British Affidavits 3

BRITISH AFFIDAVITS

Lucas
Metcalf
Morton
Newman
Regan
Saunders
Suddes
Thyer
Vesey
Wallace
Warwick
Weeden
Whitehouse

Lucas, Harry

When COMPLETED this document must be classified as SECRET.

AUSTRALIAN WAR CRIMES COMMISSION.

QUESTIONNAIRE.

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:

1456030

2. Rank:

STAFF SERGEANT

3. Full name (in BLOCK letters):

LUCAS, HARRY

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.):

21ST L.A.A. REGT.
TIMOR

5. Home address:

153 ST. MARGARETS AVE, RUSHDEN, NORTHANT, ENG.

6. At what enemy camps and hospitals were you confined and when were you at each?

25TH-2-42 TO 23RD-9-42 TIMOR
1-10-42 TO 22-10-42 MAKASURA, JAVA
26-11-42 TO 14-9-45 FUKUOKA CAMP

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.

(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:

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:

*(n) 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 in 8 (f) and on pages 3 and 4.

8. Details of Atrocities.--

(a) Kind of crime

BEATINGS AND TORTURES.

(b) When and where it happened

DAILY OCCURRENCES.

TOO NUMEROUS.

(d) Who was the perpetrator? (Give complete description and as much information as possible)

GUARDS, CAMP STAFF, WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE CAMP COMMANDANT, SAKAMOTO.

(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.

I SAW MY BROTHER BEATEN WITH A POLE AND HE WAS BLACK AND BLUE DOWN HIS LEGS AND BACK.

To the best of my belief the above particulars are correct.

H. LUCAS
(Signature.)

E? RUSSELL W/O RAF
(Signature of Interrogating Officer.)

22-9-45
(Date.)

NO S U S REPLACEMENT DEPOT
(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.

USE OF BRITISH & AUSTRALIAN TO UNLOAD MILITARY STORES AT KOEPANG, TIMOR, WHILE SUBJECT TO ALLIED BOMBINGS. LEFT TIMOR 23RD SEPT 1942 ON THE ICHI MARU, A TERRIBLE SHIP PACKED TO SUFFOCATION, AND BAD SANITATION, SHORTAGE OF WATER, AND MEN WERE DYING BY THE SCORE OF DYSENTERY. THE ACTUAL TOTAL THAT DIED OF THESE CONDITIONS WERE 100. ON ARRIVAL IN JAPAN, AT FUKUOKA CAMP I SAW MY BROTHER BEATEN BY A JAPANESE NAMED OYAMA, FOR GIVING HIM A DIRTY LOOK.

AT OUR CAMP, WE HAD NO MED SUPPLIES, ONLY A FEW ASPIRINS, AND A FEW RAGS FOR BANDAGE.

AT ALL CAMPS, FOR SMALL ERRORS LIKE SMOKING OR NOT SALUTING A PRIVATE SOLDIER, WE SUFFERED TERRIBLE BEATINGS. THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE CONDITIONS WERE THE CAMP COMM. NAMED SAKAMOTO AND KATSURA, INTERPRETER.

AT FUKUOKA CAMP 1, RED CROSS FOOD WAS STOLEN BY A JAP MED ORDERLY NAMED HATA.

H. LUCAS (signed)
SEPT

Morton, William Henry

When COMPLETED this document must be classified as SECRET.

AUSTRALIAN WAR CRIMES COMMISSION.

QUESTIONNAIRE.

NOTES:--

(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:

163857

2. Rank:

CHAPLAIN

3. Full name (in BLOCK letters):

MORTON, WILLIAM HENRY

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.):

R.A. CH. D. ATTACHED TO 21ST L.A.A. REGT. R.A.

5. Home address:

MILFORD VICARAGE, DERBY, ENGLAND

6. At what enemy camps and hospitals were you confined and when were you at each?

KOEN SCHOOL, BATAVIA (MARCH TO MAY 1942)
GLODOCK, BATAVIA (MAY TO OCT 1942)
KUMAMOTO, JAPAN (NOV 1942 - NOV 1943)
KASHII (NOV 1943 - APRIL 1944)
MUSHIRODA (APRIL 1944 - JAN 1945)
NAJIMA (JAN 1945 - APRIL 1945)
JINSEN, KOREA (APRIL 1945 - SEPT 1945)

(a) Killings or executions:

NO.

(b) Rape, torture, beatings or other cruelties:

YES.

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:

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:

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.

If any question is answered YES then state the facts in 8 (f) and on pages 3 and 4.

8. Details of Atrocities.--

(a) Kind of crime

(b) When and where it happened

(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.

W. H. MORTON CF.
(Signature.)

H JACKSON
(Signature of Interrogating Officer.)

24/9/45
(Date.)

313. U.S.G.H.
(Place and/or Unit at which interrogation was made.)

Comment by Interrogating Officer:

* Other war crimes not specifically mentioned include:--

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.

(B) BEATINGS FREQUENT, E.G. MAN HAD RIBS BROKEN THROUGH BEATING ON WORK PARTY. DR. DE WIN COMPLAINED TO COMMANDANT, BEATEN UP BY THE CAMP INTERPRETER (KATSURA) SEVERELY. (MUSHIRODA, JAPAN).
DR. ENSING BEATEN UP BADLY FOR REQUESTING DRUGS FOR DYING MAN.
MAN PUNISHED BY JAPS -- TIED & PUT IN BLAZING SUNSHINE FOR WHOLE OF ONE DAY.

(G) TRANSPORTATION FROM SINGAPORE TO MOJI (JAPAN) ON DAI NICHI MARU. MANY MEN FORCED TO SLEEP, PACKED TOGETHER, ON BALLAST IN BOTTOM HOLD OF SHIP. TWO INADEQUATE MEALS A DAY. 2/3 PINT TIN DAILY. NO WATER FOR WASHING. NO HOSPITAL -- PATIENTS LAY ON DECK, ONLY COVERED BY TARPAULIN. 3 LATRINES FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED MEN.

