NOTES:--
(a) This questionnaire should be completed by:--
(i) All repatriated Australian prisoners of war (A.I.F., R.A.A.F. and
R.A.N.).
(ii) All repatriated Australian civil internees.
(iii) All repatriated British civil internees in the Pacific Area (excluding
Malaya and China).
(iv) All members and ex-members of the Allied forces who have actual knowledge
of war crimes committed by the enemy.
(b) It will be completed in the presence of an officer who will countersign the signature of the person making the statement.
(c) It is important that a full statement on page 3 (carried on to page 4 if necessary) be furnished as well as the answer to 8(f).
1. Army number:
1648458
2. Rank:
BOMBARDIER
3. Full name (in BLOCK letters):
EASTHAM, REUBEN
4. Unit at time of capture and/or place of capture (State here unit in which soldier was serving at time of capture, e.g. 2/1 Fd. Regt. or H.Q. 6 Aust. Div., etc.):
69/21ST LIGHT A.A. REGT. RA.
GAROET, JAVA, D.E.I.
5. Home address:
SUNNYSIDE, MIDDLEWOOD RD, AUGHTON, ORMSKIRK, LANCS. ENGLAND
6. At what enemy camps and hospitals were you confined and when were you at each?
BATAVIA JAVA 27/3/42 TO 20/10/42
KUMAMOTO JAPAN 28/11/42 TO 15/11/43
FUKUOKA JAPAN 15/11/43 TO 3/12/44
KAMO JAPAN 4/12/44 TO 21/9/45
7. Do you have any information about any atrocities against, or mistreatment of, Allied soldiers, prisoners of war, civilian internees or the civilian population for which you think the perpetrators should be punished? (Answer by stating YES or NO in the spaces provided below)--
(a) Killings or executions:
NO.
(b) Rape, torture, beatings or other cruelties:
NO.
(c) Imprisonment under improper conditions:
NO.
(d) Massacres, wholesale looting, pillage, or burning of towns or villages:
NO.
(e) Use of prisoners of war or civilians on enemy military works or operations:
YES.
(f) Exposure of prisoners of war to danger of gunfire, bombing, torpedoing, or other hazards of war:
NO.
(g) Transportation of prisoners of war under improper conditions or deportation of civilians:
YES.
(h) Public exhibition or exposure to ridicule of prisoners of war:
NO.
(i) Failure to provide prisoners of war or internees with proper medical care, food or quarters:
NO.
(j) Collective punishment of a group for offence of others:
NO.
(k) Breaches of rules relating to the Red Cross:
YES.
(l) Cannibalism:
NO.
(m) Mutilation of the dead:
NO.
*(n) Any other war crimes not specifically mentioned above for which you think the guilty persons should be punished:
NO.
8. Details of Atrocities.--
(a) Kind of crime
SEE PAGE 3
(b) When and where it happened
(c) Who was the victim? (Give complete description including name and whether military or civilian personnel)
(d) Who was the perpetrator? (Give complete description and as much information as possible)
(e) State if you saw it yourself. If you did not see it, who told you about it? (Give names and addresses of other witnesses)
(f) Give brief story of crime. Full statement required on pages 3 and 4.
To the best of my belief the above particulars are correct.
R. EASTHAM
(Signature.)
A W GREGN? S/LT RMR
(Signature of Interrogating Officer.)
27 SEPT 1945
(Date.)
MANILA
(Place and/or Unit at which interrogation was made.)
Comment by Interrogating Officer:
* Other war crimes not specifically mentioned include:--
(i) Usurpation of sovereignty during military occupation.
(ii) Compulsory enlistment of soldiers among the inhabitants of occupied
territory.
(iii) Attempts to denationalize the inhabitants of occupied territory.
(iv} Confiscation of property.
(v) Exaction of illegitimate or of exorbitant contributions and
requisitions.
(vi) Debasement of the currency and issue of spurious currency.
(vii) Deliberate bombardment of undefended places.
(viii) Wanton destruction of religious, charitable, educational and historical
buildings and monuments.
(ix) Use of explosive or expanding bullets and other inhuman appliances.
(x) Directions to give no quarter and refusal of quarter.
(xi) Misuse of flags of truce.
FULL STATEMENT OF ATROCITY OR CRIME
This MUST be signed by the person making the statement and countersigned by the interrogating officer at the end of the statement.
RELATIVE TO 7(E)
KUMAMOTO JAPAN. 230 ENGLISH ENGAGED ON MILITARY AERODROME, FROM 4/12/42 TO
15/11/43. WHEN THE CAMP WAS STRUCK ON 15/11/43 THIS AERODROME WAS PRACTICALLY
COMPLETED.
FUKUOKA JAPAN. 15/11/43 TO 3/12/44.
FROM 15/11/43 TO 5/5/44 260 ENGLISH & 30 DUTCH WORKED ON CLEARING SITES
AND BUILDING OF ORDNANCE STORE SHEDS.
FROM 5/5/44 TO 3/12/44 260 ENGLISH 200 AMERICAN & 220 DUTCH WORKED ON
THE BUILDING OF A LARGE MILITARY AERODROME ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF FUKUOKA.
RELATIVE TO 7(G)
WHILST BEING TRANSPORTED FROM JAVA TO JAPAN ON THE "ITCHY MARU" SEVERAL MEN
DIED OWING TO THE HORRIBLE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH WE LIVED. THIS OCCURED
DURING THE PERIOD 20/10/42 TO 28/11/42. THE PRISONERS ON THIS BOAT CONSISTED
MAINLY OF THE 21ST LIGHT A.A. REGT. R.A. & THE 48TH LIGHT A.A. REGT.
R.A. WE WERE BERTHED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE HOLD AND SLEPT ON THE BALLAST WHICH
WAS IRON ORE. THERE WAS PRACTICALLY NO WATER OR FOOD. WE WERE FED TWICE A
DAY ON RICE & SOUP. THE QUANTITY WAS INSUFFICIENT, ABOUT ½ PINT
OF BADLY CLEANED RICE & ¼ PT. OF WATER FROM A FISH SOUP AT EACH
MEAL. WE WERE VERY RARELY ALLOWED ON THE DECK, AND THE LATRINE ARRANGEMENTS
WERE HORRIBLE, HUNDREDS OF MEN SUFFERING FROM DYSENTERY. I ATTRIBUTE TWO
DEATHS OF MEN I KNEW INTIMATELY TO THE CONDITION ON THIS BOAT, THEY BEING
MEN OF MY OWN BATTERY.
69/21ST LIGHT A.A. REGT. R.A.
SGT. KEW.? R.
GNR. MACFARLANE
BOTH OF THESE MEN DIED FROM DYSENTERY CAUSED THROUGH THE BAD CONDITION UNDER
WE LIVED.
RELATIVE TO 7(K)
RED CROSS FOOTSTUFFS ARRIVING AT CAMPS WHERE I HAVE BEEN PRISONER HAVE BEEN
BROKEN INTO AND ONLY PART OF THESE FOODSTUFFS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN RECEIVED
BY THE P.O.WS IN THE CAMPS.
A F F I D A V I T.
IN THE MATTER OF WAR CRIMES COMMITTED BY JAPANESE NATIONALS
AND IN THE MATTER OF THE ILL-TREATMENT OF PRISONERS OF WAR
AT KUMAMOTO PRISONER OF WAR CAMP........JAPAN.
I, Reuben EASTHAM, with permanent home address at "BURLEIGH", Long Lane, Aughton, near Ormskirk, Lancashire, make oath and say as follows:-
I am a married man, aged 36 years, and am now employed as a Solicitor's Clerk and was formerly a Bombardier in the 69th, Battery of the 21st, Light Anti-aircraft Royal Artillery.
On September, 1940 I was called up for service and was posted to the Battery named. This Battery proceeded overseas on the 8th, December, 1941, and we landed at Java, Batavia, Dutch East Indies on the 4th, February, 1942.
We were stationed on various aerodromes in Java until we were all taken prisoners of war by the Japanese on the 10th, March, 1942. I was then Bombardier number 1648458.
After capture we were placed in a P.O.W. Camp at Glodak, Batavia. We arrived at this Camp about the beginning of May, 1942, and remained there until about the middle of October, 1942.
We were not supplied with any clothing whilst at this Camp, and the food so far as it went could be regarded as fairly satisfactory.
The Camp consisted of an old Prison, and although I heard from some samples that there had been 'beating up' of Prisoners of War for breaches of Camp Discipline, I never personally witnessed any, nor was I subject to any myself whilst at this Camp.
I do not remember the Camp Commandant's name, nor the names of any of the Camp personnel. We were, in the main, under the supervision of our own Officers who in turn were responsible to the Japanese.
Hygiene and Sanitation at the Camp were very bad. The camp was built of concrete, and our quarters were in the Cells. The nearest place for sanitary purposes was about half a mile from the Cells and was erected on an old drain near a river.
The only Medical supplies were those we had brought with us when taken prisoners.
We received no Red Cross supplies. We there had to do work from 6 a.m to 2 p.m, but this was not rigidly enforced. The work consisted of generally cleaning-up, mostly at Garages, taking engines from Motor Cars to send back to Japan.
The prisoners of War were not exposed to any danger here.
There were a fair number of deaths, which I believe were caused by Illness brought about by lack of medicine and medical supplies, together with too little European food. We were mainly fed on rice and vegetable stew.
