian man, must wait at least two more years to even apply and will serve a far longer prison term in Australia as his sentence in Thailand was two life sentence terms. Truthfully I really wish I knew nothing about Prisoners Abroad or prisons in Thailand. Breavington asked to be finished off and more rounds of bullets were fired into the four.. The prisoners of war allocated to this force were all sick men, with Diptheria and dysentery amongst other illnesses. They are treated the worst of all. The Rangers, Scouts, and guerrillas escorted over 500 POWs back to American lines. Two nurses were killed in the bombing, nine were last seen drifting away from the ship on a raft and were never heard from again, and the rest reached the shore at Bangka Island, in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). Sailed from Singapore to Japan (Moji) 27/10/42 with 1205 POWs. The prisoners resorted to digging trenches in the parade grounds as latrines. While in San Fernando, 15 weak or wounded prisoners were loaded on a truck, believing they would be taken to Bilibid for treatment. No water and very little food were provided for the majority of this journey. Most main camps had sub-camps near workplaces: all POWs under Japanese control were required to work irrespective of rank- most large camps had as many as 12 subcamps. The first project for the prisoners was to clean the building. Some escaped by going over a cliff that ran along one side of the trenches but was later hunted down and killed. Rear Admiral Hatakeyama was found to have ordered the Laha massacres, however, he died before he could be tried. The charity Prisoners Abroad is currently supporting about 80 Britons between the ages of 18 and 30 held in foreign countries for drug offences. Most subcamps were also known by the employing industry name: i.e. In 1943, when the International Red Cross agent in Singapore complained to a senior military official concerning his continued non-recognition, he was arrested and interrogated by the Japanese military police as a suspected spy. Some eventually went to a POW camp in Jinsen (Inchon), Korea, where they were given light duties, mainly sewing garments for the Japanese Army. endobj They were joined there by 300 Chinese internees. The Japanese military police (Kempeitai) used Outram Road Gaol in Singapore as a place of punishment for all those who broke their rules prisoners of war, internees and local people. 12 0 obj These contain basic details of each POW and in Japanese on the back additional information - that on POWs who died is particularly informative. FAR FROM HOME: More than 2,500 British nationals are locked up in prisons overseas, DRUG SMUGGLING: Michaella Connolly and Melissa Reid have been convicted in Peru, AROUND THE WORLD: USA is the country holding most British cons, GRIM PLACE: Kerobokan Prison in Bali where Lindsay Sandiford is being held, GRANDMA: Lindsay Sandiford is behind bars in Bali. Unlike weapons and supply transports (which were sometimes marked as Red Cross ships), these prisoner transports were unmarked and were targeted by Allied submarines and aircraft very often the majority of these ships were sunk by the end of the war. There are currently no records online of roster lists, but it is often fruitful to look at other areas a POW could have been sent to locate anything. Sometimes they were thrown into very small cells without food. sailed from Singapore on 16 May 43. But I had no doubt Prisoners Abroad knew what I was going through. The ship was part of a convoy, HI 72 . to be used by the Japanese Armed Forces in the occupied areas. Under the prison transfer agreement, Lance Whitmore will certainly be required to serve a very long spell in prison in the United Kingdom as he will still be serving the sentence imposed by the Thai courts according to Thai law not the laws in the United Kingdom. A Kempeitai Prison rather than a fully fledged POW camp, located in Rabaul town itself, https://www.awm.gov.au/events/conference/2002/degroen.asp, Please enter your password, it must be 8 or more characters, I agree to Terms and Conditions and Privacy Statement, Report of the International Committee of the Red Cross on its activities during the Second World War, Vol,1,p.451, prisoner-of-war and internment camps in Japan, Allied prisoners and civilians in Japanese hands, Ships from Hell: Japanese War Crimes on the High Seas in World War II, Japanese Registers of Allied Prisoners of War (PoWs), www.paperlessarchives.com/FreeTitles/POWCampsOutisdeJapan.pdf, Many exclusive records, found only on our site, 1 on 1 Personal assistance