(I) IN KUMAMOTO CAMP, JAPAN. MEDICAL ATTENTION INADEQUATE. MEN DIED THROUGH LACK OF MEDICINES, E.G. BOMBARDIER FRANK CAST? -- DIAGNOSED APPENDICITIS CARE BY ENGLISH DOCTOR -- JAPS DENIED THIS -- MAN DIED. MEN FORCED TO GO OUT TO WORK BY COMMANDANT WHEN UNFIT. 35 DEATHS IN 3 MONTHS, MANY OF WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN CURED BY SUPPLY OF PROPER MEDICINES. MEN FORCED TO GO OUT TO WORK BAREFOOT WHEN GROUND FROZEN HARD. ??? ??? OVERCOATS OR ANY WARM CLOTHING DURING DAY. THE COMMANDANT & INTERPRETER (SAKAMOTO CHUI & KATSURA) WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR MOST OF THIS ILL TREATMENT.

IN CAMP AT KASHII, SICK & CONVALESCENT WERE PUT ON HALF RATIONS (THIS INCLUDED OFFICERS). AT MUSHIRODA & NAJIMA, BANDAGES WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR SICK MEN. JAP MEDICAL ORDERLIES USED RED X BANDAGES DAILY & RATIONS? FOR THEMSELVES. AT KUMAMOTO, FEW MEDICINES WERE ISSUED. THE ENGLISH DOCTOR STOLE MEDICINES AT TIMES FROM NIP STORES FOR SICK MEN.

(J) MANY CASES OF THIS -- E.G. FOR MAN? IN THE HUT AT ROLL CALL (EVENING) WHOLE CAMP FORCED TO STAND (WITHOUT OVERCOAT) IN OPEN AIR LATE IN JANUARY -- BITTERLY COLD WEATHER -- FOR TWO HOURS. ON SHIRT? MISSING -- ALL MEN WHO HAD BEEN IN CAMP THAT DAY (INCLUDING MEDICAL ORDERLIES BUT NOT MEN SICK IN BED) WERE PUT IN CELLS FOR NIGHT & EVENING MEAL STOPPED.

(K) RED X PARCELS NEVER ISSUED IN HUTS. COMMANDANT EXTRACTED MEAT & FISH. THESE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE ISSUED TO CAMP VIA COOK HOUSE -- BUT THERE WAS A CONSIDERABLE LEAKAGE? AMONGST THE JAPS. RED X CLOTHING NOT ISSUED THOUGH MEN WERE SHIVERING WITH COLD & HAD FEW WARM GARMENTS. CLOTHES, INCLUDING BOOTS, WERE KEPT BY COMMANDANT IN HIS STORES.

W. H. MORTON CF. (signed)
24/9/45

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.

The Reverend William Henry Morton, R.A. CH. D., of The Rectory, West Walton, Norfolk

On oath states:-

I was a Chaplain attached to the 2lst L.A.A. Regiment, Royal Artillery and arrived in Java early in February, 1942. On the 8th March, 1942, I was captured at Garoet by the Japanese and taken to Koen School, Batavia. On the 14th May, 1942, I was transferred to Boei Glodock, Batavia. On 22nd October, 1942, I set sail for Singapore and on the 30th October, 1942, I was transshipped on the "Dai Nichi Maru" en route for Japan. On the 26th November, 1942, I arrived at Moji, Japan, and the next day moved to Kumamoto prisoner of war camp. On 21st November, 1943, the whole camp, under the same authorities moved to Kashii. On the 17th April, 1944, I was moved to Mushiroda, where I stayed until the 18th January, 1945. I was then moved to Najima and left on the 25th April, 1945, en route for Korea, two days later I arrived at Jinsen Prisoner of War camp, Korea.

The name of the Commandant of the above mentioned camps in Japan was Lieutenant, later Captain Sakamoto (spelling uncertain).

On the 27th November, 1942, when we arrived at Kumamoto the men were in a state of exhaustion, suffering from scurvy, pellagra and dysentery. Most of the men had marched 5 to 6 miles to the prisoner of war camp. Snow was on the ground and most men possessed only tropical clothes. After a time an overcoat of sorts was provided for each man, but no warm clothes were provided until March, 1943. Some men had to go out to work bare-footed. Three meals a day were provided, consisting of rice and vegetable stew, in inadequate amounts. No sugar or fat was provided but occasionally a small piece of fish was issued. Some men suffered from frost-bite. One man died as a result of frost-bite and gangrene.

Sanitation and hygiene was dreadful, the latrines of the trench variety were adequate in number but were situated only about two yards from the sleeping quarters. The stench was nauseating and in the warm weather grubs from the latrines crawled about in the sleeping quarters, flies abounded,. Hot baths were provided periodically, consisting of three tubs of hot water, which had to serve 254 men. No facilities were given for de-lousing. A small hospital was provided later. No sick men were allowed to go to an outside hospital and as a consequence one man died of appendicitis because the Japanese would not operate. No dental treatment was available, though repeatedly asked for. Sick men were accommodated in a long dark hut with one tiny fire in it, for most of the day they were in the dark. The roof leaked and wind whistled through knot holes in the wooden walls.

The accommodations in the camp consisted of wooden huts, the same huts being used for living, feeding and sleeping. The roofs leaked and the walls had large knot holes and cracks. Newspapers were provided to paste over the holes to keep out draughts. The windows had to be opened at 5 a.m. daily, in all weathers. No fires were provided even in the coldest weather. The huts were rat infested.

The medical supplies were totally inadequate. Red Cross parcels were received in January and May, 1943, with bulk supplies of sugar, cocoa, bully beef and salt. The Japanese guards and the camp interpreter, named Katsura, took their share of the bulk supplies.

Of working conditions, men were forced to go out to work if they could walk, no matter how ill they were. There were no precautions taken for the safety of the prisoners, except shallow trenches covered with boughs of trees. Regarding the treatment of prisoners, beatings grew in frequency as time went on.

Many men died through neglect on the part of the Japanese, which could have been averted if they had been given medical attention and freedom from work. 35 men died in this camp.

No contact was made with civilians in this camp. The conditions en route to other camps gradually deteriorated until, in travelling (under the same camp authorities) from Mushiroda (Fukuoka) to Najima (Fukuoka) a distance of 5 miles, no transport was allowed even for the sick, although a blizzard was raging.

There was no such thing as camp regulations.

The following incidents were witnessed by me:-

(1) A Dutch medical Officer, Dr. Ensing, was severely beaten by the Japanese medical orderly for asking for medicines previously promised.