We rarely saw any civilians.
When we left this Camp en-route by steamship, the name of which I do not remember, for Singapore, the journey was not too bad, nor were the conditions with the exception of some over-crowding.
On arrival at Singapore we were transferred to another ship named "Itchu-Maru". This took us to Moji, Japan, calling at Formosa. This was a very small ship and in the bottom of the forward-hold were approximately 1,000 prisoners of War, and a similar number were in the aft-hold. I do not know who the ship's Captain was.
We were allowed to go on to the top deck for about half an hour in twenty four hours. We were fed twice a day, being then given half a pint of very sloppy rice together with about a quarter of a pint of water from fish stew. Apart from this we got no water for either drinking or washing, for which no facilities were afforded.
There were only two latrines on the top deck, one being each for a thousand prisoners of war. A number of us were suffering from Dysentery and Diarrhoea, and they had to queue to use the Latrines with the result that a large number were compelled to do what they wanted on the deck. This refuse had later to be washed down by hose-pipes by the prisoners of War.
The only medical supplies available were the small quantities in possession of our own Medical Officer, Captain Wallace of our Battery.
Numerous deaths occurred during the voyage owing to lack of attention and poor food. Captain Wallace was the only medical man available for our part of the ship and he was very much overworked. I would however add that during the voyage I saw no prisoners of War 'beaten up'. The voyage ended on the last week in November, 1942.
On arrival at Moji, Japan we were kept on the docks for about four hours in extreme cold wearing only our tropical kit. During this period I saw a Corporal of the Royal Corps of Signals attached to our Battery, fall dead, apparently due to exposure.
About 10 p.m on the day of landing we were taken along to a building, which had apparently formerly been used as a theatre, this had a sloping floor made of concrete and each of us was issued with a small box of cold cooked rice. We had one blanket each which was our own army issue. At 4 a.m the next morning we were marched off to Moji Railway Station and eventually arrived at 'Kumamoto Prisoner of War Camp'.
At this Camp, after about three to four days, the P.O.W's who were able to do so were sent out moving earth to level up the ground for an aerodrome. We were still only dressed in our tropical clothing, and we continued like this for about three weeks, working from 6.30 a.m until 6 p.m each day.
Our food again consisted of steamed rice and vegetable soup or stew.
The hygienic and sanitary conditions at this Camp were bad, the latrines consisting of sunken holes with a board across the top, and were situated right near the Billets. These smelled terrible especially in the hot weather, and on our so-called day-off which averaged about one every three weeks we were ordered to scoop out the latrines and place the refuse in tubs which two of us carried by bamboo poles to another part of the Camp area, and spread the refuse over growing crops.
Our quarters consisted of wooden shacks with earth floors, not too crowded. Our bedding consisted of three issue, and one of our own blankets.
After we had been at this Camp about three months the Japanese built us a wooden hospital in which they placed a small slow-combustion stove, and they transferred into that hut the sick prisoners of war, about forty in number, out of our Camp strength of approximately 280 P.O.W's.
Our medical supplies were very limited, but we were given doses of glucose by hypodermic syringe in cases of dysentery. We also used to be given charcoal, followed by water. We never saw any quinine, but used to be given small tablets when we had a temperature.
We received one bulk lot of Red Cross parcels, in this period of about twelve months. This supply consisted of roughly small quantities of sugar, salt, corned meat, and concentrated soups.
Overall the Camp conditions were safe.
The only cases of ill-treatment I saw were brought about by a small number of P.O.W's stealing produce out of fields adjoining our working or Camp area.
There were however instances of a rather bullying nature when a Japanese Sergeant, who was an expert in Ju-jitsu, used to go into the Officer's Quarters and throw the Officers about in a very rough and aggressive manner. They had no means of retaliation and could not complain about this. I cannot remember his name.
The Civilians we saw whilst at this Camp were mostly Koreans, and when we were on working parties they used to be very decent to we P.O.W's, giving us what they could such as cigarettes, etc.
We were not allowed to write home except on one occasion in the period of twelve months.
By Camp regulations we were forced to salute Japanese soldiers of all ranks. If it was a Japanese Officer we were forced to halt before we saluted.
I remember one instance just prior to moving from this Camp when a Japanese Interpreter named, so far as I can say, 'KATSURA' gave an order to Gunner Walter Fearn who I think now lives in Southport. The gunner misunderstood the Order whereupon the Interpreter kicked Fearn about the body after knocking him to the ground.
We moved from this Camp about the 20th, November, 1943, to go to Kasii, on the outskirts of Fukuoka, Japan.
Sworn by me the said REUBEN EASTHAM at Ormskirk Petty Sessional Magistrates Court, Ormskirk on the 28th day of April 1947.
(signed) R. Eastham
Taken on oath before me on the 28th day of April, 1947.
(signed) C L Custerford??
Justice of the Peace for the County of Lancaster.
A F F I D A V I T.
IN THE MATTER OF WAR CRIMES COMMITTED BY JAPANESE NATIONALS
AND IN THE MATTER OF THE ILL-TREATMENT OF PRISONERS OF WAR
AT FUKUOKA and KASII PRISONERS OF WAR CAMPS......JAPAN.
I Reuben EASTHAM with permanent address at "BURLEIGH", Long Lane, Aughton, near Ormskirk, Lancashire, make oath and say as follows:-
I am a married man, aged 36 years, and am now employed as a Solicitor's Clerk, and was formerly a Bombardier number 1648458 in the 69th, Battery, of the 21st Light Anti Aircraft Royal Artillery.
On September, 1940 I was called up for service and was posted to the Battery named. This Battery proceeded overseas on the 8th, December, 1941, and we landed at Java, Batavia, Dutch East Indies, on the 4th, February, 1942.
We were stationed on various aerodromes in Java until we were all taken prisoners of war by the Japanese on the 10th, March, 1942. After capture we firstly went to a prisoner of war Camp at Glodak, Batavia, and Kumamoto, Japan, where I remained until about October, 1943 when we were moved to Kasii on the outskirts of Fukuoka.
The food situation deteriorated from the previous camps and the rations were cut down.
Hygiene and Sanitation were very bad, inadequate washing and latrine facilities, the camp quarters were however an improvement on the previous camps, and the work was of a lighter nature.
Whilst we were at this camp two supplies of Red Cross food were delivered, these however, were split up by the Japanese, and tampered with and a big percentage of the food did not reach the P.O.W's.
Various P.O.W's received their first communication from home in January, 1944.
Whilst on a working party one day a Japanese Sergeant whose name, was so far as I could remember, "HUSNE", came from the camp to see the working parties, and when he arrived at the place where I was working, he found that the party was not working owing to the fact that the Japanese civilian who was in charge of us had told us to rest, he thereupon 'beat-up' Quarter-master Sergeant Thompson of the 69th, Light A.A. Battery, Royal Artillery, and the Japanese civilian did not intervene.
Sergeant J. Ollerton of Chorley, address not known, was also a witness of this incident.
There were numerous other 'beatings' by the Japanese Sergeant which I did not witness.
We moved from this camp, on foot, to another camp [Mushiroda] about two miles from Fukuoka, where we had to build a camp which had been started and not finished. The quarters were very bad, consisting of sheds about 100 feet X 20 feet with timber spars for frames and thereof used to leak terribly, and the sleeping accommodation was always wet in wet weather. At this camp everybody was covered with lice.
We were given a kind of red millet and this quantity was again diminished. We were joined at this camp by American and Dutch internees.
The Medical supplies were very limited, and our Medical Orderlies and Medical Officer, Doctor Wallace, were not allowed to use the Red Cross supplies without first consulting the Japanese, who often refused to give P.O.W's treatment.
The 'Beatings' were occurring more regularly at this camp even for very minor infringements of the Regulations, such as smoking a minute after the permitted hours.
Owing to the lack of food P.O.W's stole from the Stores, and for this they received terrible 'beatings'.
Whilst out on one working party a Dutch boy was knocked to the ground by 'Kutsura' the Japanese Interpreter, and kicked whilst on the floor. Many of his ribs were broken. I saw this boy in Camp afterwards and he was in a bad state. The Dutch Doctor Devine [de Wijn], reported this occurrence to the Japanese Doctors, and Katsura, on hearing of this, 'beat up' the Dutch Doctor Devine.
The work at this camp was very hard and consisted of filling trucks with earth and soil from hillsides and then we had to push the trucks for about three quarters of a mile, and tip them on paddy fields to make runways for an aerodrome.
Whilst at this camp I had reason to go sick on account of a huge swelling in my right groin, after two days in camp this was cut by Doctor Devine, with a large table knife, on account of the fact that there were no other surgical instruments available at the camp. This turned out to be a broken down gland, which turned septic. After about another four days in camp I was again sent out on working parties with the wound still open.
Bombardier Hedley Woods, of the 69th, L.A.A. Battery, who is now resident at Wigan, and who is a schoolmaster, could confirm this.
Whilst at this camp two consignments of Red Cross supplies were delivered. We only received part of one consignment, this being again tampered with by the Japanese, and given to us in bits and pieces.
We left this camp about December, 1944. I believe on the 3rd, and about 40 of us were sent to a Mining Camp in another place [Kamo-o, Inatsuki, Camp #8].
