Cannot help you with speaking the language but for a translation of the cards are you aware of the Dutch National Archives Guide to Translation? If it helps the link is below:- https://www.gahetna.nl/sites/default/files/bijlagen/stamp_list_logo.pdf Kyle
Gosh! I'm impressed. Thanks Kyle. I will now start the cross checking! Some of the card is in English and he told me he was on Singapore island in Changi and Selerang Barracks so hopefully that will be a start. Steve
That document is very helpful in that I have already confirmed that the stamps on the first page of the POW card are a straight translation of the English also on the first page. That's the easy bit. I guess the hand writing is going to be another sort of challenge! Thanks again Kyle.
Steve, This forum has helped me with translations in the past. The site is ironically up for maintenance at the moment, but keep any eye out for when they are back up and on line. Ask nicely and some one might come through for you. I think Owen gave me the heads up for this site originally. http://www.jref.com/forum/ Let us know how you get on. Another Steve.
Steve, your Uncle was in the same camp as 'Dad'. Same writing on Lib. Q. Will email the full story and translation to you. Mike
Steve, (as per email, this all relates to FORMOSA and not Singapore) The Japanese writing on the rear of the Index Card reads: 17/10/28 (1942 October 28th) dispatched from Singapore to Formosa base camp. (this was the England Maru hellship sailing) 17/11/14 (1942 November 14th) transfer to Formosa base camp. The crossed out part then reads: Showa 20 September 5th or Showa 20 September 6th (1945 September 5th or 6th) At Keelung, to be handed over to American Navy war commander No. 47 transport divisional commander, American Navy Rear Admiral D. E. Ketcham, (A representative of Captain A. D. Crawley [crossed out name Coolidge] commander of No. 48 American Marine air transport). ( the majority of the men were repatriated on the two aircraft carriers USS Santee and USS Block Island, assisted by the destroyers USS Kretchmer, USS Thomas J Gary, USS Brister, USS Finch.) The bottom section reads: Or From Showa 20 September 7th to Showa 20 September 9th At Keelung, to be handed over to American Captain McClellan. (This confirms that he was one of the 98 men considered too ill to be put on the aircraft carriers and he had to wait in hospital a further 4 days before the arrival of the New Zealand Hospital Ship Maunganui. This then sailed for Manila.) Mike
Mike This is an amazing story. We knew from the occasional comment he made that he was very ill and had to be, in his words, fattened up before he could be brought back to the UK. Will be in touch again in a few days. Thanks again Steve
Stefan I don't currently have access to a PC so will PM you a copy of the POW Card hopefully Wednesday. Mike Will contact you again hopefully Wednesday. This has turned into a fascinating story about Uncle George and is of immense help to our family understanding of what he went through. All the more poignant as, according to the dates mentioned in post #10, he was released from captivity exactly 70 years ago today.
Steve, my Japanese contact did not come up with a different or additional translation. She only confirmed a detail which I have not seen on any of the earlier posts. The transfer on 14th November 1942 was to POW Camp No. 1/5 which is the famous Kinkaseki Camp, see also the following link with the name of William G. Pannell. http://www.powtaiwan.org/The%20Men/men_list.php I hope it helps. Stefan.
Stefan Thanks for this. Sincerely appreciated. It also very helpfully confirms information I've been advised of elsewhere in the meantime. Steve
Steve, I will be travelling to all 3 of his camps, Kinkaseki, Taihoku 6, and Shirakawa for Remembrance Day. If there is anything you want photographed or maybe a cross laid, then email me. (NOT looking forward to a 17 hour journey though !!) Mike
Steve, Shirakawa and T6 are both ROC Military sites nowdays so pointing a camera around is not advisable, but I can take photos of the memorial stones that have been erected to commemorate the fact they were POW camps. Kinkaseki Camp is now a Peace Park so photos are easy.