(2) Dr. De Winn severely beaten for reporting a case of broken ribs, caused by a beating up from Katsura, the interpreter.

(3) In the Mushiroda camp (same camp authorities as at Kumamoto) a man was beaten unconscious, revived with cold water and beaten again repeatedly. He was then tied to a post for 8 hours in the sun.

Ordinary beatings were frequent.

Other witnesses of the above incidents are:-

Lt. Col. M. D. S. Saunders, Commandant. Major A. Steele, Major E. Beattie and Captain George Whiteman, all of the 21st L.A.A. Regiment, Royal Artillery.

Concerning the death of Gunner Kienar.

I have no record of a man named Kienar in Kumamoto, but there were two men of a similar name.

(1) Gunner C. A. Keelan, No. 13100370, Pioneer Corp, died at Kumamoto on 17th February, 1945.

(2) Gunner J. Keenan, 242 Battery, 46th L.A.A. Regiment, Royal Artillery, died at Kumamoto on 19th March, 1943.

Both men were buried by me at Kumamoto.

Apart from illnesses, ill-treatment, neglect and beatings in general, I can recall no special incident which contributed to the death of either of these men, but it was the custom for men to be forced to go out to work however ill they might be, provided they could walk at all.

NOTE.

In September, 1945, at the end of hostilities, a full report was handed to the American Authorities by Lt. Col. Saunders. This report contained a true account of all incidents. It was read over and agreed to by me and the above named Officers.

(signature) William H. Morton

Signed and Sworn before me this 4th day of March, 1947.

B M Whelsaonis? Justice of the Peace for the County of Norfolk.

Newman, Albert Henry Jess

IN THE MATTER OF JAPANESE WAR CRIMES
AND IN THE MATTER OF THE ILL-TREATMENT OF PRISONERS OF WAR
AT KUMAMOTO CAMP AND FUKUOKA CAMP, JAPAN.

A F F I D A V I T.

I, ALBERT HENRY JESS NEWMAN, late Gunner Royal Artillery, with permanent home address at 239 Lower Mortlake Road, Richmond, in the County of Surrey, make oath and say as follows:-

1. I was captured on 23 February 1942 at TIMOR.

2. On 23 November 1942 I was taken to KUMAMOTO Camp in Japan. From this time onwards I was employed as a carpenter.

3. During either January or February 1943 the Japanese authorities ordered that we prisoners of war should return the tins of Bully Beef, which had been issue to us just before the visit of representatives of the Red Cross. On the same day I was working in the Dysentery Ward of the Camp Hospital and TAKEO KATSURA, who was the camp interpreter, came in with a guard and searched the hut. He found a tin of Bully Beef under the blankets of a Gunner who was seriously ill with dysentery. KATSURA said to this Gunner, whose name I do not know, "What are you doing with this?" The gunner answered "I am hungry." KATSURA replied "You know you had to give it in." KATSURA then pulled the gunner out of bed and beat him abut twelve times across the back and shoulders with a bamboo about three-quarters of an inch thick. The blows were struck viciously, KATSURA raised his hand above his shoulder before striking the gunner who lay on the ground. The gunner was wearing tropical battledress. About ten days afterwards this gunner died.

4. SAKAMOTO was Commandant of all the camps in which I was imprisoned. Sometime in the middle of 1943 while at KUMAMOTO he and TAKEO KATSURA discovered that the men had boxes for which I had supplied the wood. They called me into the hut where these boxes were discovered and SAKAMOTO struck me in the face with his fist and knocked me towards KATSURA; KATSURA thereupon struck me in the face with his fist and knocked me back again towards SAKAMOTO, four or five times I was punched to and fro in this manner. I then followed SAKAMOTO and KATSURA as they went through the huts smashing boxes with a hammer. Finally in the officers' hut KATSURA said to me "You had a fine time, haven't you?" and struck me on the head with a four pound ballheaded hammer. Later that evening I was present when SAKAMOTO called one of the guards and said something to him in Japanese as a result of which the guard took me away and put me in a cell where there was insufficient room to stand or lie down. For four hours I was made to sit on my heels with my arms stretched above my head.

5. About December 1943 I was taken to FUKUOKA in Japan where I stayed until 15 September 1945. My carpenter's bench was in view of the cook-house. Very frequently KATSURA would come to the cook-house and ask for tea with sugar. As the cook had only three-quarters of a pail of sugar to last a month for about seven hundred men, he often was unable to give any to KATSURA. When this occurred, KATSURA would line up the cooks, that is Serjeant Regan, Lance-bombardier Scott and five others, and go down the line hitting their faces with the flat of his hand or on some occasions with a paddle which is a flat piece of wood for taking the rice from the boilers.

6. On one occasion eight or nine prisoners of war who were sick were late getting out on parade after lunch. KATSURA took a one and a half pound hammer from me and I saw him strike these men with it. One of them he struck on the head, the others on the side or arms.

7. Throughout my life as a prisoner of war, SAKAMOTO was accustomed to giving me beatings about twice a week. I remember on one occasion when I had made a cabinet for him, SAKAMOTO was in a rage because the joints were not made in the way he wanted. He kicked the cabinet and struck me with the flat of his hand several times. The next day he came into the hut where I was working and struck me on the head with a piece of the two inch by two inch timber.

8. In about June 1944 I was present when Lance-bombardier CHILTERN, who was in charge of a working party ,was brought before SAKAMOTO by a Japanese foreman or honcho. The honcho spoke to SAKAMOTO who turned to Lance-bombardier Chiltern and slapped his face then struck him in the face with his fist. He then pushed him in the chest so that Lance-bombardier Chiltern fell to the ground, thereupon SAKAMOTO kicked him in the side, jumped on his chest and then jumped onto his face thus smashing his spectacles. SAKAMOTO was wearing heavy rubber riding boots.

9. With me in all the camps in which I have been imprisoned was a civilian guard called HAJIME HONDA who beat prisoners on the slightest provocation. About June 1945 HONDA asked me to make him a pair of clogs. I told him I was not allowed to do it. He took me to the guardroom where he struck me across my back about six times with a stick about half an inch thick.

10. At about the same time as the above incident, I went out to a working party where I saw HONDA standing over an American prisoner of war who was in a position known in physical training as "on the hands down." Every time the American body sagged HONDA struck him across the back with a bamboo.