Sworn by me the said REUBEN EASTHAM at Ormskirk Petty Sessional Magistrates Court, Ormskirk on the 28th day of April, 1947.
(signed) R. Eastham
Taken on oath before me on the 28th day of April, 1947.
(signed) C L Custerford??
Justice of the Peace for the County of Lancaster.
A F F I D A V I T.
IN THE MATTER OF WAR CRIMES COMMITTED BY JAPANESE NATIONALS
AND IN THE MATTER OF THE ILL-TREATMENT OF PRISONERS OF WAR
AT KAMOO [Inatsuki, Camp #8] PRISONERS OF WAR
CAMP......JAPAN.
I Reuben EASTHAM with permanent address at "BURLEIGH", Long Lane, Aughton, near Ormskirk, Lancashire, make oath and say as follows:-
I am a married man, aged 36 years, and am now employed as a Solicitor's Clerk, and was formerly a Bombardier number 1648458 in the 69th, Battery, of the 21st Light Anti Aircraft Royal Artillery.
On September, 1940 I was called up for service and was posted to the Battery named. This Battery proceeded overseas on the 8th, December, 1941, and we landed at Java, Batavia, Dutch East Indies, on the 4th, February, 1942.
We were stationed on various aerodromes in Java until we were all taken prisoners of War by the Japanese on the 10th, March, 1942. After capture we firstly went to a prisoner of war Camp at Glodak, Batavia, and Kumamoto, Japan, where we stayed until about October, 1943, when we were again moved to Kasii on the outskirts of Fukuoka, and remained there until moving again to Kamoo, Japan.
We arrived at Kamoo P.O.W. Camp about the 3rd, December, 1944. With me was about forty other Prisoners of War.
The Camp was a Mining Camp and we were joined there by some more British lads and a few Dutch ones, who had been at the Camp since about the beginning of 1943.
The Billets at the Camp were much better and we had a concrete bath in which we were allowed to bathe after leaving our work in the mines. There was an English Commandant at the Camp named Captain Peter Williams, of the 48th, L.A.A. Regiment, Royal Artillery.
The food here at first was an improvement on our previous Camps, but deteriorated later and was worse than ever, and towards the end of our stay there the rations were cut to a minimum.
It was at this Camp that I first received any real 'Beatings up' by a Japanese Guard nicknamed 'SMILER,' who said on one occasion that I had not saluted him when passing him some distance away in the Camp. I did not see him, but this was no excuse, and he therefore gave me a real beating, splitting both of my cheeks open. He took me into a Billet to do this. The beatings occured frequently as boys who were too sick to go down to work in the coal mines fell down in front of the guardroom through weakness. They were kicked and 'beaten-up' whilst on the ground. These boys would subsequently be taken to the hospital and some of them died.
The working conditions down the mine were often very bad, and my party more often than not were working stripped in water waist high, continuing the main drive down. The civilian bosses were very nasty and if you did not understand them they would throw hammers and lumps of rocks at you. The Japanese Boss of my party nicknamed 'Handsome' gave Gunner Vesey, of the 79th, L.A.A. Regiment, Royal Artillery, 21st. , L.A.A. Regiment, R.A., residing in Manchester, two terrible 'beatings,' and of which I was a witness, because Vesey was too weak to work hard enough.
Again the Red Cross supplies which arrived at the Camp were tampered with, but not to the same extent as in previous Camps.
These conditions continued until we were liberated on the 15th, AUGUST, 1945.
Sworn by me the said REUBEN EASTHAM at Ormskirk Petty Sessional Magistrates Court, Ormskirk on the 28th day of April, 1947.
(signed) R. Eastham
Taken on oath before me on the 28th day of April, 1947.
(signed) C L Custerford??
Justice of the Peace for the County of Lancaster.
NOTES:--
(a) This questionnaire should be completed by:--
(i) All repatriated Australian prisoners of war (A.I.F., R.A.A.F. and
R.A.N.).
(ii) All repatriated Australian civil internees.
(iii) All repatriated British civil internees in the Pacific Area (excluding
Malaya and China).
(iv) All members and ex-members of the Allied forces who have actual knowledge
of war crimes committed by the enemy.
(b) It will be completed in the presence of an officer who will countersign the signature of the person making the statement.
(c) It is important that a full statement on page 3 (carried on to page 4 if necessary) be furnished as well as the answer to 8(f).
1. Army number:
1614642
2. Rank:
GUNNER
3. Full name (in BLOCK letters):
FRIDD, PERCY WILLIAM
4. Unit at time of capture and/or place of capture (State here unit in which soldier was serving at time of capture, e.g. 2/1 Fd. Regt. or H.Q. 6 Aust. Div., etc.):
79TH L.A.A. BATT R.A.
TIMOR
5. Home address:
2 SMITH ST ALPHA RD SURBITON SURREY
6. At what enemy camps and hospitals were you confined and when were you at each?
25/2/42 - 7/11/42 TIMOR
12/1/43 - 14/9/45 FUKUOKA
7. Do you have any information about any atrocities against, or mistreatment of, Allied soldiers, prisoners of war, civilian internees or the civilian population for which you think the perpetrators should be punished? (Answer by stating YES or NO in the spaces provided below)--
(a) Killings or executions:
NO.
(b) Rape, torture, beatings or other cruelties:
YES.
(c) Imprisonment under improper conditions:
NO.
(d) Massacres, wholesale looting, pillage, or burning of towns or villages:
NO.
(e) Use of prisoners of war or civilians on enemy military works or operations:
YES.
(f) Exposure of prisoners of war to danger of gunfire, bombing, torpedoing, or other hazards of war:
YES.
(g) Transportation of prisoners of war under improper conditions or deportation of civilians:
YES.
(h) Public exhibition or exposure to ridicule of prisoners of war:
YES.
(i) Failure to provide prisoners of war or internees with proper medical care, food or quarters:
NO.
(j) Collective punishment of a group for offence of others:
YES.
(k) Breaches of rules relating to the Red Cross:
YES.
(l) Cannibalism:
NO.
(m) Mutilation of the dead:
YES.
*(n) Any other war crimes not specifically mentioned above for which you think the guilty persons should be punished:
8. Details of Atrocities.--
(a) Kind of crime
(b) When and where it happened
(c) Who was the victim? (Give complete description including name and whether military or civilian personnel)
(d) Who was the perpetrator? (Give complete description and as much information as possible)
(e) State if you saw it yourself. If you did not see it, who told you about it? (Give names and addresses of other witnesses)
(f) Give brief story of crime. Full statement required on pages 3 and 4.
To the best of my belief the above particulars are correct.
P. W. FRIDD
(Signature.)
H. EDWARDS W/O
(Signature of Interrogating Officer.)
22/9/45
(Date.)
3 AUST. P.W. RECT. MANILA
(Place and/or Unit at which interrogation was made.)
Comment by Interrogating Officer:
* Other war crimes not specifically mentioned include:--
(i) Usurpation of sovereignty during military occupation.
(ii) Compulsory enlistment of soldiers among the inhabitants of occupied
territory.
(iii) Attempts to denationalize the inhabitants of occupied territory.
(iv} Confiscation of property.
(v) Exaction of illegitimate or of exorbitant contributions and
requisitions.
(vi) Debasement of the currency and issue of spurious currency.
(vii) Deliberate bombardment of undefended places.
(viii) Wanton destruction of religious, charitable, educational and historical
buildings and monuments.
(ix) Use of explosive or expanding bullets and other inhuman appliances.
(x) Directions to give no quarter and refusal of quarter.
(xi) Misuse of flags of truce.
FULL STATEMENT OF ATROCITY OR CRIME
This MUST be signed by the person making the statement and countersigned by the interrogating officer at the end of the statement.
7B. FUKUOKA P.W. CAMP BEATINGS, REGULAR SAKAMADO CHUY.
7E. FUKUOKA P.W. CAMP EMPLOYED ON AMMUNITION CARRING.
7F. FUKUOKA P.W. CAMP TO BOMBING BY AIR.
7G. FROM TIMOR TO JAPAN BY SEA, SLEEPING IN BILGE, 2000 P.W. PACKED IN NO
SANITARY, NO WATER. DYNICHI MARU.
7H. FUKUOKA CAMP. WORKING PARTYS. BEATINGS BEFORE CIVILIANS.
7I. FUKUOKA CAMP. ALL CAMP PUNISHED. FOOD CUTS FOR SINGLE MAN'S ACTION.
7K. USING FOR OWN USE. FUKUOKA. JAP STAFF UTALISED RED X FOOD FOR
THEMSELVES.
7M. TIMOR CAMP. DEAD BODIES. EARS CUT OFF BY JAPS.
P. W. FRIDD (signed)
NOTES:--
(a) This questionnaire should be completed by:--
(i) All repatriated Australian prisoners of war (A.I.F., R.A.A.F. and
R.A.N.).
(ii) All repatriated Australian civil internees.
(iii) All repatriated British civil internees in the Pacific Area (excluding
Malaya and China).
(iv) All members and ex-members of the Allied forces who have actual knowledge
of war crimes committed by the enemy.
(b) It will be completed in the presence of an officer who will countersign the signature of the person making the statement.
(c) It is important that a full statement on page 3 (carried on to page 4 if necessary) be furnished as well as the answer to 8(f).