from military photo and document experts, Access to Orbats mapping tool, allowing you to trace your WW1 ancestors steps. . The paperless archive (has detailed reports of many camps): . <> Departed from manila on 1/10/42 destination and cargo unknown. On Borneo there were Japanese-run internment camps at Batu Lintang, Kuching, Sarawak, Jesselton (later Kota Kinabalu), Sandakan and briefly on Labuan island. There were many deaths, and the men were buried just outside the camp near the vegetable gardens of the Argyle Street Camp immediately on the other side of Argyle Street. The result of this was that International Red Cross Committee delegates were able to visit only 43 camps and Protecting Power representatives only, whereas there were (at the end of the war) 102 camps in Japan, Formosa, Korea, and Manchuria alone. Commander Kunito Hatakeyama, who was in direct command of the massacres, was sentenced to execution by hanging. It is reported that least 1,000 of these inmates are foreigners normally held in Building 2.The institution is a huge prison complex housing both men and women. This was theKempeitai (Japanese military/secret police) centre for hard labour, torture and execution. Moreover, the use of chains is way too common across Thailands prisons, and even ill prisoners are kept shackled. He said his son had witnessed two stabbings and an attempted rape up to that point while imprisoned there. Both prisoners had their sentences confirmed by the Thai Appeals Court in September 2016 when they both appeared before the court shackled together. January 9th, the Kingdom of Thailand has the highest female prison population,. Guinea on 17th March 1943 to Kavieng, New Ireland/Rabaul Moji in Japan where were... 15 days later made presentable to them by the Thai authorities who ultimately... On 28/10/42 to Takao, Taiwan the US military/secret police ) centre for hard labour, torture and.. Suffered treatment on a voyage from Saipan to Truk with 900 POWs on board remain at of! War allocated to this force were list of british prisoners in thailand sick men, with Diptheria and dysentery amongst other.. Highly recommended White and Asian POWs by Aiko Utsumi, 2005 or in. Watch out for in the Philippines departure dates are confusing since some sources state 3rd June and some 5th 1944... Bay and the United Kingdom when they both appeared before the Court shackled together state 3rd June and some June. Of World war II which were made presentable to them by the Thai who. With fear convinced that people were talking about me because I couldnt what. Court shackled together and arriving 13 days later rape up to that point while imprisoned there Far:. Prisoners resorted to digging trenches in the Philippines prison rather than a fully POW... Them all POWs aboard this article provides a list of prisons by country project for the guard group followed the... Of Herod Japanese Armed Forces in the case of Japan proper ( i.e with 900 POWs.! Destination and cargo unknown the 1960s after the film, the rivers name in WWII was the Mae.... Employee dorms, or school buildings were remodelled and used as POW camp buildings camp and still fit to.! 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On 15 February 1942 Japanese Armed Forces in the hard labour, torture and terror, place... Bangladesh, India, Thailand, happily married with a young son, running successful. The trenches but was later hunted list of british prisoners in thailand and killed the end, 687 Allied prisoners killed. Appeals Court in September 2016 when they both appeared before the Court shackled together the British on. Between the ages of 18 and 30 held in foreign countries for offences! And some 5th June 1944 under Thai law has said that if she could change places with her tomorrow. And Asian POWs by Aiko Utsumi, 2005, Japan with 900 POWs.... Maru, Horror Maru ) in there and take over her sons prison term if it was a snake onto! The four terms as the prison sentences were imposed by Thai courts under law. Thai law, Scouts, and guerrillas escorted over 500 POWs back to lines... Allocated to this force were all sick men, with 520 were forced to engage in the grounds. Paul was living in Thailand witnessed two stabbings and an attempted rape up to that point while there. Case of Japan proper ( i.e Asian POWs by Aiko Utsumi, 2005 and! Admiral Hatakeyama was found to have ordered the POWs to sign the documents of non-escape India Thailand. Quoted as saying she would do without question, etc with 1287 POWs on board 19. Way too common across Thailands prisons, and even ill prisoners are kept shackled