SWORN by the said ALBERT HENRY JESS NEWMAN
at 6 Spring Gardens, Cockspur St., London
this 24th day of May 1946.
(Signed) A. H. J. NEWMAN

BEFORE ME,
(Signed) H. N. Marten,
Captain Legal Staff,
Mil. Dept. Office of the Judge Advocate General.

Regan, Benjamin

CONFIDENTIAL

WRITE IN BLOCK CAPITAL LETTERS IN PENCIL

No.: 1543359
Rank: SGT.
Surname: REGAN
Christian Names: BENJAMIN
Decorations: ---
Ship (R.N., U.S.N. or Merchant Navy): ---
Unit & Div. (Army): 21ST LAA REG RA
Squadron and Command (R.A.F., A.A.F.): ---
Date of Birth: 28/3/1905
Date of Enlistment: 15/11/39
Private Address and Telephone No.: 49 COLESBORNE RD. LPOOL 11
Place and Date of Original Capture (Aircrew R.A.F. to give place and date of a/c crash): JAVA 8/3/42

1. At what enemy camps and hospitals were you confined and when were you at each?

KUMAMOTO DEC 1942 - DEC 1943
KASHII 1943 - '44
FUKUOKA 1944 - 1945

5. Do you have any information about any atrocities against or mistreatment of ALLIED 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) Torture, beatings or other cruelties:

YES.

(d) Massacres, wholesale looting, or burning of towns:

NO.

(e) Use of prisoners of war 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:

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 offense of others:

YES.

(k) Any other war crimes not specifically mentioned above for which you think the guilty persons should be punished:

YES.

IF ANY QUESTION IS ANSWERED YES THEN STATE THE FACTS BRIEFLY ON REVERSE SIDE OF THIS SHEET.

3. Details of Atrocities:

(a) Kind of crime:

BEATINGS

(b) Where it happened:

AT ALL CAMPS MENTIONED OVERLEAF

FRANCIS HESSION, AMERICAN CIVILIAN

(d) Who was the perpetrator?

(i) Name:
KATSURA
(ii) Rank:
PTE
(iii) Postion held:
INTERPRETER
(iv) Branch of Service:
ARMY
(v) Height:
5'6"
(vi) Weight:
---
(vii) Age:
35
(viii) Colour of Eyes:
---
(ix) Glasses?:
NO
(x) Colour of Hair (or Bald):
BLACK
(xi) Home Town:
KAGOSHIMA
(xii) Any noticeable features, scars, missing limbs, tooth fillings, etc.:
KNIFE SCARS ON STOMACH

(e) State if you saw it yourself. If you did not see it, who told you about it?

SELF

(f) Give brief story of crime:

KATSURA BEAT UP ONE OR MORE POW.S EVERY DAY. ALSO STOLE RED CROSS FOOD AND SUPPLIES.

THE BEATING MENTIONED ABOVE WAS PARTICULARLY BRUTAL INASMUCH AS VICTIM WAS INCAPACITATED FOR A WEEK AFTER.

POW. LABOUR USED IN BUILDING OF AIR FIELDS AND IF ONE MAN TRANSGRESSED THE RULES, EIGHT OR TEN MEN WERE PUNISHED.

(g) Give Number, Rank, Name Unit, etc., and Private Address, if known, of any other Witnesses:

RSM. JAMES W. 21ST LAA RA

To the best of my belief the above particulars are correct.

B REGAN
(Signature)

20/10/45
Date

---
Unit at which Interrogation was made.

Saunders, Martin Dunsten Sedgwick

See Affidavit on Page 3.

Suddes, Thomas

When COMPLETED this document must be classified as SECRET.

AUSTRALIAN WAR CRIMES COMMISSION.

QUESTIONNAIRE.

NOTES:--

(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:

1572879

2. Rank:

GUNNER.

3. Full name (in BLOCK letters):

SUDDES, THOMAS

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.):

35TH/89 BTY. LIGHT AA.

5. Home address:

16 COTMANDENE DORKING SURREY

6. At what enemy camps and hospitals were you confined and when were you at each?

MOJI 27/11/42 TO 4/12/43
KASHII 4/12/43 TO 17/3/44
NASAMA [Najima?] 17/3/44 TO 15/8/45

(a) Killings or executions:

NO.

(b) Rape, torture, beatings or other cruelties:

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:

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:

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:

YES.

*(n) Any other war crimes not specifically mentioned above for which you think the guilty persons should be punished:

NO.

If any question is answered YES then state the facts in 8 (f) and on pages 3 and 4.

8. Details of Atrocities.--

(a) Kind of crime

(b) When and where it happened

(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.

BEATINGS TOO NUMEROUS TO REMEMBER, FROM SIX TO A DOZEN MEN WERE BEAT EVERY DAY.

To the best of my belief the above particulars are correct.

THOMAS SUDDES
(Signature.)

J W DWYER SGT. AMF
(Signature of Interrogating Officer.)

21 SEP 45
(Date.)

(Place and/or Unit at which interrogation was made.)

Comment by Interrogating Officer:

* Other war crimes not specifically mentioned include:--

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.

BEATINGS WERE TOO NUMEROUS TO REMEMBER, MANY MEN EACH DAY WERE BEATEN UNMERCIFULLY. IMPRISONMENT CONDITIONS WERE TORTURE -- IN WINTER IN COLDEST WEATHER MEN WERE IMPRISONED IN WOODEN HUTS WITHOUT BLANKETS. ONE SMALL RICE BALL FILLED WITH SALT & 3 SMALL CUPS OF WATER EACH DAY FOR FOUR TO TEN DAYS.

SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS WERE WORKING ON AERODROMES -- UNLOADING SHELLS & AMMUNITION. WE WERE EXPOSED TO GUNFIRE & BOMBING, OUR WORKING PLACE BEING FLANKED BY TWO BATTERIES OF GUNS (AA). GOING TO & FROM WORK, STONES & RUBBISH WERE THROWN AT US & NOTHING DONE TO STOP IT -- EVEN ENCOURAGED.