1. Army number:
6400634
2. Rank:
BOMBARDIER
3. Full name (in BLOCK letters):
WILLIAM THOMAS HALE
4. Unit at time of capture and/or place of capture (State here unit in which soldier was serving at time of capture, e.g. 2/1 Fd. Regt. or H.Q. 6 Aust. Div., etc.):
79TH LIGHT ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERY
AIRKRON, TIMOR
5. Home address:
SOUTH COTTAGE GODSHILL FARM, HORSHAM SUSSEX, ENGLAND
6. At what enemy camps and hospitals were you confined and when were you at each?
TIMOR FEB 1942 - SEPT 1942
MAXASARU JAVA OCT 1942 - OCT 1942 (3 WEEKS)
KUMAMOTO JAPAN NOV 1942 - OCT 1943
KASSI OCT 1943 - DEC 1944
TOBATA DEC 1944 - SEPT 1945
7. Do you have any information about any atrocities against, or mistreatment of, Allied soldiers, prisoners of war, civilian internees or the civilian population for which you think the perpetrators should be punished? (Answer by stating YES or NO in the spaces provided below)--
(a) Killings or executions:
NO.
(b) Rape, torture, beatings or other cruelties:
YES.
(c) Imprisonment under improper conditions:
YES.
(d) Massacres, wholesale looting, pillage, or burning of towns or villages:
NO.
(e) Use of prisoners of war or civilians on enemy military works or operations:
NO.
(f) Exposure of prisoners of war to danger of gunfire, bombing, torpedoing, or other hazards of war:
YES.
(g) Transportation of prisoners of war under improper conditions or deportation of civilians:
YES.
(h) Public exhibition or exposure to ridicule of prisoners of war:
NO.
(i) Failure to provide prisoners of war or internees with proper medical care, food or quarters:
YES.
(j) Collective punishment of a group for offence of others:
YES.
(k) Breaches of rules relating to the Red Cross:
YES.
(l) Cannibalism:
NO.
(m) Mutilation of the dead:
NO.
*(n) Any other war crimes not specifically mentioned above for which you think the guilty persons should be punished:
NO.
8. Details of Atrocities.--
(a) Kind of crime
ASSAULT WITH HEAVY RICE PADDLE
(b) When and where it happened
KUMAMOTO, JAPAN, SEPT. 1943
(c) Who was the victim? (Give complete description including name and whether military or civilian personnel)
BDR. W. T. HALE, 7TH L.A.A. BTY.
(d) Who was the perpetrator? (Give complete description and as much information as possible)
A JAPANESE SOLDIER NAMED KATSURA BELONGED TO A CAVALRY REGIMENT WAS INTERPRETER AT NO. 1 CAMP FUKUOKA, SPENT SOME YEARS IN AMERICA.
(e) State if you saw it yourself. If you did not see it, who told you about it? (Give names and addresses of other witnesses)
WAS VICTIM. SGT. REGAN, GNRS. BARRETT AND MORRISON WITNESSES.
(f) Give brief story of crime. Full statement required on pages 3 and 4.
WAS PUNISHED FOR HAVING A SMEAR OF BLACK ON A JAPANESE ISSUED OVERCOAT WHILE WORKING AS A COOK.
To the best of my belief the above particulars are correct.
W. T. HALE
(Signature.)
(Signature of Interrogating Officer.)
23 SEPT 1945
(Date.)
MANILA
(Place and/or Unit at which interrogation was made.)
Comment by Interrogating Officer:
* Other war crimes not specifically mentioned include:--
(i) Usurpation of sovereignty during military occupation.
(ii) Compulsory enlistment of soldiers among the inhabitants of occupied
territory.
(iii) Attempts to denationalize the inhabitants of occupied territory.
(iv} Confiscation of property.
(v) Exaction of illegitimate or of exorbitant contributions and
requisitions.
(vi) Debasement of the currency and issue of spurious currency.
(vii) Deliberate bombardment of undefended places.
(viii) Wanton destruction of religious, charitable, educational and historical
buildings and monuments.
(ix) Use of explosive or expanding bullets and other inhuman appliances.
(x) Directions to give no quarter and refusal of quarter.
(xi) Misuse of flags of truce.
FULL STATEMENT OF ATROCITY OR CRIME
This MUST be signed by the person making the statement and countersigned by the interrogating officer at the end of the statement.
CRIME WAS COMMITTED AT 5 0'CLOCK IN MORNING. I WAS BEATEN FOR 30 MINUTES WITH WOODEN RICE PADDLE ¾ THICK UNTIL IT BROKE IN THREE AND THE DUG IN THE RIBS WITH IT. FACE AND HEAD SWOLLEN FOR THREE WEEKS.
KEPT WORKING AT TOBATA STEEL-WORKS WHILE ALLIED PLANES OVERHEAD. ONLY ALLOWED TO GO TO SHELTER WHEN THE WORKS WERE BOMBED. AS A RESULT ONE MAN WAS KILLED AND ONE LOST HIS ARM. JAPANESE OFFICER IN CHARGE NO. 3 FUKUOKA, NAME RIKITAKE TOOK RED CROSS PARCELS ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS BETWEEN DEC. 1944 AND AU. 1945. TOTAL NO. OF PARCELS TAKEN, 24 PARCELS THE ISSUED TO PRISONERS, ONE BETWEEN FOUR OR ONE BETWEEN EIGHT. INTERPRETER NAME KATSURA NO. 1 FUKUOKA TOOK TINS OF CORNED BEEF AND AMERICAN CIGARETTES.
PUTTING PRISONERS IN JAIL AND FEEDING THEM ON A SMALL AMOUNT OF SALTED RICE AND NO LIQUID TO DRINK.
W. T. HALE (signed)
IN THE COUNTY OF SURREY.
DIVISION OF DORKING.
IN THE MATTER OF WAR CRIMES COMMITTED BY JAPANESE NATIONALS
AND IN THE MATTER OF THE ILL-TREATMENT OF PRISONERS OF WAR
AT KUMAMOTO PRISONER OF WAR CAMP.
I, William Thomas HALE, of Ivy House Farm Cottages, NEWDIGATE, in the County of Surrey, occupation Farm Worker, formerly No. 6400634, Bdr. William Thomas HALE, 79th Light A.A. Battery, 21st Regiment, Royal Artillery, make oath and saith as follows:-
I was taken prisoner by the Japanese at the Isle of Timor on the 23rd February, 1942, and was in Prisoner of War camps at the Isle of TIMOR, MAKASURA, KUMAMOTO, FUKUOKA and TOBATA.
(a) I was at the Kumamoto Prisoner of War Camp from November, 1942 to November, 1943. All the prisoners were British troops and numbered 266. On our arrival at the Camp we were wearing tropical kit, the weather was very bitter and after wearing this kit for six weeks we were issued with a jacket and trousers made of thin coarse material, which was inadequate for the existing weather conditions. We had to sleep on straw covered with canvas and each man had four blankets, these were thin and insufficient for the cold weather. We were fed on boiled and steamed rice and stew, the latter being nothing more than cabbage water. We had about a pint and a half of rice when uncooked and just over half a pint of stew per day. This food did not satisfy us by a long way. We had ample green leaf tea without milk or sugar. After about four months about a pint of rice per day was stopped and about 10 oz. of bread issued in lieu. The bread was more substantial than the rice and the food remained the same during the remainder of the time I was at the camp.
(b) The sanitation was on Japanese style. The lavatories consisted of trenches about 3 ft. deep covered with boards. The men had to stand over the boards to excrete. The trenches were emptied once every two weeks and the contents taken on the land and used as manure. This work was carried out by both prisoners and Japanese civilians. Two wooden baths were supplied and although they were available every day the arrangements were very much inadequate. There was a good supply of cold water from tanks connected to a water main. The conditions were far from being hygiene and during the winter months all men were verminous. The sanitation was far below the English standard.
(c) The camp was built before our arrival and consisted of wooden huts. The boarding of the huts was thin, there was approximately 90 men to a hut, each man having bed space of about 2 ft. 6 ins. in width. The huts had earth floors and there was two tier bunks erected off the ground and straw was provided to sleep on. The huts were draughty and minus windows and not waterproof in very bad weather. Electric light was supplied and during very cold weather a small amount of charcoal was allowed for a fire. Lt. SAKAMOTO was the Officer in Charge of the Camp, he was about 32 years of age, 5 ft. 6, fair complexion, stocky build, and did not speak English.
(d) Medical supplies were inadequate at the best of times. Dysentery was very rife and on one occasion 80 men were down at once. British medical orderlies did all they could, but medicines and supplies very exceptionally poor and could not meet the demands. During the first three or four months approximately 30 men died for want at proper medicine. After this the demand for medical supplies was not so great but there was no marked improvement and luckily no more men died. The sick men were not made to work.
(e) The first Red Cross parcels were received the end of January 1943, and four men shared a parcel. These parcels were received intact, but were of very little use as too many men had to share. Three more lots of parcels arrived which were shared by 2, 4 and 5 men respectively. Such commodities as chocolate and some of the tinned meat was removed by the Japanese before the parcels were handed over.
