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The Far East was captured in a dramatic attempt by Japan to seize its wealth of natural resources, the captured men, woman and children had to endure nearly four years of Japanese oppression.
The prisoners lived their captivity as an endless nightmare and with no hope many died of despair.
The fortunate to awaken from their ordeal were never the same again. The nightmares returned to haunt their sleep and the faces of those left behind have never left them.
Researching their ordeal to find answers has led many of us to experience their torment, we will never feel the pain they endured and fortunately we can awaken from the despair that became their living hell as Japanese Pow’s.
Background Music
The Naked Isle is written and sung by Jim Rowlands in remembrance of his grandfather Albert Owen Rowlands from the 600 gunners party. The Japanese reported that the ship carrying the prisoners was lost at sea after leaving Singapore, which is known as the Naked Isle.
It wasn’t till after the war the truth was found when a large mass grave was found on Ballali Island, the Japanese had used 517 of the fittest to construct a runway on Ballali Island leaving the sick at Rabaul, then when finished those of the 517 remaining alive were massacred by the Japanese.
436 bodies were exhumed on Ballali Island, those remaining of the 517 are believed to have died before the massacre and buried on the island.
The date of death given by the Commonwealth War Graves is the 5th March 1943 for those who died on Ballali Island, the correct date is not known.
Ian Visits Thailand
Although not having any relatives who perished on the death railway in Thailand or Burma, it was a place I had wanted to see for a long time, probably as a result of seeing the epic war movie “Bridge on the River Kwai”.
In November 2008, my long awaited time had come when together with my wife, her sister and husband; we set off on our trip to Thailand. A couple of days after our arrival, after the usual shopping forays, we were met at our hotel in Bangkok and set off through the hectic traffic that is Bangkok, and made our way westward to the province of Kanchanaburi and the Kwai river Bridge.
Full Article with photos
Ian Whyte
Fepow Family Pin:-
Many have asked if a pin is available, the design below is the completed graphic.
The FEPOW Family is world wide keeping the candle of remembrance alight.
The pin will be 1.25 inch wide in Fine Enamel with a butterfly clutch.
The estimated price will be £1.95 + postage.
Please order via the printable form:- Order Form
If you require help please email Ron at Ron.Taylor@fepow-community.org.uk
I would like to thank Michael Hurst MBE for all the help he has given with this project.
Fepow Day Pin:-
To promote August 15th as Fepow Remembrance Day a pin is also being produced.
The pin will be 1 inch high in Fine Enamel with a butterfly clutch.
The estimated cost will be £1.00 + postage.
Please order via the printable form:- Order Form
If you require help please email Ron at Ron.Taylor@fepow-community.org.uk
I would like to thank Michael Hurst MBE for all the help he has given with this project.
New DVD:-
‘Iris Chang – the Rape of Nanking’
DVD now available
DVD Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q7bkxKTdNY
Visit www.torontoalpha to order
We are so glad to announce that the final version of “Iris Chang – the Rape of Nanking” DVD has been produced and launched in Toronto on June 22.
The award-winning Docu-Drama “Iris Chang -the Rape of Nanking” was produced and premiered in Toronto in November 2007. Since then, it has been screened in many cities and universities in North America and around the world. In order to educate future generations about the gruesome facts of Asian WWII atrocities, the film has always been intended as an educational tool to facilitate teachers in class.
The film DVD has subtitles in 7 languages including English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Simplified and Traditional Chinese. It has been divided into 28 chapters so that teachers can make easy references to the film when they are teaching various subjects suggested by the “DVD study guide” that was composed jointly by a group of Ontario teachers and Toronto ALPHA. Designed on theme/topics basis, this study guide can be adopted by all curricula around the world. It is free for download at www.torontoalpha.org.
Thanks to the full support from the Toronto District School Board, the largest school board in North America, our DVD will soon be distributed to every high school within the school board. Your past support to our education and awareness initiatives is deeply appreciated, and we hope you could continue to help us promote this significant one-of-a-kind educational tool DVD among your family members, friends, colleagues and anyone around you.
For order of the DVD or to learn more about the film and its accreditation, please visit www.torontoalpha.org.