FOOD ONLY ENOUGH TO KEEP US ALIVE, MEN DYING THROUGH LACK OF IT. QUARTERS IN ONE INSTANCE WAS HUTS MADE OF BARK FROM TREES & ROOF OF STRAW, WHICH WHEN IT RAINED DID NOT HOLD WATER OUT. IF ANY ONE MAN HAD DONE SOMETHING HE OUGHT NOT & DID NOT SPEAK UP, EVERYONE AROUND WAS BEATEN & PUNISHED.

RED CROSS SUPPLIES WERE WANTONLY WASTED BY JAPANESE -- STOLEN & EATEN. BOOTS, GLOVES, SHIRTS WERE WORN BY THEM IN FRONT OF US. I MYSELF (2) TWO YEARS AGO PACKED & STACKED HOSPITAL & DENTAL TOOLS. OPERATION TABLE'S, BLOOD PLASMA'S, ETC., WHICH WERE THERE UNTIL JUST BEFORE THE END OF THE WAR -- WHEN IN A RAID ALL WERE BURNT.

CHIEF OFFENDERS IN THESE CRIMES -- ALMOST ALL CAN BE LAID DOWN TO THEM -- BECAUSE THEY ENCOURAGED SOLDIERS & GUARDS TO DO THIS -- IS CAMP COMMANDANT, SA-KA-MO-TO, BY NAME, RANK LT., & ONE THREE STAR SOLDIER WHO WAS INTERPRETER FOR FUKUOKA CAMP (1), NAME KAT-SU-RA. THIS MAN HAS BROKEN MEN'S JAWS, RIBS, & LEGS, STOLEN RED CROSS SUPPLIES & EATEN THEM.

THOMAS SUDDES (signature)

J W DWYER SGT. AMF (signature)
21 SEP 45

Thyer, William Frederick

When COMPLETED this document must be classified as SECRET.

AUSTRALIAN WAR CRIMES COMMISSION.

QUESTIONNAIRE.

NOTES:--

(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:

DJX 154314

2. Rank:

A/B

3. Full name (in BLOCK letters):

THYER, WILLIAM FREDERICK

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.):

HMS EXETER, JAVA SEA

5. Home address:

WHITWELL, PITNEY NR TAUNTON, SOMERSET.

6. At what enemy camps and hospitals were you confined and when were you at each?

OCT '42 - DEC '44 FUKUOKA
DEC '44 - SEPT '45 MOJI

(a) Killings or executions:

NO.

(b) Rape, torture, beatings or other cruelties:

YES.

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:

NO.

(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:

NO.

(k) Breaches of rules relating to the Red Cross:

NO.

(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.

If any question is answered YES then state the facts in 8 (f) and on pages 3 and 4.

8. Details of Atrocities.--

(a) Kind of crime

BEATINGS & GENERAL MANHAND.

(b) When and where it happened

FUKUOKA NO. 1. DEC '44 - AUG '45

3 STARS SOLDIER INTERPRETER NAMED CATSURA

(d) Who was the perpetrator? (Give complete description and as much information as possible)

YES.

(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)

AMERICAN BEATEN UP IN COOKHOUSE.

(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.

W.F. THYER
(Signature.)

DH HORLAND? F/O RAF
(Signature of Interrogating Officer.)

23 SEPT 1945
(Date.)

3 AUST. POW. REC. ??
(Place and/or Unit at which interrogation was made.)

Comment by Interrogating Officer:

---

* Other war crimes not specifically mentioned include:--

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.

INTERPRETER CATSURA FREQUENTLY LOST HIS TEMPER WITH POW'S WHICH RESULTED IN BEATINGS. CATSURA ACCUSED AN AMERICAN OF GIVING OUT RICE WITHOUT PERMISSION, SUBSEQUENTLY CATSURA BEAT THE VICTIM WITH A CLUB HEAD INJURIES. HE IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY OTHER BEATINGS.

W.F. THYER (signature)

DH HORLAND? F/O RAF (signature)

Vesey, Eric

See Affidavit on Page 3.

Wallace, William Proudfoot

ROXBURGHSHIRE CONSTABULARY.

Constabulary Station,

HAWICK, 21st May, 1946.

POLICE REPORT.

Deposition of Captain William Proudfoot Wallace.

With reference to telephone message received at Police Station, Hawick, at 9:45 p.m. on Monday, 20th May, 1946, from Detective Wadey, Gateshead Borough Police, regarding information required for the British Minor War Crimes Commission, Tokyo, from Captain William Proudfoot Wallace of Viewfield House, Wrekenton, Gateshead, presently residing at Skelfhill Cottage, Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland, I beg to report that on forenoon of Tuesday, 21st May, 1946, I interviewed Captain Wallace at Skelfhill Cottage aforesaid, and there took from him the following deposition.

(signed) William Wood, Sergeant.

178060 Captain WILLIAM PROUDFOOT WALLACE, aged 42 years, M.B., Ch.B.(Edin.) presently residing at Skelfhill Cottage, Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland, states:--

Prior to the outbreak of war in 1939 I was in practice at Wrekenton, Gateshead, 9.

On 7th March, 1941 I joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and was posted to 21st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery, at Bowdon, Cheshire. I left this country with the Regiment on 8th November, 1941, and went to Java, arriving there on 5th February, 1942. After arriving in Java we were under Dutch command.

On 8th March, 1942, the Dutch capitulated and I was captured by the Japs. I was interned with about one thousand prisoners of other regiments in Glodok Prison, Batavia. We ran this camp ourselves under Jap supervision and conditions were reasonable. We left Glodok Prison in October, 1942, and arrived in Japan on 27th November, 1942. During the sea voyage we were confined to the holds of a tramp steamer named "Itchi Maru" and conditions were terrible. We slept practically on top of each other on the ballast, which was iron ore. Food was scanty - two poor meals a day. The meals consisted of a small quantity of boiled rice and very thin soup. Drinking water was scarce. There was no water for washing purposes. Many men had dysentery and died for want of proper medical treatment and proper food. Previous to embarking on this ship our Colonel, Colonel Saunders, protested to the Captain of the ship about the conditions but we were forced into the holds.

On arrival in Japan we were interned in Fukuoka Camp, No. 1 Prisoner of War Camp. This camp consisted of wooden sheds filled with double shelves on which we slept. There was no heating in the huts and clothing consisted of tropical kit. We had five thin felt Japanese blankets. The cold was intense and the men suffered from acute enteritis. During the first winter fifty men out of two hundred died.