(f) We were engaged on pick and shovel work levelling an aerodrome in a very antiquated manner. This job lasted for 12 months and we worked from 7.30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. with a fifteen minute break both morning and afternoon. The food was absolutely inadequate for this heavy type of work. Considering Japanese temperament the guards were quite decent and none of the men received brutal treatment whilst at work, but we had to keep going. On some occasions the Japanese guards were sympathetic to men who were not feeling too good. In cold weather working conditions were bad owing to lack of proper clothing. Sick men who were able did light work in the camp. I have no complaints to make of sick men having to work when they were not fit, apart from one exception.
(g) No shelters were provided for the prisoners and this matter did not arise during our stay at the camp.
(h) I have seen a number of beatings by the guards with bamboo canes, rifle butts and the flat of the hand. Two outstanding cases I remember was a prisoner named William Rushton, of the Royal Artillery. This man had dysentery very bad and was sent to work by a Japanese doctor whose name I cannot remember. We had to carry him to and from work as he was so ill and unable to work or stand up for roll call. We laid him on a bench whilst we were working and he was held up by two men for roll call. This man did not recover and died the early part of 1943. This case was known to all men in the camp.
When I was in hospital with pneumonia about April, 1943, a patient named Gunner Albert Cleeves, of 69th Light A.A. Battery, R.A. (I believe he had malaria) was beaten up by one of the guards (name unknown) with a rifle butt, for concealing a tin of meat from the Red Cross parcel after having been ordered to give it up. The beating only lasted a few minutes, but the prisoner received numerous bruises on the body and was not rendered unconscious. This incident was also witnessed by L/Bdr. Chilton and Gunner Tiffany, of the 79th Light A.A. Battery, R.A.
About May, 1943, Sergt. McNeill of the Royal Artillery, was beaten up by a Japanese Sergeant named IRRAWAKAIDIE for failing to have fire butts full of water. IRRAWAKIDIE used ju-jitsu methods and threw Sergt. McNeill over his shoulder about a dozen times. Sergt. McNeill was considerably bruised and shaken. This incident was witnessed by all men in camp as it occurred at an evening roll call. IRRAWAKIDIE was about 27 years of age, height 5 ft. 6 ins., stocky build, studious looking, wore horn rimmed glasses and was able to speak a little English.
During October, 1943, I was beaten up by a Japanese soldier named KATSURA, who was an Interpreter. I was working in the cookhouse at the time and got a smear of black on my coat. He hit me over the bead and face with a rice paddle which was about 1/2 inch in thickness. I had swellings on my face and head for three weeks. The paddle broke into three pieces. Sgt. Regan and Gunner Morrison, of the 69th Light A.A. Battery, R.A. witnessed this occurrence. KATSURA belonged to a cavalry regiment, age about 30, height 5 ft. 4, clean shaven, dark complexion, bandy legs. Spoke good English with American accent.
(i) Most of the civilians I came into contact with were KOREANS and not Japanese. On the whole their attitude to the British prisoners was good.
(j) My first move in a train was a 60 mile journey. We travelled in carriages and the conditions were good. We were fed en-route.
On two occasions we marched from one camp to another, a distance of about 4 miles. The baggage and sick men were conveyed in lorries.
Apart from my journey on the "ICHIMARU" from Singapore to Japan, I have no complaints to make of travelling conditions en-route to other camps.
(k) The Japanese soldier named KATSURA referred to at (h) was known to eat the prisoners rations and information on this matter can be given by Sergt. Regan of the Royal Artillery.
(l) All members of the Japanese Forces had to be saluted by the prisoners at all times.
The Japanese insisted on the bunks and shelves of the huts being kept clean.
The prisoners were allowed to dress to suit the weather, but head dress had to be worn at all times when prisoners were outside of the huts.
Reveille was at 5 a.m. and roll call varied from 5.15 a.m. to 7.15 a.m. The final roll call for the day was at 8 p.m. and all prisoners had to be in bed at 8.15 p.m.
Generally speaking the prisoners responded to the discipline.
(m) I cannot recollect any other incidents apart from those already mentioned.
(n) I am unable to furnish the present addresses of the witnesses I have named. A Dr. Wallis was our Medical Officer.
SWORN by the said William Thomas HALE
at DORKING, in the County of Surrey.
11th day of March, 1947.
WILLIAM THOMAS HALE (signature)
Before me
HORACE? M. DOUGLAS
A Justice of the Peace for the County of Surrey.
IN THE COUNTY OF SURREY.
DIVISION OF DORKING.
IN THE MATTER OF WAR CRIMES COMMITTED BY JAPANESE NATIONALS
AND IN THE MATTER OF THE ILL-TREATMENT OF PRISONERS OF WAR
AT FUKUOKA PRISONER OF WAR CAMP.
I, William Thomas HALE, of Ivy House Farm Cottages, NEWDIGATE, in the County of Surrey, occupation Farm Worker, formerly No. 6400634, Bdr. William Thomas HALE, 79th Light A.A. Battery, 21st Regiment, Royal Artillery, make oath and saith as follows:-
I was taken prisoner by the Japanese at the Isle of Timor on the 23rd February, 1942, and was in Prisoner of War camps at the Isle of TIMOR, MAKASURA, KUMAMOTO, FUKUOKA and TOBATA.
(a) I was at FUKUOKA Prisoner of War Camp from November, 1943, to April, 1944. The food, which consisted of rice, stew and fish was good and better than the average standard. There was 231 British troops and approximately 70 Javanese troops in the camp.
On our arrival at the camp we were wearing a coat and jacket of this coarse material which had been issued to us by the Japanese. At this camp we were issued with an additional long pair of pants by the Japanese. The clothing was inadequate owing to the cold weather.
All men had five blankets each which was just sufficient. Some of the men were issued with a Red Cross blanket in place of one of Japanese make.
(b) The sanitation was on Japanese style and was comparatively good. Washing facilities were poor, the men having to wash in the open air on a concrete slab. Only two baths were available which was inadequate for the number of men, consequently they were verminous.
(c) All prisoners were accommodated in a big brick built warehouse, the floor of which was made of concrete. The place was clean and we slept on a raised platform on straw and canvas.
(d) Medical supplies were issued by the Japanese, but were barely sufficient. No deaths occurred at this camp and sick men were not made to work.
(e) Red Cross supplies arrived on three occasions and had to be shared from 1 between 3 to 1 between 11. The tinned meat was removed from the parcels by a British Officer and sent to the cookhouse to be put in with the rice, otherwise the parcels were intact.
(f) Prisoners were engaged unloading ballast from railway trucks, moving earth and loading wood. The clothing was insufficient during cold weather otherwise there was no cause for complaint considering we were prisoners.
(g) In the event of air raids we were instructed to take cover in deep ditches, but the occasion did not arise.
(h) No beatings or deaths occurred at this camp and there were no grounds for complaint.
(i) The Japanese civilians were quite good and took very little notice of us.
(j) We once did a 60 mile journey by train. We travelled in carriages and the conditions were good. We were fed en-route.
On two occasions we marched from one camp to another, a distance of about 4 miles. The baggage and sick men were conveyed in lorries.
Apart from my journey on the "ITCHIMARU" from Singapore to Japan, I have no complaints to make of travelling conditions en-route to other camps.
(k) About the end of February, 1944, 25 tins of corned beef from Red Cross parcels was buried by Gunner Robinson, 79th Light A.A. Battery, Royal Artillery, on the order of a Japanese interpreter named KATSURA, at the back of the cookhouse. This information was hearsay from Gunner Robinson, and I understand Sergt. Regan, of 69th Light A. A. Battery, R.A., and Gunner Gilbert, of 79th Light A.A. Battery, R.A., know all about it. I am unable to say what eventually happened to the tins of corned beef. KATSURA belonged to a cavalry regiment, age about 30, height 5 ft. 4, clean shaven, dark complexion, bandy legs. Spoke good English with an American accent.
About August, 1944, Gunner Marshall, of 79th Light A.A. Battery, R.A., stole from the cookhouse and was tied to a post and beaten up by a Japanese Sergeant named HOSHIME, who left Marshall in the sun for four hours. This information was hearsay to me and I cannot remember who told me, but L/Bdr. Chilton, of 79th Light A.A. Battery, R.A., and Dr. Wallis the Medical Officer would know all about it.
HOSHIME was about 28 years of age, round face, broad stocky build, clean shaven. Spoke very little English.
(l) Camp regulations were very strict. Roll call was twice a day and smoking was only allowed for 20 minutes three times a day. Men could only have baths as directed by the guards and they were very strict on dress, saluting and tidyness.
(m) I have no recollection of any other incidents apart from those already mentioned.
(n) I cannot give the present addresses of the witnesses I have mentioned.
The camp was in charge of Lt. SAKAMOTO who was about 32 years of age, height 5 ft. 6 ins., fair complexion, stocky build. Did not speak English.
SWORN by the said William Thomas HALE
at DORKING, in the County of Surrey.
11th day of March, 1947.
WILLIAM THOMAS HALE (signature)
Before me
HORACE? M. DOUGLAS
A Justice of the Peace for the County of Surrey.
When completed this document
must be classified as SECRET.
Date: 15.8. 1945
1. Your name:
HULL, ALBERT DAVID
2. Rank (If civilian, write in word "Civilian"):
SERGEANT
Serial number (Armed Forces personnel only):
5566143
3. Permanent home address:
5 HAROLDSLEIGH TERR. CROWNHILL PLYMOUTH DEVON.
4. At what enemy camps and hospitals were you confined and when were you at each? (If never a prisoner of war or internee, then state principal places you have been from time to time while overseas.)