To show how the film has its impact inside classroom, please see a reflection written by a grade-10 student after she watched the movie in class (her teacher joined our 2008 Study Tour and decided to use the film as educational tool in class).
The Rape of Nanking – History Reflection
Jessie Peng
When the renowned philosopher George Santayana stated, "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat," never would one have used this prophetic sentence to describe the result of the Nanking massacre in 1937. Through Iris Chang's bestselling novel, The Rape of Nanking, she retells the story of one of history's most brutal genocidal war crimes, where over the course of 6 weeks, the Japanese Imperial Army raped, tortured, and ultimately, murdered over 300, 000 Chinese civilians in Nanking, China. Although there has never been another incident parallel to this one over the last 7 decades, by denying the existence of or by being unaware of this atrocity, we are in a way, committing an injustice as egregious as the massacre itself.
When I first saw the movie based on this book in my social sciences class, I'm ashamed to admit that I was in a state of utter shock, as I knew little of the matter beforehand. Considering that I am of Chinese decent, this was extremely pathetic. Throughout my years in school, I encountered, repeatedly, the horrific effects of the Holocaust and World War II, and yet, when an opportunity to learn more about my own culture finally arose, I was at a complete loss.
Following that day, I went home to consult my parents about this issue, but what I heard only made me more confused and angry. At the time of the second Sino-Japanese War, my grandparents on both sides were in already their late-childhood, and remembered clearly of the chaotic situation China faced during this time. In fact, my great-grandmother even died at the hands of a Japanese soldier, and my grandfather later went on to attend the University of Nanking in the late 1940s. With such strong family ties to this event, I wondered why my family was so hesitant about discussing this topic, and more so, why had I been so oblivious to this episode in history.
Deprived of such answers, I quickly borrowed the book, and read it thoroughly within 3 days.
Above all, the many people who deny that this massacre has ever happened in Japan sparked up a sense of irritation and disappointment within me. In the video, in-between the shots and photographs of near-decapitated, panic-stricken Nanking civilians and diary excerpts of thirdparty witnesses, was an interview with one of the mayors of a city in Japan. He kept on saying that the massacre was "pure fabrication of the Chinese authorities," and that "it was a propaganda strategy used to disgrace the Japanese government." Upon hearing this, I was appalled. How could Japan, one of the leading nations in economic and technological developments today, fall behind so much on its sense of moral integrity? With the victims' poignant yet horrifying stories in-mind, how could the mayor insist candidly that "their experiences were all made-up and prescripted by authority figure "? In my opinion, the very reason the world is still being kept in the dark about this issue and why the Nanking massacre has disappeared altogether from history.
Sincerely yours,
Joseph Wong
Chair, Toronto ALPHA
Association for Learning and Preserving the History of WWII in Asia
New Books:-
Survivng By Magic
The remarkable story of Fergus Anckorn, magician and survivor of the Thai-Burma
Revue:- Fergus Anckorn and elements of his remarkable story plus a magical trick or two will be well known to many who attended the Researching FEPOW History Conferences. The story, told in his own words, combines harrowing experiences with humour.
The story begins with childhood memories of Dunton Green where the locals included Robert Baden-Powell's brother, the eccentric 'Major Sodit', a machine gun enthusiast and,of course, scoutmaster. Fergus' father, a magic enthusiast, gave him a magic set for his 4th birthday and his first 'professional' engagement was at the age of 7.
Wartime enlistment into the 118th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery involved Fergus in the Divisional Concert Party as the magician Wizardus. Arriving in Singapore on the USS Westpoint in late January 1942 his regiment was immediately in action and he was severely wounded with his right hand nearly severed on February 13th 1942. As if by a miracle he survived the Alexandra Hospital Massacre and soon found himself in Changi POW camp where he became involved in putting on shows. Sent to Thailand he endured horrific conditions at Kanburi, Wampo & Chungkai, again performing at concert parties. Fergus also used his magician's skills to earn extra food from the Japanese to keep him alive. He narrowly escaped execution and Allied bombing.
The last chapter of the book covers Fergus' repatriation, problems settling down post war, career as a member of the Magic Circle and trips to Japan & Thailand.
