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Itchioka Memories Wallace Hastings |
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Comments by Wallace Hastings - British Medic from Hong Kong and
survivor of the Lisbon Maru. Sent to Roger Mansell, 9 March 2005 I was a survivor of the 'Lisbon Maru' and on arrival at Osaka, together with about a dozen or more other prisoners we were assigned to staff a hospital situated beneath the seating of a sports stadium,which I have learned was called 'Ichioka'. My informant in Japan stated that it was opened on October 18, 1942 and this would be close to the time when we were sent there. Surgeon Lieutenent [Charles Anthony "Tony"] Jackson, who was also on the Lisbon Maru, was placed in charge of the unit, and we remained there for about 18 months. At that time, during a search by the Japanese guards, something was found in Dr. Jackson's office which caused the Japanese Officer in charge of the search party to become very irate. I believe that it involved some old newspapers showing maps and diagrams of the far east theatre of war which, for some reason, made him suspect some sort of conspiracy was afoot! The result of this episode was that all staff were to be separated and dispatched to different camps and I was taken by train under guard to Hirohata Camp, Himeji, where I joined four hundred or more American servicemen from the Phillipines and one Australian airman. Apart from a few months working at the nearby steel mill, I was employed in the camp sick bay under Dr. Seid, Amercan Army Captain, until liberation in September 1945. You will find my name in the penaltimate position of the camp nominal list. I have now established in my mind that Dr Jackson and his staff, myself included, served in Ichioka from the day that it first opened as a hospital October 18th, 1942. For some months prior to this date it had been occupied by American POW’s transferred from Zentsuji who then moved to Hirohata and other camps early in October ‘42. This is confirmed by reference to books written by Hale and Ianarelli q.v. Our dismissal from the hospital was probably about April 1944 as I understand that Dr. Fred Birley assumed command in that same month. Dr. Jackson was sent to the Kamioka Camp. With regard to conditions in the hospital, whilst the equipment and medical supplies were in extremely short supply, I can assure you that within their physical capacity - most of whom were also suffering from conditions due to the poor diet - all of the staff carried out their nursing and attendant duties with dignity and efficiency as they would in normal circumstances. The nursing staff consisted of Royal Navy Sick Berth Ratings and volunteers from British Naval, Marine and Army personal some of whom assumed the role a Ward Orderlies and others cooking and general duties; at a guess I would say a total of 12 to 15 in number. The bed spaces of all patients and staff were on raised platforms either side of a centre aisle and were furnished with the plaited straw mats called ‘tatami’, the normal mattress used in Japan, and blankets. As this area was all at one level you can imagine providing nursing care from a kneeling position was awkward to say the least! Dr. Jackson had a small room which served as his office and sleeping quarters. All staff were on duty every day except for two who were assigned for night duty on a rota system. With regard to the description given “much like an unkempt barn” I have to say that this is not quite true in my estimation. Sadly lacking in the comforts of home or even barracks or shipboard quarters, yes but basically clean as far as we were able to keep it, and given that the patients were only admitted when seriously ill it is understandable that it was the last resting place for so many. As stated previously equipment was indeed in short supply and improvisation was the order of the day, but to my knowledge no major surgery or amputations were need or performed. We were all at one time or another subjected to punches or kicks from the guards on the slightest provocation even for showing facial displeasure to some happening or other but I cannot recall any beatings with rifle butts or clubs in this hospital. However I remember very well that type of treatment being administered at Hirohata. |