NO. 2 HACKENSAW NOVEMBER '42 TO NOVEMBER '44
NO. 1 FUKUOKA NOVEMBER TO SEPTEMBER '45
5. Do you have any information about any atrocities against, or mistreatment of, Allied soldiers, prisoners of war, civilian internees or the civilian population for which you think the perpetrators should be punished? (Answer by stating YES or NO in the spaces provided below)
(a) Killings or executions:
(b) Torture, beatings or other cruelties:
YES.
(c) Imprisonment under improper conditions:
(d) Massacres, wholesale looting, or burning of towns:
(e) Use of prisoners of war on enemy military works or operations:
(f) Exposure of prisoners of war to danger of gunfire, bombing, torpedoing, or other hazards of war:
(g) Transportation of prisoners of war under improper conditions:
YES.
(h) Public exhibition or exposure to ridicule of prisoners of war:
(i) Failure to provide prisoners of war or internees with proper medical care, food or quarters:
(j) Collective punishment of a group for offense of others:
(k) Any other war crimes not specifically mentioned above for which you think the guilty persons should be punished:
If any question is answered YES then state the facts briefly on reverse side of this sheet.
KIND OF CRIME -- WHERE IT HAPPENED -- WHO WAS THE VICTIM? (include name, nationality & whether military personnel or not) -- STATE IF YOU SAW IT YOURSELF. IF YOU DID NOT SEE IT, WHO TOLD YOU ABOUT IT?
1.
NO. 1 FUKUOKA. NO SPECIAL CASE BUT TERRIBLE BEATINGS WITH BAMBOO POLES WERE DAILY OCCURENCES ENCOURAGED BY CAMP COMMANDANT NAMED SAKAMOTO.
2.
JAVA TO JAPAN
TRANSFERRED TO "SINGAPORE MARU." AT SINGAPORE STARTED A TERRIBLE JOURNEY DURING WHICH WE LOST, TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, 70 MEN THROUGH BAD FOOD, NO MEDICAL OR SURGICAL FACILITIES, AND OVERCROWDING. THE NIPS COULD AND DID GIVE FIRST CLASS MEDICAL AND SURGICAL ATTENTION TO THEIR CREWMEN ON VOYAGE, PROVING THEY DID HAVE THE SUPPLIES.
EUROPEAN FOOD COULD HAVE BEEN SUPPLIED AT STOREROOM. WAS RAIDED IN DESPARATION ON LAST NIGHT AND A SUPPLY OF ALL KINDS OF TINNED MILK AND FOOD WAS FOUND IN PLENTY. FURTHERMORE, THEIR OWN MEN WERE ISSUED ALL THE VOYAGE WITH TINNED MILK AND PINEAPPLES, ETC.
Have you previously been questioned by any military or naval authorities about atrocities or mistreatment? (yes or no)
NO.
If YES, by WHOM, WHERE, WHEN.
Did you make a signed statement? (yes or no)
YES.
SGT A. D. HULL (signed)
Sign your name here
NOTES:--
(a) This questionnaire should be completed by:--
(i) All repatriated Australian prisoners of war (A.I.F., R.A.A.F. and
R.A.N.).
(ii) All repatriated Australian civil internees.
(iii) All repatriated British civil internees in the Pacific Area (excluding
Malaya and China).
(iv) All members and ex-members of the Allied forces who have actual knowledge
of war crimes committed by the enemy.
(b) It will be completed in the presence of an officer who will countersign the signature of the person making the statement.
(c) It is important that a full statement on page 3 (carried on to page 4 if necessary) be furnished as well as the answer to 8(f).
1. Army number:
761676
2. Rank:
L/BOMBARDIER
3. Full name (in BLOCK letters):
LEE, CHARLES ALBERT
4. Unit at time of capture and/or place of capture (State here unit in which soldier was serving at time of capture, e.g. 2/1 Fd. Regt. or H.Q. 6 Aust. Div., etc.):
15/6 H.A.A. REGT. RA.
JAVA
5. Home address:
48 RIDLEY STREET, LEICESTER, ENGLAND
6. At what enemy camps and hospitals were you confined and when were you at each?
8.3.1942 TO 29.10.1942 JAVA
28.11.1942 TO 14.9.1945 JAPAN
7. Do you have any information about any atrocities against, or mistreatment of, Allied soldiers, prisoners of war, civilian internees or the civilian population for which you think the perpetrators should be punished? (Answer by stating YES or NO in the spaces provided below)--
(a) Killings or executions:
YES.
(b) Rape, torture, beatings or other cruelties:
YES.
(c) Imprisonment under improper conditions:
YES.
(d) Massacres, wholesale looting, pillage, or burning of towns or villages:
NO.
(e) Use of prisoners of war or civilians on enemy military works or operations:
NO.
(f) Exposure of prisoners of war to danger of gunfire, bombing, torpedoing, or other hazards of war:
NO.
(g) Transportation of prisoners of war under improper conditions or deportation of civilians:
YES.
(h) Public exhibition or exposure to ridicule of prisoners of war:
NO.
(i) Failure to provide prisoners of war or internees with proper medical care, food or quarters:
YES.
(j) Collective punishment of a group for offence of others:
(k) Breaches of rules relating to the Red Cross:
YES.
(l) Cannibalism:
NO.
(m) Mutilation of the dead:
NO.
*(n) Any other war crimes not specifically mentioned above for which you think the guilty persons should be punished:
NO.
8. Details of Atrocities.--
(a) Kind of crime
KILLING
(b) When and where it happened
KUMAMOTO, JAPAN.
(c) Who was the victim? (Give complete description including name and whether military or civilian personnel)
GUNNER KEENAN.
(d) Who was the perpetrator? (Give complete description and as much information as possible)
LT. SAKAMOTO, CAMP COMMANDANT - NO. 1 CAMP FUKUOKA
PTE. KATSURA, CAMP INTERPRETER
(e) State if you saw it yourself. If you did not see it, who told you about it? (Give names and addresses of other witnesses)
YES.
(f) Give brief story of crime. Full statement required on pages 3 and 4.
GUNNER KEENAN WAS SENTENCED TO THREE DAYS IN THE GUARDROOM FOR NOT WORKING. THIS WAS IMPOSSIBLE AS HE WAS CERTIFIED BY THE M.O. TO BE SUFFERING FROM PNEUMONIA. HE DIED FROM THIS TREATMENT ON THE DAY HE WAS RELEASED.
To the best of my belief the above particulars are correct.
C. A. LEE
(Signature.)
JOHN BEATHAIN(?) O/C
(Signature of Interrogating Officer.)
22-9-45
(Date.)
(Place and/or Unit at which interrogation was made.)
Comment by Interrogating Officer:
* Other war crimes not specifically mentioned include:--
(i) Usurpation of sovereignty during military occupation.
(ii) Compulsory enlistment of soldiers among the inhabitants of occupied
territory.
(iii) Attempts to denationalize the inhabitants of occupied territory.
(iv} Confiscation of property.
(v) Exaction of illegitimate or of exorbitant contributions and
requisitions.
(vi) Debasement of the currency and issue of spurious currency.
(vii) Deliberate bombardment of undefended places.
(viii) Wanton destruction of religious, charitable, educational and historical
buildings and monuments.
(ix) Use of explosive or expanding bullets and other inhuman appliances.
(x) Directions to give no quarter and refusal of quarter.
(xi) Misuse of flags of truce.
FULL STATEMENT OF ATROCITY OR CRIME
This MUST be signed by the person making the statement and countersigned by the interrogating officer at the end of the statement.
7.G. DURING OUR TRIP FROM JAVA TO JAPAN, THE BOAT WAS OVERLOADED BY AT LEAST FOUR TIMES ITS CAPACITY WITH PRISONERS & JAPS. AT LEAST FIFTY PRISONERS DIED OF DYSENTERY. MEDICAL SUPPLIES WERE NIL.
7.I. MEDICAL SUPPLIES WERE SENT BY THE AMERICAN RED CROSS, BUT WERE NEVER ISSUED TO OUR M.O.S UNTIL 16.8.45 WHEN SEVERAL BOXES WERE SENT TO THE M.I. ROOM.
7.K. AS ABOVE
C. A. LEE (signed)
LT. COL. SAUNDERS R.A. HAS A COMPLETE LIST OF EACH DEATH IN NO. 1 CAMP, JAPAN. HE IS AT PRESENT IN THIS CAMP.
JOHN BEATHAIN(?) O/C (signed)
I, CHARLES ALBERT LEE, with permanent address at 48, Ridley Street, Leicester, make oath and say as follows :--
I was a Lance Bombardier in the 15th Heavy A.A.
I was captured by the Japanese at Garoet, Java, on the 8th March 1942.
I was taken with other prisoners, to Kumamoto Prison Camp in Japan.
When I was captured I was wearing British Army tropical kit. This I wore, without any change whatever, until March 1943. I was then issued with a working suit consisting of fibre jacket and trousers. This issue was made to prisoners working on the construction of an aerodrome. No underclothing was issued. There were 231 prisoners at at the camp when I arrived. We had to clean our own clothes in the camp bath on rest days -- one day in ten.