An enjoyable and interesting read. - Jonathon Moffatt
'Death Railway' " by Monty Parkin. Softback, 107 pages. Illustrated. ISBN13 978-1-871525-16-8 published by A.M. Parkin, Kemsing, Kent TN15 Price: BPS 8.00.
Lest We Forget
by
Ivy Woods
A touching story of the millions of people who endured WWII
 Preserving memories of war is considerably amazing. Reminiscing of the past memories of warfare will bring us to the gloomy days that the people have endured. How much more if you were one of those who have witnessed and experienced the hostilities? Would it make you happy to think about them? Author Ivy Woods tries to save all of her memories prior and subsequent World War II with her desire to remember the historic event that has tainted the world's history — and she would like to share it with us, Lest We Forget.
The early part of her life was exposed to the aggressive era of war. At the age of fourteen, she was already working. But more than that she cannot forget her tragic experience with the wars that have made many impacts in her life. She relates about the brutal conflicts that would force the people to spend years of hiding in bomb shelters, the terror of mass destruction, Hitler's invasion of Poland, Great Britain and France's war against Germany, the Nazi occupation, the Japanese occupation, the wars in different countries, and the comfort women and their sufferings. There were many faces of sufferings during that time, millions of people had died by brutal killings, people were in great terror — children, men and women, regardless of age endured the same fate. How much did they suffer? How long did they wait before peace took over? Lest We Forget there were brave young men and women who gave their lives for the sake of the life that the following generations would embrace.
The moving story of the people who have endured during those times of wars might have injected pain and sadness to us. However, looking deeply into the history itself will give us the proud feeling and the joy that somehow, we have surpassed one of the greatest ordeals of time.
Ivy Woods was born and raised in SE. London. Her teenage life was interrupted by the chaos that WWII has caused. Fortunately, she survived the hell that Hitler threw upon them during the bombing raids over their city. After the war ended, Woods married an American service man and traveled the world with three lovely children until his tour ended. She now resides in Washington State.
Publisher Xlibris Corporation
https://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.aspx?bookid=55461
Hardcover ISBN 978-1-4363-8958-7
Softcover ISBN 978-1-4363-8957-0
Ambushed Under The Southern Cross
by
Capt. George W. Duffy
 When George Duffy and his twenty-five classmate graduated from the Massachusetts Nautical School (MNS) on September 23, 1941, an era came to an end. Never again would the three-masted barque Nantucket go to sea in her role as a sail training vessel for future merchant marine officers. They also, became the last class to make two summer sail training cruises aboard, thus marking the end of the school's tradition extending back to 1891.
Those hardened young sailors were immediately recruited as deck and engineering officers into a rapidly growing United States merchant marine. Not quite a year after graduating from the MNS, and just ten months into World War Two, George Duffy's good fortune came to an end, when his ship, the American Leader, was sunk by a German commerce raider. George and forty-six of his shipmates were plucked out of the South Atlantic Ocean and taken prisoner.
This book relates his two sparten years in the Nantucket, the next rewarding year in the American Leader, and over three years as prisoner in two German warships, and ten Japanese labor camps scattered over the southeast Asian islands of Java, Singapore, and Sumatra.
In addition, a parallel tale recounts the life and career of a young German naval officer, Konrad Hoppe, who served in George's nemesis, the Ksk Michel. Many years after the war they met in Germany in, as Konrad expressed it, "Great delight that the fateful enmity has changed into sincere friendship."
George and his wife Margaret have been married fifty-six years, and currently reside in Exeter, New Hampshire. They have two daughters, one in Exeter and the other nearby, and five granddaughters of college and older.
Publisher Xlibris Corporation
https://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.aspx?bookid=38228
Hardcover ISBN 978-1-4363-0636-2
Softcover ISBN 978-1-4363-0635-5
Order on-line in Europe (English only) from:-
www.amazon.fr (France)
www.amazon.de (Germany)
www.amazon.co.uk (UK)
WW II... as Seen through Kids' Eyes
By Ralph and Cathy Brink
 Most of us are familiar with 'Pearl Harbor.' We have heard about Iwo Jima and Hiroshima. Yet few of us know about the "Silent Holo-caust," the slaughter of some two hundred thousand innocent civilians; including women and children, in scores of Japanese death camps in Indonesia.
