FEPOW Palembang and Banka Island

Hello Chaps
I am researching my late grandfathers war record and specifically his time as a Japanese POW.
I visited the National archives last week and spent the day photographing various files.
There seems to be 1 main file for the Palembang trials.
I'm in the process of transcribing everything in that.
The affidavits by the officers and a few NCO's are very interesting.
I was specifically looking for a Form Q I thought my grandad would have filled out.
On his index card they inserted JC25 (Palembang) and JC148 (Banka Island).
Also Report No. K16.
He was attacked by a Jap Officer who leapt out of a Staff car that arrived at a well somewhere near Muntock probably some time around 14th Feb when some of the Japs were still taking no prisoners. My Grandad was collecting water with a Navy officer and another rating. The Officer was executed and my gramps run through and left for dead. I'm anticipating a Form Q or some sort of affidavit to exist for this incident and the other tortures and abuses he was subjected to and witnessed during the 3 1/2 years of internment.

Does anyone know where if anywhere Banka Island files are located and where this exhibit K16 will be?

Many Thanks!

ANDY LEWIS.

 

Andy's thread on his late grandfather is: Finding info on Walter Allen, 210 battery, 53rd (Worcester Yeomanry) Airlanding Light Regiment

His grandfather was Sgt George Lewis, 210 Battery (not further id'd).

Andy - could you please add his full name, Service Number and DoB.

Japanese POWs and War Crimes is not my focus, but I know it is papiermache's. See: https://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/far-east-pow-affidavits-at-the-national-archives.50846/page-1 His last post was December 2025.

There are others whose focus is Japanese POW matters, they too might be along.

I will send a PM alerting papiermache to your post, asking them to return and help. A reply depends on the email address given when registering is still valid and they are motivated to help.

PM explanation

If you hover over the name of the member in their avatar it will show a new text box and within is the date of their last logged visit. Some members "flag" their interest in a thread, which means they get a system alert. Once you have posted five times - a measure to stop spam - you can send a private message (PM) to members using 'Start a private conversation' accessed via your avatar. Such messages depend on their email given at registration is still valid. You can receive and reply to a PM already.

 

Hi David

Thanks for your message )

My Paternal Grandfather is this one:

1,458,183 Sgt George Hubert Lewis DOB 1st Feb 1918
At one point he is W/Sgt but it came with the posting so he reverted back to Sgt when next posted.

My Grandfather on my Mum's side was the FEPOW. Thanks for putting the nudge out and pointing me in the right direction!

 

What was his name?

Tim

 

Hi Tim
This is him:

Wilfred Barber
Service Number: KX.79226 Rank: Stoker 1st Class

I've got loads of info, I'm writing a short account of his Navy service including his time as a FEPOW.

 

Hello Andy (and for info of Tim too).

Here is Wilfrid's (note spelling as written by Wilfrid) Liberation Questionnaire, courtesy of TNA Kew via one of it's commercial subscription partners (our friends in Utah).

Wilfrid's words, as he chose fo record them.

Kind regards, good luck with your research, always,

Jim.

 

Adrian; please see dataset screenshots from (again) a commercial subscription partner of TNA Kew.

Note Wilfred/Wilfrid service number "C" prefix (unfortunately missed off in your post #5 above) and "HMS Fuh Wo".

Forum members Hugh MacLean and Roy Martin will be the chaps for you on this.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Hello Jim
Good to hear from you.
I do actually already have these but its very thoughtful of you to send them regardless.
I'm keen to find a testimony against the guards I believe he would have written.
On his index card it refers to a report no. K16 which I suspect is that piece of paper.
I know it was hard to prosecute anyone for the Banka Island crimes but I guess they would have taken all relevant statements anyway.
Plus he received some severe treatment in Palembang anyway.

As regards the spelling my Mum said - "We always thought it was spelt with an 'e' !"
So at least we learnt that!

 

Thats interesting they're putting him on Fuh Wo
Do we know how that record exists?
He was defo on a ship ending 'Wo'. I remember him writing to me about it.
Gutted I lost the letters.

 

Fold3 will have data trawled said information from the relative file in ADM/358 series I very much think Andy.

And, I've learnt from previous experience that said Fold3 data is not always accurate!

Hopefully navy experts Hugh MacLean and Roy Martin will pick up on the thread and give an accurate picture.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Jim
What is Fold3 ?

 

Andy, should you not have seen this before you may find it of interest.

Courtesy of Malayan Volunteer Group (full pdf attached below). A corroborative source to confirm the details (belt and bracers) would be a good thing.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

American based subscription service (and TNA Kew commercial partner) specialising in military matters. It's been going for years (I was fortunate to be in from the start), and at sometime it was swallowed up by Ancestry (all data roads, commercially, lead to Utah!)

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Yes I have this and have studied it. Thanks again for sending.
It doesnt quite seem to fit though because he always said that he had to swim in to shore behind a lifeboat full of women and children.
Clinging on to the back of the lifeboat for breaks.
Unless they dropped a lifeboat before they beached it...

Whats that Fold3 Jim?
Is it a Computer Bot?

 

Ahhh...I see...I missed your reply.
Interesting.
These are on my list to order for my next visit to Kew:

Reference: WO 325/29 - Treatment of POWs in Netherlands East Indies

Reference: WO 325/3 - Statements and affidavits concerning Japanese war crimes

Reference: WO 325/4 - Reports, eyewitness accounts and interviews on Japanese war crimes in China and Pacific...

 

The reference for putting him on Fuh Wo is HMS Fuh Wo: 16 February 1942; crew notified as prisoners of war | The National Archives
I'm afraid that I'm not well up on War Crimes. As davidbfpo says at #2 Forum member 'papiermache' was the expert but I believe he has retired from the Forum as his last post in December said
"By the way, this is my last post on here.
I want to thank Van Poop, ( and Owen and dbf ) for their achievement in hosting this wonderful site."

I don't know if these may help you:
Japanese War Crimes
Expedition to Banka Island 1945 Nov.-Dec: naval reports | The National Archives

Tim

 

Do you think some of those hand written reports whether it be relating to Banka or Palembang will be in one of those?

The main Palembang File I pulled last week at Kew had all of the transcripts for the main witnesses for the prosecution like Ringer, McMullen and some other officers statements.
There were a couple of hand written testimonies from lower ranks and so far (only having transcribed and therefore read Ringers answers, he does refer to incidents involving lower ranks).
So my Grandad may yet be referred to in McMullen's examination or others.
Its this witnessing the murder of a Naval Officer at the well near Muntock which must have been of interest to MI9/JAG.

 

"Is it a computer Bot?"



About Fold3 - Fold3

Kind regards, catching up, always,

Jim.

 

We type at the same speed Jim!!!
ok seen that thanks for your replies again....I'll add them to my order list

 

Sorry can't add anymore to the above. All I have is Fu Wo sailed 13/2 Lost?