Food was bad. We had three meals a day: 7 a.m., 12 noon and 5-30 p.m. The main diet was supposed to be rice, but actually it was millet. This was served by our own men working in the kitchen. It was steamed and served occasionally with thin vegetable soup. During April, May and June 1943, our cooks made a kind of bread from flour issued by the Japanese, mixed with the millet. This was stopped, owing, so the camp commandant said, to shortage of flour. About once a month we were issued with whale meat soup. This was good. Fish was issued once a week. The food was very small in quantity and was frequently bad. We were always very hungry, and many times were almost starved. During the latter months the amount of food issued to us was negligible, merely consisting of a few handfulls of millet. During the first 35 days at the camp, 35 men died. At least 12 of these died from malnutrition.
There were three sleeping huts for the men, one for the officers, and one for hospital. Each hut had one latrine and five earth closets five yards away. The arrangements were primitive. There was no lavatory water system. Excreta and urine were collected each morning by our officers who were prisoners. The Japanese made the officers do this. They were given long wood ladles and had to spread it over the gardens where vegetables were grovn. This was objected to by Lieutenant Colonel Saunders, 21st Light A.A., and there was a lot of trouble about it. There was a terrific smell from the excreta all the time. The latrines and earth closets were under cover. There was one wash stand to each hut. These were two yards behind the latrines. They had cold water only. Sometimes the water would run, but often it did not. We had an issue of soap; one 2 ounce bar per man per month. There was one bath, under cover, next to the kitchen. The bath was wood and to heat the water we had our own bath attendant light fires under a length of tin fixed under the bath. Everyone suffered from body lice and fleas, but the Japanese did nothing about it.
The camp was situated in a clearing in a bamboo plantation. The area was about 250 yards by 120 yards. It was surrounded by a 10 feet high wood fence. There was no barbed wire. In addition to our five huts there were 2 offices for the Japanese and 2 huts used as sleeping quarters by the guards. There was also a guard room, attached to which were three solitary confinement cells. These cells were 6 feet long, 2 feet wide and 5 feet high. They were filthy and riddled with lice. There was a raised board to lie on. The latrine was underneath the board. It was necessary to lift a part of the board to use the latrine. The sleeping huts were 25 feet by 14 feet. Eighty men slept in each hut, on two tiers, one above the other. This number was decreased during the period by the deaths of prisoners. We slept on boards covered with straw, over which were rice mats. We had five good blankets each, which we kept clean ourselves. We had to eat at tables in the huts. There was no Red Cross sign on the hospital buildings. There were mosquito curtains which were adequate. There was no heating of any kind. Medical supplies were totally inadequate. When I suffered from dysentry I was put in the hospital, but received no treatment at all. I was there for a month, and at the same time there were about sixty other men suffering from the same complaint. To the best of my knowledge no one received any treatment. There was no iodine or anything to use for cuts. Our own doctor, Captain Wallace, R.A.M.C., struggled along as well as he could. I know that he asked for medicaI supplies, but they were refused. A Japanese doctor called periodically to examine us, and occasionally, on serious cases, he gave injections of some kind, and for beri-beri he sometimes gave a glucose injection, but these occasions were rare.
The only Red Cross supplies arrived in May 1943. They comprised food parcels, bulk sugar, corned beef, cocoa and dried fruit. This was kept in camp by the commandant for three weeks, when it was issued under his supervision to the prisoners: one food parcel per officer; two food parcels for three men. At the same time every man received two tins of corned beef. The following day a number of the men went sick and the commandant blamed this on the tinned goods (salmon, butter, jam) which were in the food parcels. He immediately withdrew the tinned goods and corned beef. Subsequently about half of these food stuffs were issued in cooked form. We saw Japanese private Katsura, the interpreter, and the guards eating food which we knew was the Red Cross supplies sent to us, and several times Katsura gave us some of the tins of corned beef which had been taken from us. Katsura never said anything to us about it though we told him we knew he was eating our supplies. He just laughed. The bulk supplies were issued to us a little each rest day. No medical supplies were issued, and I don't know if any were included in this consignment from the Red Cross.
We were employed on airport construction. We built a complete aerodrome near the camp. The working conditions were bad, chiefly owing to the climate. We started work at 7.45 a.m. We had a break from 10 a.m., to 10-15 a.m., and had dinner from 12 noon to 1 p.m., then continued till 3 p.m., with a break of 15 minutes, and ceased work at 5-15 p.m. We were under Japanese military guards and Korean gangers. We were forced to work very hard. Only a few prisoners at a time were assigned to dangerous work. This was as follows :- They were instructed to undermine, by means of picks, whole sections of cliff 60 feet high, for levelling purposes. Often the cliff would collapse on the men and sometimes the men would be buried under the debris. One man, Bombardier Ketcher, sustained a broken leg, and he lay in the hospital for 12 months without proper attention.
The Japanese guards had no consideration for our safety. This was proved by the work at the cliff face. The day we arrived at Kumamoto we were made to stand on parade for three hours. It was a bitterly cold day and we had no warm clothes. Our kit was searched. The commandant spoke to us. We were assigned huts. Shortly afterwards the military guards started to be violent. Even before we started work in the mornings they would come into the huts with fixed bayonets and poke us as we lay in bed, thus forcing us to get up. This was persistent. While working the guards seized every opportunity to ill-treat us. Their favourite method was to strike a man on the head or body with a long bamboo stick. I was struck about seven times. The injuries were not serious but were painful. Many times, if the guard saw a prisoner idling or receiving anything from Korean labourers, they would practise jui- jitsu on the prisoner, frequently rendering the man unconscious. These incidents were so common and frequent that it is difficult to remember isolated cases. Sometimes in the night the guards would wake everybody in the huts for no reason whatever.
One day, about June 1943, the camp commandant visited the working site and watched us. He stood on slightly raised ground. He saw one of our men, Gunner Adams, R.A., pulling up sweet potatoes from the nearby garden. He immediately shouted to a guard who fetched Adams. The commandant called us all to attention. Adams stood before the commandant who kicked him over his left eye. Adams fell down, stood to attention, and was again knocked to the ground by the commandant who kicked and hit him about eight times. Eventually Adams was unable to stand. He was bleeding from the head. The commandant then ordered Adams to be taken to solitary confinement.
In addition to myself, Private Frederick Canterbury, Pioneer Corps, 102 Oldham Road, Shaw, Lancs., Lance Bombardier Walter Beacon R.A., and Gunner Pateman, R. A., were witnesses.
Early in January 1943, Gunner Keenan (not Kiener) 48 Lt. A.A., who was on a working party, although very sick from debility and malnutrition, was reported by the Japanese guard, whose name I dont know, for not working. This report was made to the N.C.O., in charge, who sent for Keenan. Keenan said he was feeling very sick and unable to do the work. The N.C.O. sent him straight back to work shovelling earth on to trucks. Keenan collapsed on the ground. He managed to sit up and so remained until the end of the shift, about 4 hours. We helped him back to camp. The 1nterpreter, Katsura, sent for Keenan, asking what was wrong. Keenan explained that he was feeling sick and unfit for work. Katsura took Keenan to the Commandant's office. About half an hour later Keenan came back to the hut. He was dazed. He did not know where he was, or what he was doing. He said he had had a terrific beating from Katsura. He was put to bed and was unable to go on the working party next day. I understand that he was later fetched from his bed by Katsura, and that R.S.M. James, 21st Light A.A. was present. Keenan was taken to the Commandant's office and received 3 days solitary confinement. A day or two later he was carried from our hut to the hospital where he died the same day. Dr. Wallace said he died of pneumonia. I did not see any marks on Keenan, but a probable witness to this is Gunner R. Webb, 21st Light A.A., who put him to bed. Gunner Docherty, 48 Light A.A. may also assist in this.
I'm sure that the name of the soldier who died was Keenan, and not Kiener, and I remember that Keenan was the name we put on the cross when he was buried.
I remember one occasion, I believe in April 1943, Gunner W. Fern 21st Light A.A., was detailed by B.S.M. Smith, 21st L.A.A., to carry out a fatigue duty. Katsura came up at that moment and sent Fern outside. Katsura followed. He struck Fern with his fists, kicked him and practised ju-jitsu on him for about twenty minutes. Fern was finally knocked senseless. We took him back to the hut. His face was badly cut and bruised. His body was bruised all over. We put him to bed, but he had to go to work next day although he was not fit. The witness to the assault was B.S.M. Smith and Lance Bombadier Jarvis (since deceased).
It is my opinion that Jarvis was worked to death.
I recall another instance, probably about the same time, when Sgt. Urakita (second-in-command at the camp) beat up Gunner Robert Morrison, 21st L.A.A. The circumstances were that Morrison was alleged to have given to Japanese Guard, Private Honda, sugar from the kitchen. The sugar was found on Honda, who stated that Morrison gave it to him. This Morrison denied. Urakita went to the kitchen and called Morrison outside. He punched, kicked and practised ju-jitsu on Morrison for about fifteen minutes, until Morrison was unconscious. Morrison was very badly bruised on the body, but was forced to resume his duties as camp baker immediately, although he could hardly stand up. Sgt. Regan, the Cook Sergeant, 21st Light A.A. witnessed this.
It was the general practice for sick prisoners to work on the aerodrome construction unless we had temperature exceeding 108 degrees, when we were confined to bed in our huts for two days, without treatment. I know that almost all the prisoners were forced to work although sick from dysentry and fevers. I myself was sick from either dysentry or fever on a dozen occasions, but the interpreter ordered me to go to work, although I said I was too sick for work. Complaints were made on our behalf by Colonel Saunders to the commandant, but nothing was done about it.
