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MUKAISHIMA Mukaijima Hiroshima Sub-camp #4 |
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NB:At end of war, the Japanese listed this camp as being part of the "Zentsuji" group of camps. This often led to confusion amongst researchers. |
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Location: Hiroshima 4-B MUKAIJIMA (Mukaishima) Employer: HITACHI ZOSEN [Hitachi Shipyard] HIROSHIIMA-ken, MITSUKI-gun, MUKAIJIMA Satellite View Map Street location Area Map shows relative location with other Hiroshima POW Camps. Above information courtesy of Wes Injerd Timeline: 22 Oct 1942: 2500 POWs depart Tanjeong Priok (Port of Batavia) on Yoshida Maru. 25 Oct 1942: Arrive Singapore- many depart for Thailand-Burma Railway (Death Railway) 30 Oct 1942: Dainichi Maru departs for Moji 12 Nov 1942: Arrive Takao on Formosa; remain for 3 days 24 Nov 1942: Arrive and anchors off Moji 26 Nov 1942: POWS depart Dainichi in summer clothes 27 Nov 1942-100 British POWS arrive from Singapore on Dainichi Maru. Established as YAHATA Provisional Fukuoka POW CAMP MUKAIJIMA Branch Camp 14 (Fukuoka-14B) 1 Jan 1943- Renamed FUKUOKA POW CAMP MUKAIJIMA Branch Camp 1 Mar 1943-Renamed Fukuoka 11-B 14 Jul 1943- Jurisdictional control transferred to ZENTSUJI POW CAMP 7 Sep 1944- 116 Americans arrive from Philippines on the Noto Maru. 13 Apr 1945- Established as Hiroshima 1-D (formerly ZENTSUJI POW CAMP 1-D) Aug 1945 Renamed Hiroshima 4-B 12 Sept 1945 Rescue effected; departed on 15th Short Overview: per Koshi Kobayashi. There were over 90 prison camps throughout Japan, and about 32,000 prisoners of war in all. Here in Mukaishima, the Hiroshima Prisoner of War Sub-camp No.4 was set up and the number of prisoners of war, including British and American men, totaled 216. First, in November 1942, 100 British airmen were shipped from Indonesia to Mukaishima on the Dainichi Maru, and put to work in the shipyards. Of these, 23 men died. Later, in September 1944, 116 American soldiers came up from the Philippines on the Noto Maru, and at the end of war all of these returned to their home country (one American died). |
Labor: Shipyard labor Hell Ships: British: All 116 (RAF) arrived Dainichi Maru 27 Nov 1942; previously captured on Java Americans: 100 came from Noto Maru and arrived 7 Sept 1944, majority of men from theNichols Field Detail; Guam men had arrived at Zentsuji on the Argentina Maru (Jan 1942). American Roster - Source NARA RG 407 Box 103 plus confirmation of name on photograph; 118 men plus one deceased. British Rescue Roster - Source NARA RG 407 Box 103 Roster of deceased British (From Memorial at camp site) Special: John Ovens BBC Interview. Notes that he was sent to Australia for several weeks of convalescence (via carrier HMS Ruler) thence flown home to England. Deceased: (PDF) Developed by Japan POW Network Data Set: Excel spreadsheet includes much more information External Link: Japanese school in Mukaishima honors the men of this camp. Developed under the guidance of Koshi Kobayashi. Very detailed and well done. About 1/3rd down the page are group pictures of men on the beach before the rescue. Camp Report (Part 1) Part 2 (Gibbs Report) External link Camp Sketch External link External Link to camp overview by New Mexico Bataan Memorial Project Picture: Major William O. Dorris accepting the surrender of Japanese Camp Commander 80-G-346525: Former Japanese commandant of POW camp, Fukuoka #3, Major Rikatake, yielding sword to Major W.O. Dorris, USA, present commandant of POW camp in Tobata, Kyushu, Japan. [Fukuoka #3] 15 Sep 1945. Major Dorris was leader of the rescue team for the Fukuoka camps. Records indicate he was rescued in the Philippines in early 1945. Forbes Diary: Excellent diary detailing Tanagawa and this camp- while known at Fukuoka #11. Special: Article regarding Pvt Edwards testimony against fellow American at Courts Martial. Navy man, Hirshberg, accuse of collaboration and beatings of fellow Americans. (Pending) |