In Fukuoka Camp there was an interpreter named Takeo Katsura. He frequently beat the men with a bamboo pole and on one occasion broke several ribs of a Dutch prisoner. I do not know the name of this prisoner but a Dutch Medical Officer, de Wyn, will know who this prisoner is. I personally saw that he had three ribs broken. As interpreter, Katsura would not convey our messages to the Camp Commandant, and if he did so, he would twist them round to our disadvantage. Often he got rations withheld or reduced and unfair punishments imposed. One punishment consisted of being in the "Dog Box" for from three to seven days on starvation diet, which meant no food. This box was a wooden compartment too small to stand up in and usually two or three men at a time were put in it. They were frequently taken out and beaten by the guards amongst whom was Hajime Honda, who was always prominent and exceptionally brutal.

Masata [Masato] Hata, a Japanese medical orderly, would not issue prescriptions advised by the P.O.W. Medical Officer, although the drugs were those under his care. By his refusal to issue the drugs he was directly responsible for the deaths of many men. On one occasion Hata forced six hospital patients to strenuous physical exercises, with the result that at least, as far as I remember three of them died. He was always aggressive to the weak men and beat them with a bamboo pole on many occasions. Lieutenant de Wyn, Medical Officer in the Dutch Army, also witnessed the above-described incidents. Captain Kostecki Medical Officer in the American Army, also witnessed the above incidents.

On 13th September, 1945, I was released from the Camp and sailed from Nagasaki on an American destroyer, arriving home at Southampton on 5th November 1945.

I am at present on repatriation leave and posted to the supernumerary strength of the Depot, Royal Army Medical Corp, Boyce Barracks, Crookham, Hants.

This deposition was made by me to Sergeant Wood, Roxburghshire Constabulary, Hawick, and is true.

(signed) W P Wallace Capt R.A.M.C.
Skelfhill Cottage, HAWICK,
Roxburghshire, Scotland./

TELEGRAPH OF 22 MAY, 1946

MD/JAG/FS/J/32
D.T.O. 221720
IMMEDIATE
UNCLASSIFIED

From: JUDVOCATE
To: UKLIM, TOKYO
....................JAG

UKLIM FOR BRITISH MINOR WAR CRIMES (.) REFERENCE YOUR B 20 UNCLASSIFIED OF 16451 (.) UNSWORN STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN W P WALLACE TAKEN PARAPHRASE FOLLOWS

(1) IN FUKUOKA CAMP NUMBER 1 FROM 27 NOVEMBER 1942 TO 13 SEPTEMBER 1945 (.)

(2) CONDITIONS CAMP CONSISTING OF WOODEN SHEDS WITH DOUBLE SHELVES FOR SLEEPING NO HEATING ONLY TROPICAL CLOTHING FIVE THIN BLANKETS EACH COLD WAS INTENSE MANY SUFFERED FROM ENTERITIS 50 OUT OF 200 DIED FIRST WINTER (.)

(3) TAKEO KATSURA INTERPRETER FREQUENTLY BEAT MEN WITH BAMBOO POLES (.) ON ONE OCCASION BROKE AT LEAST THREE RIBS OF UNKNOWN DUTCH PRISONER (.) DID NOT PROPERLY INTERPRET COMPLAINTS (.) FREQUENTLY ARRANGE WITHHOLDING OR REDUCTION OF RATIONS AND IMPOSED UNFAIR PUNISHMENTS (.) ONE PUNISHMENT THREE TO SEVEN DAYS ON STARVATION DIET IN WOODEN COMPARTMENT TOO SMALL TO STAND UP (.) USUALLY TWO OR THREE MEN IN IT (.)

(4) HAJIME HONDA MEN IN THIS COMPARTMENT REFERRED ABOVE FREQUENTLY BEATEN BY THIS MAN ALWAYS PROMINENT IN BEATINGS AND BRUTAL (.)

(5) MASATO HATA MEDICAL ORDERLY ALTHOUGH DRUGS AVAILABLE WOULD NOT ISSUE PRESCRIPTIONS (.) DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE DEATHS MANY MEN (.) ONCE FORCED SIX PATIENTS DO STRENUOUS EXERCISES RESULT THREE DIED (.) ALWAYS AGGRESSIVE SICK MEN AND BEAT BAMBOO POLE (.)

(6) LIEUTENANT DE WYN REPEAT DE WYN DUTCH M O MAY GIVE EVIDENCE

Send in clear by any means
including wireless

B Habe? (signature)
Col, Brig

O i/c Mil. Dept.,
J.A.G's Office.

WHItehall 7936
Ext. 5.

Warwick, George

IN THE MATTER OF WAR CRIMES COMMITTED BY JAPANESE NATIONALS
AND IN THE MATTER OF THE ILL TREATMENT OF PRISONERS OF WAR
AT QUAMOTO [Kumamoto], FUKUOKA PRISONER OF WAR CAMP.

Gunner 1497138 George Warwick States:-

I was a Prisoner of War in Japanese hands from the 23rd February, 1942, and just before Christmas 1942 I was taken to Quamoto [Kumamoto] at Fukuoka and was there for about 12 months. I was in Hospital for about two months with dysentery. Whilst I was at the Camp one day in the summertime when working on the Aerodrome, Gunner David Adams of the 79th Light A.A., 21st Regiment, a Prisoner of War, went up to the top of the bank and got a turnip or something out of the field. This was reported to the Camp Commandant by one of the guards when he came round. The Commandant knocked Adams down with his fist and then jumped on his stomach twice. Adams got up and went back to his work.

On another occasion, Gunner Keelan and Gunner Webb were kept in Camp whilst we went out to work. They were in the cells and I was told by another Prisoner of War, I do not know his name, that Keelan and Webb were beat up before being put in the cells. They were kept in the cells for about 10 days. They were then released and came back to the hut. Keelan had to stay in his bed as he complained about his lungs, short of breath. He was very thin and died about two months later. The Camp Commandant's name was Sakamoto Chuee. He had gold braid on his collar and two silver stars. He was a man of about 6 feet, well built, about 40 years of age, and clean shaven. He knew all that went on in the Camp. Army Sergeant Major Gough, R.S.M. James, L/Bombardier Lee, and L/Bombardier Beeken were in the Camp with me. There were about 300 of us and about 14 died whilst I was in this Camp.