This is the gripping story of a "Boy Slave," who spent 3 1/2 years in three death camps.
At age ten the author was taken from his Mother and spent close to a year as a "Boy Slave" in the notorious "Ambarawa Camp Seven."
In spite of crushing hardships, starvation, and separation from his parents, the author does not dwell on the violence. Instead, he focuses on human emotions. A reader commented: "At times I cried; yet at other times I smiled at the humor expressed."
This book is an eye opener - you and your children will never again take freedom for granted!
Further information - http://www.brinkpublishing.com/
Stranger in the House
by
Julie Summers
Women’s stories of men returning from the Second World War’ by Julie Summers [Simon & Schuster 2008] 363 pages. ISBN 978-0-74329-552-9. Cover price BPS 18.99.
 Julie Summers is best known to us as the author of ‘The Colonel of Tamarkan,’ a biography of her grandfather Brigadier Philip Toosey. In this, her fourth book, she explores the theme of servicemen returning home in 1945 from the perspective of wives, children and even grandchildren.
The stories are many and varied with a good balance between returning servicemen from the Far East and those returning from Europe. There are wives who had to deal with emotionally damaged husbands; children who had never seen their fathers before; those who assumed their fiancés had died only to find them reappearing after they had married another and women who had illegitimate children following wartime affairs. There are also those who had happier, less complicated reunions.
The book also draws on two interesting 1940s sources: the thoughts and observations of Barbara Cartland who lost two brothers in May 1940 and the Women’s Own ‘agony aunt’ column of Leonora Eyles to whom many women turned for advice. The lack of adequate provision for returning servicemen and their families in the 1940s strikes a chord with the reader who observes contemporary events as soldiers return from Iraq & Afghanistan.
Several FEPOW Community members including Keith Andrews and Martin Percival contributed to the book.
Jen Howe recalls ‘For the first five years of my life it was mum and me.’ She has no memory of her father’s return but did remember a tall, dark man who turned out to be her grandfather, also returned from Japanese captivity.
There was Meg Parkes’ mother, a talented and highly regarded doctor who gave up her career to devote her life to her FEPOW husband – this was expected by him, his parents and to some extent by society.
Stephen Rockcliffe describes his turbulent childhood and how for years he believed he was different from anyone else. Jean Roberts, whose father was beaten, tortured and sentenced to death by the Japanese for stealing biscuits, recalls her father’s later rages and her feeling of being excluded. Australian Di Elliot always wondered why ‘I had to be the only one with a miserable father’ and only discovered the answer long after his death. This quest to find out more led Di and others like Stephanie Hess, who was left her grandfather’s captivity diary, into extensive research.
This well researched book is altogether an interesting and original read.
Researching
Need help in researching, you will find helpful hints within these pages, A start to Researching
As the years pass by many a descendant of these brave souls has researched those prisoner of war years.
There are tools to help with the Fepow Story, books, internet and the Fepow’s themselves. The Fepow Community has now added new tools for research purposes, the main research section being The Rising Sun.
Translation of the Japanese words used by the prisoners is covered by the Word Translator, this started as a pamphlet given to the prisoners by the Japanese and has been enlarged upon. The Fepow Verse has been gathered together by the late Maurice Rooney. One of the ways to survive the prisoners ordeal was to turn to Religion, all prisoners beliefs are respected.
The latest addition is the Abbreviations section, I was asked what ALSEA was, I thought life would be easier for us all with the forces abbreviations on.
This site is in memory of my pop and his mates the Fepow’s, the Special Parade was written by my pop, Frederick Noel Taylor when in Thailand whilst working on the Death Railway.
The Roll of Honour has been added for all those who served their country in “In this their finest Hour”. Please email information to include a loved one with a picture if possible.
We are now sharing information and views with others and widening our knowledge.
Please join the Fepow Community Group, as sharing knowledge will assist in the Fepow’s remembrance and also help others (join at foot of page).
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