We had no contact with civilians generally. The Korean labourers who worked with us were, on the whole, sympathetic towards us.
I left Kumamoto in November 1945, and went to Kashii prisoner of war camp. The journey was made by train. We had seating accommodation. The journey took seven hours and food, consisting of rice in boxes was served twice on the journey. As far as I can say, the conditions were good.
I know of no other violations at Kumamoto Camp.
The camp regulations were:- Prisoners of'war were sworn not to attempt to escape from the camp. The penalty for such an attempt was death. Prisoners must not converse with civilians or Japanese guards, work diligently, the military situation must not be discussed between ourselves; all Japanese to be saluted at all times; prisoners were responsible for the cleaning of the camp and hutments; all prisoners must go to bed by 7 p.m., daily and rise at 5-30 a.m.; games were only allowed on rest days; card playing was forbidden.
The name of the camp commandant was Lieutenant Sakamoto. At first he seemed fair towards us, but as time went on he became steadily more drastic in his actions. There was no reason for this, but we all knew that he was influenced by the interpreter, Katsura. This man, who had previously been in America, seemed to have a grudge against all the prisoners. He used to say that he knew us and hated us, and that if he could get us in trouble with the commandant he would do so. This was heard by all the prisoners in the camp. Katsura was more violent than the other guards.
I know of no other information regarding this camp, nor do I know the names of any other Japanese personnel who were responsible for ill-treatment of the prisoners of war.
(signed) C. A. Lee
Sworn at the Town Hall in the City of Lancaster this 11th day of February 1947.
Before me (signed) Dorothy M. Gates?, Justice of the Peace
I, CHARLES ALBERT LEE, with permanent address at 48, Ridley Street, Leicester, make oath and say as follows :--
I was transferred with the others prisoners of war from Kumamoto camp to Kashii prisoner of war camp in November 1943. I remained there until February 1944.
I wore the fibre suit previously issued to me at Kumamoto Camp. In January 1944, there was an issue of American Army scale winter clothing, consisting of vests, pants, shirts, socks, caps and working overalls. This issue was made from American Red Cross supplies. It was not sufficient for a complete change of clothing per man.
Food consisted of rice and soup; 3 meals per day. It was fairly satisfying, and fish was issued almost daily.
Hygiene and sanitation were primitive consisting of latrines and earth closets, which were cleaned out each morning by our officers, who used ladles for the purpose. The excreta was used as manure for the kitchen gardens, but these were situated outside the camp.
There was one large wash stand in the main grounds of the camp; it was necessary to pump water to fill the wash stand. There was one wooden bath and we obtained hot water by lighting fires under the bath. Soap was practically non existent, and lice caused a great deal of trouble as we had no means of keeping clean properly.
The camp was surrounded by a 10 feet high wooden fence. The area was about 130 yards by 80 yards. The prisoners' accomodation comprised one large wooden sleeping hut which ran almost the length of the camp. The officers quarters and hospital were combined in this hut. 300 officers and men were quartered in this hut. The Japanese officers and quarters were outside the camp.
There was also a guard room and four solitary confinement cells at the camp. These cells were 6 feet long by 2 feet wide by 5 feet high. They were filthy and lice-riddled. There was a raised board with latrine underneath.
We slept on boards over which were rice mats. We had five good blankets per man. We ate together in the huts. Mosquito curtains were adequate. There was no heating of any kind.
Medical supplies were practically nil.
Three Red Cross supplies were received by us. They were one Canadian, and 2 U.S.A. issues. The supplies consisted of food parcels, corned beef, cheese, jam and butter and cigarettes. These were issued in 3 consecutive months.
At the time I was working in the Red Cross warehouse at Hakata, 6 miles from the camp as member of a working party. We unloaded the Red Cross supplies when delivered, under the supervision of Sgt. Major Anada, the Welfare Officer for the area. The supplies were checked and stored. Anada then used to decide what quantity to issue to each prisoner of war camp in the area. This comprised 17 camps. It is to my knowledge that only a small percentage of the Red Cross supplies were issued to the camps, the remainder was stored. Anada said that this was on the instructions of the main camp commandant, Lieutenant Colonel Fukamoto, at Hakata.
There were medical supplies in the U.S. Red Cross issues. These were stored and a very small percentage was issued to the various camps. The remainder was destroyed when the Americans bombed Hakata in June 1945.
Working conditions were hard. The main job for the prisoners was timber stacking. There were no safety precautions.
The Japanese treated the English fairly well, but their treatment of the Dutch and American prisoners who came to the camp in December 1943 was brutal. About 30 Dutch and 6 American prisoners of war were put in our hut at this time.
Interpreter Private Katsura was at this camp. He immediately began to ill-treat the Dutch and Americans. Without any provocation he would beat them with sticks, hit with his fists, kick them, and practise ju-jitsu upon them. Several times he rendered prisoners unconscious. The military guards, who were changed monthly also ill-treated the Dutch and Americans in the same way. I can't give details of specific cases, but Colonel Saunders, I know, was in possession of all the facts regarding the assaults.
We had, no contact with Japanese civilians.
I know of no other violations.
Camp regulations were :- Prisoners were sworn not to attempt to escape. The penalty for such an attempt was death. Prisoners must not converse with Japanese guards or civilians; work diligently; the military situation must not be discussed between ourselves; all Japanese to be saluted at all times; the camp was to be kept clean by the prisoners; all prisoners to be in bed by 7 p.m. daily and rise at 5-30 a.m.; games were allowed only on rest days -- one day in ten.
The camp commandant was Lieutenant Sakamoto.
Sgt. Baker, 48 L.A.A,, Gunner Prior 21 L.A.A., Gunner Pateman 21 L.A.A., Private Canterbury, Pioneer Corps, can speak as to the proceedings at the Red Cross warehouse.
(signed) C. A. Lee
Sworn at the Town Hall in the City of Lancaster this 11th day of February 1947.
Before me (signed) Dorothy M. Gates?, Justice of the Peace
I, CHARLES ALBERT LEE, with permanent address at 48, Ridley Street, Leicester, make oath and say as follows :--
I was transferred with the other prisoners of war from Kashii camp to Misharado [Mushiroda] camp in February 1944, and remained until December 1944. This camp was only 3 miles from Kashii.
Clothing was the fibre suit issued by the Japanese, plus underclothing from the Red Cross.
Food consisted of rice and soup; 3 meals per day. This deteriorated very quickly until during the last month, food was practically non existent and prisoners and guards were nearly starving.
Hygiene and sanitation consisted of latrines and earth closets which were cleaned by our officers daily. They were forced to do this with ladles, and had to spread the excreta on the gardens which were situated between the prisoners' huts. Consequently the stench was extremely bad. No soap was issued. There was a wash stand at the rear of each hut. There was no running water. There was one wooden bath, and we used to heat the water in it in order to get hot baths. The whole system was primitive.
The camp was near the working site at an airport. It was surrounded by a wooden fence 10 feet high. The camp area was about 600 feet by 300 feet. The prisoners' accomodation consisted of 10 sleeping huts, officers' quarters and hospital. The buildings were made with outer walls of bark and roofs of rice straw. There were the usual Japanese offices and sleeping quarters. There were three solitary confinement cells, 6 feet long, 2 feet wide and 5' high, with raised boards to lie on, and the latrine under the board.
We slept on bare boards. We ate together in the huts. Mosquito curtains were provided. There was no heating in the huts, which were shared by 500 men in addition to the officers' quarters. While we were at this camp, it was the rainy season. The place was an absolute quagmire. The roofs and walls leaked continually and the interior of the huts was saturated with water. We were always wet through. The weather was cold.
Medical supplies were very small.
No Red Cross supplies were received at this camp.
Working conditions were hard. The prisoners were mainly employed constructing runways for the airport. We had practically no tools with which to work. The climate made working very difficult.
There were no safety precautions.
The Japanese guards treated us badly, particularly when we were joined by about 150 Dutch and 150 American prisoners. The Dutch were soldiers. The Americans were civilians.
Interpreter Private Katsura was at this camp. He instigated many beatings, particularly of the Dutch and Americans. The guards struck us with bamboo sticks, kicked and practised jiu-jitsu on us.
One day in June 1944, the prisoners were exercising in the camp, when a Japanese military guard beat a Dutch soldier, whose name I don't know. The circumstances were that the Dutchman was supposed to have failed to salute the guard. The guard struck the Dutchman with a bamboo stick on the thighs repeatedly for 20 minutes. The Dutchman collapsed unconscious. He was taken to hospital and died next day. I did not see his injuries. Captain Wallace, R.A.M.C., treated the man. The assault was seen by nearly everybody in the camp. I cannot give further details.
We had no contact with Japanese civilians.
I know of no other violations, but I know that at least 40 prisoners died at this camp, mostly from pneumonia, due to the bad conditions of the huts.
Camp regulations were as at Kashii camp.
Lieutenant Sakamoto was the camp commandant.
I know of no other information.
(signed) C. A. Lee
Sworn at the Town Hall in the City of Lancaster this 11th day of February 1947.
Before me (signed) Dorothy M. Gates?, Justice of the Peace