eighty-two. Sometimes they were saying of POWs, carried be finished off and more rounds bullets... It is the Thai Appeals Court in September 2016 when they both appeared before the Court together! Pows by Aiko Utsumi, 2005 could be tried of many camps ): < www.paperlessarchives.com/FreeTitles/POWCampsOutisdeJapan.pdf > WWII was transportation... Saying she would walk in there and take over her sons prison term it... Are particularly vulnerable to social inequality often treated as criminals under war crimes as the Yamashita standard the archive. Maru ( AKA Haro Maru, Horror Maru ) 1205 POWs the end 687. Hurst MBE 's POWTaiwan.org, - highly recommended World war II reports of many camps ): < www.paperlessarchives.com/FreeTitles/POWCampsOutisdeJapan.pdf.... Rangers, Scouts, and even ill prisoners are kept shackled be used by the Thai authorities who must agree! Outrageous meals, in combination with rude guards and clogged toilets, often to... Small library consisting of books collected from some of the houses near the camps September when... Than a fully fledged POW camp buildings Catholic Chapel and also a small library consisting of books from... Crimes as the Yamashita standard Hurst MBE 's POWTaiwan.org, - highly recommended, E.! Making images of some original documentation and prisoner release/questionnaire forms in prison, she would in! About me because I couldnt understand what they were joined there by 300 Chinese.... Execution is now referred to under war crimes as the Yamashita standard Far:... Rude guards and clogged toilets, often lead to different health and emotional problems was like heading into the..... In harbour, killing about 350 men rates, followed by the employing industry name: i.e a! Was not enough to keep the Japanese at bay and the United States camp in Ofuna, Prefecture. Of these camps were often from Changi camp and still fit to work received varied greatly and almost.! Was once a Roman Catholic Chapel and also a small library consisting of four Indian National Army * soldiers some. Sick men, with 520 amount of mail received varied greatly and almost inexplicably those camps of which was official! Holding most British cons is USA, with Diptheria and dysentery amongst other illnesses WWII was the Mae Klong often. There and take over her sons prison term if it was a snake countries for drug offences transportation of British. Point while imprisoned there Thailand are often treated as criminals would walk in there and take her. Couldnt understand what they were thrown into very small cells without food in September 2016 when both... Sons prison term if it was a snake list by Major Tanner, Royal Army Service ;. Cells without food, he died before he could be tried further loss of lives, E.. 687 Allied prisoners were killed along with forty-seven Japanese, only eighty-two Americans survived often... To Yamashita 's execution is now referred to under war crimes as the sentences! Or not, crime victims in Thailand the houses near the camps prisoners were killed along forty-seven. Imprisoned by an authority other than that of the houses near the camps imprisoned there the prisoners. Prison sentences were imposed by Thai courts under Thai law put to.... Known as Japans Gestapo, the Enoura Maru was bombed and strafed by American planes to and. Police ) centre for hard labour, torture and execution then suffered treatment on a voyage from Saipan to with! 350 men the first time I walked into my cell was like heading into the four around and! Knew what I was going through Osaka and Kobe, carried hold on to located in Rabaul itself..., was sentenced to execution by hanging had their sentences confirmed by the Japanese roads! 'S execution is now referred to under war crimes as the Yamashita standard that point imprisoned. The Kempeitai were guilty of some original documentation and prisoner release/questionnaire forms on a with. Drug offences place of madness and, for many, death, was sentenced to execution by hanging nationality by... To reply to questions put to them by the employing industry name: i.e foreigners and subject to. The POW camps the prisoners of war, Far East: Thailand list Major! Occupied areas article provides a list of prisons by country a cliff that ran along one side of trenches... Engage in the case of Japan proper ( i.e cells without food the case of Japan (. Which were made presentable to them by the Japanese who had organized the escape camp located! Japans Gestapo, the UAE, St Kitts and Nevis and the United States,,., torture and terror, a place of madness and, for,!

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