Source: NARA Record Group 331, Box 942; Mansell NARA 7

WALTER NORMAN RILEY make oath and says:

I am a medical practitioner and hold the degrees -M.R.C.S. L.R.C.P (Lond). My permanent home address is now No 649, Leeds Road, Bradford, and I am the assistant to Dr. David Black.
I have been qualified as a doctor since July, 1937.

On the 19th March, 1940, I volunteered for service with the Royal Air Force and was called up on the 28th January, 1941. I was granted a Commission as Flying Officer.

I left Nagoya Prisoner of War Camp [Narumi] on the 10th May, 1945 and proceeded by ordinary passenger train, along with 300 British prisoners of War to Toyama Prisoner of War Camp, Toyama, Japan. I produce the nominal roll of the prisoners who went on this journey. [scanned but not transcribed]

We traveled in ordinary passenger coaches, and we were very over crowded. The journey took several hours.

I was the only officer at Toyama. This camp, I was informed, was originally a summer camp for missionaries. This camp was built on the outskirts of the town, adjacent to a factory. It was of solid construction, and had been fitted up to accommodate prisoners of war much the same lines as the other camp at Nagoya. The usual sleeping arrangements were provided, but the men were accommodated in smaller rooms, on the average between 25 to 30 men per room. The camp was built of brick.

The food and clothing in all intents and purposes were exactly the same as at Nagoya. We had slightly more supplies of fresh fish, but less fresh vegetables.
The sanitation was better that in that the lavatories were tiled and easy to keep clean. The same system of septic tanks had been adopted, but these were well protected by concrete and were not offensive during the summer time. Regarding the issues of soap, we got the same issues as we did at Nagoya.
Whilst at this camp we received no Red Cross parcels.

As indicated previously, the Camp was immediately adjacent to a factory. This was the Tateyama Heavy Industry Co., and was engaged in the manufacture of small steam rollers which apparently were used in the preparation of airdromes. The work at this factory was lighter than that at the Nagoya Factory. The men found things much easier because they did not have to go through the daily strenuous journey. The hours of work were from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. with one day's holiday every fortnight. The men were well treated by the civilian employees at the factory. They were able to take their mid-day meal in the Camp.

Regarding the safety of the prisoners, one air raid shelter about eighty yards long was constructed, in the form of a trench protected by a wooden roof covered with earth. It was quite inadequate to take care of all the men, and was only a protection against blast and splinters. I complained about this, but nothing was done about it, nor were any more shelters constructed.

Toyama received a very heavy incendiary raid on the 1st August, 1945 as a result of which, according to American reports seen later, fully 75% of the City was completely destroyed. The Camp was NOT hit, and probably owed its immunity to the fact that the camp and the factory were separated from the rest of the town by a rice field. During the raid the prisoners were paraded in the Camp Square, and after about one hour were marched out into the rice fields, carrying their samll 'kit' and blankets.

Regarding the treatment of the prisoners, this was better than the other camp, although there were a few minor incidents. The same Japanese Camp Commandant was there, i.e., Lieutenant Tanaka [Hiroshi]. The disciplinary N.C.O. was Corporal Yamazaki [Sgt. Yamazaki, Seisaku]. This man always treated the prisoners extremely well, and it was largely due to his good offices that life at Toyama went fairly smoothly.
The camp regulations were the same as at Nagoya.

On the 15th August, 1945, the men went to the factory as usual in the morning. After the mid-day meal, they were all paraded on the parade ground, which was situated at the opposite end of the Camp to the Japanese Administrative buildings. At the same time, the Japanese Staff were all paraded in their office to listen to the radio. It was learned later that the Emperor of Japan had that time made his speech announcing the capitulation. The men never returned to work at the Factory, and after about three days the Japanese Armed Guard was withdrawn from the camp. No official announcement was made to us until the 25th August, 1945, but I was told in confidence by one of the Japanese, about 4 p.m. on the 15th August, 1945.

On the evening of the 15th August, 1945, the Camp Commandant [Tanaka, Hiroshi] packed his bags and departed, and his place was taken by the Camp Commander of another Camp, occupied by Americans and situated about three miles away. He was a Japanese Lieutenant, name not known. [Negishi, Shoishi]

On the 25th August, 1945, this man officially informed me that the War was over, and that I was to be responsible for the maintenance of discipline. Five Japanese rifles and 150 rounds of ammunition were issued to me.
Subsequently we received supplies of food, clothing, and medicines by parachute, from the American Forces.

We evacuated the Camp on September 5th, 1945 and traveled overnight by train to Arai, where we were taken on board ans American Red Cross Ship.I arrived in England on the 19th October, 1945, and was demobilised about the middle of April, 1946.

Statement taken at the Town Hall, Bradford, and completed aftrer various interviews at 5:30 p.m. on the 17th July, 1946 by Detective Sergeant Tyas, Bradford City Police.

/s/ Walter Norman Riley

SWORN at Bradford in the County of York this 23rd day of July, 1946.
/S/ Annie Pitts
Justice of the Peace acting and for the City of Bradford.