FEPOW help - 5th Suffolks - overland 17th October 1943

Discussion in 'Prisoners of War' started by SteveB, Apr 30, 2020.

  1. SteveB

    SteveB Member

    Hi
    I am interested in 5828324 Pte Frank William Hearn of the 5th Suffolks. Captured at Singapore, and held there until sent overland on 17th October 1943.

    He states in his POW Liberation questionnaire that he was held at Changi, then on 16th February 1943 at Bankow (under Col Baker, 5th Suffolks), then at Nang Pladoc under Col Gill, RA.

    I understand those who departed on 17.10.43 ended up being spilt into Group 1 and 2. Is there a way of working out which group he was in? Also, is it likely he went straight from Bankow to Nang Pladoc, or more likely he was at the camps in between but omitted them from the form?

    Thanks
    Steve
     

    Attached Files:

  2. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    The record I have has him on a train to Thailand on 17th October 1942. The IJA card may help. Someone with access to FMP may get it for you. There is a WO356 card which says nothing but "Y44".
     
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  3. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    You've got a bit muddled in your Post with '42 and '43.
    Left Singapore as first Party of Group 4 under Lt Col Baker.
    From 18 Div Pilot Roll compiled at Changi.
    upload_2020-4-30_17-39-23.png

    upload_2020-4-30_17-40-22.png

    Sime Road Party

    Tim
     
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  4. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    I haven't got a reference to Sime Road in WO361/2126. Not a very nice time, being with Lt.Col. Baker. Affidavit from Taramoto's war crimes trial by the medical officer.

    [IMG_9877]

    "2" G. Cully Lt. Col 11.6.46

    MD/JAG/FS/JC/110(1F)

    HNM/GH

    IN THE MATTER OF JAPANESE WAR CRIMES AND
    IN THE MATTER OF THE ILL-TREATMENT OF
    PRISONERS OF WAR AT MATONA CAMP, SIAM, IN 1943


    AFFIDAVIT

    1, Captain FORDE EVERARD CAYLEY, R.A.M.C., with permanent home address at 33, Kenilworth Road, Ealing, London, make oath and say as follows:

    1. I was taken Prisoner of War at Singapore on the 15th February, 1942, and was sent to MATONA Camp about 10th May, 1943, and I remained there until 1st August, 1943.

    The senior British officer during this time was Lt-Col. BAKER, of the 5th Suffolks.

    This camp was a hospital camp and under it were two Jungle camps to which patients were sent to work.

    MATONA was under command of Korean Private named CANIOKA ( nicknamed "Handsome"), and he was under command of Lt. TSUZUKI of One group Prisoner of War Camps, Thailand, which group was commanded by Major CHITA.

    2. As the only British Medical Officer at this camp I should like to record the general conditions therein.

    The accommodation in the camp consisted of Indian type tents which had to house 30 patients who were seriously ill, and the side walls of the tents had been taken away by the Koreans, with the result that during the Monsoon period the rains lashed in on to the sick patients.

    No beds were provided but we managed to build some with bamboo slats.

    As regards medical supplies these were grossly inadequate, for example, we got two bandages for 800 people per month and of course drugs were in very short supply.

    The food consisted of rice and dried vegetables for the first two months and was inadequate for the patients, but after two months the situation improved somewhat.

    There were no sanitary arrangements made by the Japanese, but we managed to organise this ourselves.

    As a result of all this, 60 British Prisoners of War died in the first three months; if of course we had had proper and adequate medical supplies these deaths would not have occurred.

    The Engineer Officers in charge of the Jungle camps attached to this hospital knew quite well that the hospital contained only very sick people, but nevertheless they used to indent for large working parties to be sent to these Jungle camps, and the Korean CANIOKA had to comply with these orders with the result that many sick men who were in no fit condition to do any work at all, were forced to work at these Jungle camps.

    3. I cite the following Japanese as being responsible for the ill-treatment of prisoners of war:-

    (a) Korean Guard CANIOKA

    Tall, thick-set, and quite good-looking.

    This man was, as I have said, in charge of the Hospital Camp at MATONA, and he was very much under the orders of his superiors.

    However, it was he who was responsible for the removal of the tent walls which allowed the Monsoon rains to lash in upon the patients as described above.

    On another occasion during a march from MATONA to KONKIVITA I saw him beat up three prisoners who were suffering from cholera.

    It must have been perfectly clear to him that they were suffering from cholera, but in spite of this he dragged them out into the rain, stood them up, then knocked

    [IMG_9878]

    them down again with his fists.

    This must have contributed to and certainly accelerated their death.

    I witnessed this myself.


    (b) Lt. TARAMOTO:-

    Short and speaks English.

    This officer was in command of a working camp attached to MATONA Hospital Camp, and I have seen him forcing prisoners of war who could hardly walk to work.

    His general attitude was that the cure for dysentery was work.


    (c) Lt. TAKISARA:-

    Fat, sallow complexion, medium size, and nicknamed "Speedo."

    This officer was in charge of the second Jungle camp attached to this hospital.

    I have seen him when he has been witnessing a sick parade, strike my medical orderly and also strike the sick people on parade.

    He too forced people whom he knew to be sick to work.


    (d) Private MYAMA:-

    Short and wore glasses.

    This Korean who came from the camp above us, was responsible for our short supply of drugs as he was the Medical Orderly there.

    On one occasion he came to take away my surgical instruments but I objected on the grounds that my hospital would, as a result, be left without any such instruments.

    When I raised this objection, he took off his clogs and proceeded to hit me all over the face, and body until I was black and blue, and having done that, he commenced to kick me mainly in the stomach.

    SWORN by the said FORDE EVERARD CAYLEY
    at 6 Spring Gardens in the City of Westminster
    this 11th day of Febrauary, 1946.

    (Sgd) F.E. Cayley

    BEFORE ME

    (Sgd) F. Honig

    Captain Legal Staff
    Military Department Judge
    Advocate General's Office, LONDON.
     
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  5. SteveB

    SteveB Member

    Oh yeah, I did get my years muddled. Thanks Tim. I'd spent ages googling this afternoon trying to work it all out and must have gone number blind! :)
     
  6. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    His record card

    GBM_POW-GALLIP_1-1-88_00831.jpg GBM_POW-GALLIP_1-1-88_00832.jpg
     
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  7. SteveB

    SteveB Member

    Thanks for that, never seen the back of a record card before.
    Steve
     
  8. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    I had looked at the Japanese Index Card earlier but unfortunately I cannot see that it adds anything to the information already known.
    In case you don't know, the Japanese dates translate to:
    17/10/17 - 17 Oct 42 ie: the date he left Singapore.
    20/8/30 - 30 Aug 45 ie: the date of release.

    Tim
     
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