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Affridavit - Fukuoka #26 Pte George Athol Hill |
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Transcribed by Eileen Santen, neice
of POW Joseph McNulty, Fuk-26, HMS Exeter Athol George Hill Pte,NX35788,2/19th,15100 “On 11 May 1945, I was taken to No. 26 Fukuoka camp. About 200 Australians were there, at this new camp. Food was very poor – the worst we ever received. The men were going down in health through malnutrition and starvation. If the war had not ended there were many of us who would not have seen another three months out. We worked down the coal mine up to 14 hours a day – it was an old mine that had been opened up. It was falling in everywhere. Dozens of men here hit. There was water down the mine. The air was foul. Sick men there were forced to work as usual. There was a lot of disease there, mostly malnutrition and dysentery. We had one death* there, medical supplies were nil. There were a couple of bashings, there but they were only in deserved instances. Apart from these few there were none. They were actually gradually killing us through work. A few months back we all felt we would never see the next winter through, so we sold our clothes.” *There were two deaths at Camp #26: Watson & Wilkie I Certify that the above evidence is true and correct. /S/ A.G.Hill (signed) Taken and sworn before me at Manila } On 6 October 1945. A. J. Mansfield } Signed } Commissioner Affidavit by Athol George Hill (Australian POW) |