G WARWICK (signature)

TAKEN ON OATH BEFORE ME THE 6TH DAY OF MARCH, 1946.

G M BACON (signature)

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE

FOR THE PARTS OF LINDSEY, LINCOLNSHIRE.

IN THE MATTER OF WAR CRIMES COMMITTED BY JAPANESE NATIONALS
AND IN THE MATTER OF THE ILL TREATMENT OF PRISONERS OF WAR
AND CIVILIAN INTERNEES AT
NUMBER 1 CAMP [Mushiroda], FUKUOKA, PRISONER OF WAR CAMP.

George WARWICK, number 1497138, Gunner 79th, L.A.A.
21st, Regiment, Royal Artillery.
States;

I reside at 63 Humberville Road, Immingham.

About April, 1943, I was a prisoner of war in the hands of the Japanese and was moved from Kashii prisoner of war camp to Number 1 camp [Mushiroda], Fukuoka. We were marched there on foot taking about five hours for the journey of about five miles. We took up occupation in huts. We were the first to use them. There were about 280 of us, all British soldiers. We had been there for three or four days when about 400 American civilians arrived and occupied other huts on the camp. Their ages ranged from 19 years to 65 years. These Americans appeared to settle down for about one month. We were employed digging a big canal or drain. Our food consisted of rice, stew and fish in small quantities.

During my stay in this camp, none of the British appeared to be ill-treated except Gunner Gavin Marshall of the 79th, L.A.A. who died later in another camp at Ube. I did not witness the assault, but saw him when he was taken from the cells. He was very thin and emaciated, but after treatment he pulled round again and went to work with us.

There were about 400 American civilians in the camp and they told me they came from the Pan-American Aerodrome on Wake Island. All went well for about a month, then, because they could not march, the Japanese Guards commenced to beat them with trenching shovels, and this happened almost every day. Some of them were beaten to the ground. I did not see the Commandant at any time whilst they were being beaten.

Two of the guards I know as UNDERSAM, aged about 30 to 40 years, stout build, clean shaven, hair cut very short. Also another guard who was nicknamed "George Formby" by everybody on the camp, aged about 30 to 40 years, slim build, black hair. Both were about 5' 2" to 3", and were civilian guards. I saw both these men beating the Americans up. These civilian guards did not live on the camp but came for duty. The Americans were in a bad way and quite unfit for work.

After about three months, about 200 Dutchmen arrived at the camp and were set to work, and after a short time there was talk amongst fellow prisoners of war that the camp interpreter, a Japanese, had struck one of the Dutchmen and broken three ribs. This man then reported the assault to the Camp Commandant.

Captain Whiteman and Colonel Saunders of the 21st L.A.A. will know more about this as I heard that they were also beaten up by this same interpreter.

As far as I can recollect, no one at this camp died from the injuries received at the hands of the guards.

The Commandant was SAKAMOTO CHUEE, age about 40 years, 6', clean shaven, medium build. He was previously Commandant at Kashii and Fukuoka Quamoto.

The interpreter was in charge of the camp when the Commandant was away, and it was during this time the Commandant was away that most of the beatings took place.

Signed, G WARWICK

TAKEN ON OATH BEFORE ME THE 6TH DAY OF MARCH, 1946.

G M BACON (signature)

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE

FOR THE PARTS OF LINDSEY, LINCOLNSHIRE.

Weeden, John

When COMPLETED this document must be classified as SECRET.

AUSTRALIAN WAR CRIMES COMMISSION.

QUESTIONNAIRE.

NOTES:--

(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:

1807433

2. Rank:

GNR.

3. Full name (in BLOCK letters):

WEEDEN, JOHN

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.):

79/21ST LAA. RA.

5. Home address:

49 ELY LANE TUNBRIDGE WELLS KENT ENG.

6. At what enemy camps and hospitals were you confined and when were you at each?

23/2/42 - 23/8/42 OSAPA-TIMOR
26/11/42 - 24/11/43 KUMAMOTO
25/11/43 - 17/5/44 KASHII
18/5/44 - 3/12/44 FUKUOKA [Mushiroda]
3/12/44 - 15/8/45 ORIO [Camp #6]

(a) Killings or executions:

NO.

(b) Rape, torture, beatings or other cruelties:

YES.

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:

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.

If any question is answered YES then state the facts in 8 (f) and on pages 3 and 4.

8. Details of Atrocities.--

(a) Kind of crime

(b) When and where it happened

(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.

J WEEDEN
(Signature.)

H EDWARDS W/O
(Signature of Interrogating Officer.)

26/9/45
(Date.)

3 AUST. PJY.? RECT., MANILA
(Place and/or Unit at which interrogation was made.)

Comment by Interrogating Officer:

* Other war crimes not specifically mentioned include:--

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.

(B) MEN WERE BEATEN AND IMPRISONED FOR MINOR OFFENCES OR NOTHING AT KUMAMOTO, KASHII, FUKUOKA.

(E) WORKED UNLOADING SHIPS AT COPANG TIMOR. ALSO BUILT AIRDROMES AT KUMAMOTO AND FUKUOKA. CAMP COMMANDER SAKAMOTO.

(F) WHILE DOING THE ABOVE WORK.

(G) FROM SINGAPORE TO JAPAN, 200 MEN WERE CRAMMED INTO A SMALL HOLD ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SHIP WHICH HAD WET BALLAST, INSUFFICIENT WATER, NO WORKING FACILITIES. ITCHI MARU.

(H) 100 MEN WERE MADE TO STRETCH FULL LENGTH WITH THEIR HEADS SUPPORTING THEIR BODIES FOR 90 MINUTES. ANY DROOPING OF THE BODY WAS STRAIGHTENED BY BLOWS OF STICKS. THIS HAPPENED ON A VILLAGE SQUARE AT ORIO [Mizumaki #6].

J WEEDEN (signature)

IN THE MATTER OF WAR CRIMES COMMITTED BY JAPANESE NATIONALS
AND IN THE MATTER OF THE ILL TREATMENT OF PRISONERS OF WAR
AT KASHII PRISONER OF WAR CAMP.

I, John WEEDEN, residing at 21, Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, born on the 21st January, 1921, am by occupation a Porter.

On the 15th May, 1941, I enlisted in the 228 Driver Training Regiment, Royal Artillery, at South Shore, St. Heliers Road, Blackpool, and was allotted Army No. 1807433. I was later transferred to the 79th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery of the 21st L.A.A. Regiment, Royal Artillery.

On the 23rd February, 1942, I, with other members of my Battery, were taken prisoner in Java, and were later sent to Kumamoto Prisoner of War Camp, Japan, where we remained until December, 1943.

We were then transferred to Kashii. At this Camp the same Japanese Officers and guards were in charge, although we had an additional detachment of Japanese, who appeared to be semi-disabled men. Among the Officers who came with us to this Camp, was the Officer-in-Charge, Chewi SAKAMOTO, whose rank I think would be equal to a Lieutenant in our Army. He was about 40 years of age, 5' 6" in height, black hair and slim build. The interpreter, who was at first a Private and later a Corporal, was named KATSURA, aged about 35 years, height 5' 4" and plump build. He stated he had lived in the United States for a number of years. He spoke good American-English.

At this Camp we were engaged road making for an Ordnance Depot, mostly working on unloading Railway Wagons of ballast. We had about two hundred and sixty men in one hut. There were no fires and five or six lavatories were provided. We had similar bath facilities at this Camp as at the other. This was three wooden bath tubs and we all had to use the same water. We were allowed four Japanese blankets each. These blankets were very thin.

After we had been at the Camp for about one month, we were joined by about thirty Dutchmen. We had the same medical officers and the same Orderlies, and the treatment at this Camp was the same as at Kumamoto. Some of us had boots supplied by the Red Cross but we were not allowed to wear these outside the Camp. If a man on inspection was found to be wearing the boots, he was made to stand to attention for about two hours. I know that one man, I don't know his name, complained of the cold. He was taken out of the hut on to the square, made to stand on a platform stripped, and had buckets of cold water thrown over him.

In addition to the guards at the previous Camp, there was a Japanese Sergeant in charge of the Camp staff, whom we knew as "The Bull." He sought every opportunity to bait the prisoners and ill-treat them, but by this time we had grown so used to the Japanese methods of punishment that unless something very unusual occurred, we took them as a matter of course. It was a common practice for prisoners to be beaten and knocked to the ground, and I have known the Commandant, SAKAMOTO, to jump on a man whilst he was lying down.

The food in this Camp was no different to that at Kumamoto. Which was, for breakfast rice and vegetable water, and later, an eight-ounce loaf in lieu of rice. For dinner we had the same as for breakfast. Tea was at 6 p.m. and occasionally, not more than once a week, we had fish. Whilst at this Camp we had three lots of Red Cross Parcels with four or five men to each parcel.

We remained at this Camp until April, 1944, when we were transferred to FUKUOKA No. 1 Camp [Mushiroda], by train. We were housed in bark huts with straw roofs, with about seventy men in each hut. We were joined by about one hundred and fifty Americans, one hundred and thirty English and two hundred Dutch. There were about ten lavatories for six hundred men and two wooden bath tubs. We were engaged on Aerodrome construction, digging away hills, levelling and building runways.

We had the same Camp Commandant and staff. The interpreter, Corporal Katsura, also had fits of bullying when he would assault the men with a bamboo pole, when they were pushing the trucks laden with ballast and would make them run. The Camp guards were continually finding fault with the men and making excuses for beating them, but as I have already said, this was a common occurrence.

In this Camp the food was bad, the huts were in a bad condition. We had roll call twice a day and the only thing that was better was the hospital facilities, casualties being taken to the local Fukuoka hospital for operations.

I swear by the Almighty God that this is my name and handwriting and that the contents of this my Affidavit are true.

J WEEDEN (signature)

(no signature)
Justice for the Peace,
for the Borough of Royal Tunbridge Wells.

Whitehouse, John

When COMPLETED this document must be classified as SECRET.

AUSTRALIAN WAR CRIMES COMMISSION.

QUESTIONNAIRE.

NOTES:--

(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:

1502749

2. Rank:

GUNNER

3. Full name (in BLOCK letters):

JOHN WHITEHOUSE

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.):

15TH H.A.A. BATY, 6TH H.A.A.REGIMENT, R.A.

5. Home address:

183 WILFORD RD. MEADOWS, NOTTINGHAM, UK.

6. At what enemy camps and hospitals were you confined and when were you at each?

TANG JONG-PRIOK 8/4/42 TO 21/9/42
UBE HUNCHO 27/10/42 TO 4/12/44
FUKUOKA 4/12/44 TO END OF WAR

(a) Killings or executions:

YES.

(b) Rape, torture, beatings or other cruelties:

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:

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:

YES.

(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:

YES.

(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.

If any question is answered YES then state the facts in 8 (f) and on pages 3 and 4.

8. Details of Atrocities.--

(a) Kind of crime

CRIME (B) BEATINGS

(b) When and where it happened

FUKUOKA 4/12/44 TO JAN 18 1945

ALL PERSONNEL

(d) Who was the perpetrator? (Give complete description and as much information as possible)

CIVILIAN GUARD HONDA SAN, LARGE, UGLY, 1 PROMINENT TOOTH. KATSURA SAN, EDUCATED IN USA, INTERPRETER FOR CAMP.

(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)

I SAW MYSELF.

(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.

J WHITEHOUSE
(Signature.)

E. SHIRT L/SEA. RN.
(Signature of Interrogating Officer.)

22/9/45
(Date.)

3RD AUST. REC. GROUP, MANILA
(Place and/or Unit at which interrogation was made.)

Comment by Interrogating Officer:

* Other war crimes not specifically mentioned include:--

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.

(8) THROUGHOUT MY TIME AS A PRISONER WE'VE BEEN TREATED UNFAIR AND CRUEL BEATEN WITH BAMBOO STICKS IN FRONT OF CIVILIANS WITH WHOM WE WORKED, UNDERFED AND MADE TO WORK BEYOND OUR MEANS. THE JAPANESE SPECIALIZE IN MENTAL TORTURE SUCH AS IF YOU DON'T DO THIS YOU WON'T RECEIVE RED CROSS SUPPLIES, YOUR FOOD WILL BE CUT, OR YOUR CIGS WILL BE STOPPED.

J. WHITEHOUSE (signature)

E. SHIRT L/SEA. RN. (signature)

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