Hari Kari

Discussion in 'War Against Japan' started by popeye1975, Dec 6, 2016.

  1. popeye1975

    popeye1975 Junior Member

    Does there exist anywhere a definitive list of Japanese POW's that took their own lives in Allied captivity, and in RN captivity in particular? I was looking specifically of one that was alleged to have taken place aboard HMS Indomitable in 1945
     
  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    This one states Implacable
    Another was connected to the transport of the PoWs from Borneo. The Marines were detailed to try and capture any Japanese officers they could find at the camps, with a view to having them tried for war crimes. One such officer committed hara-kiri in front of George; a shocking site for someone in his late teens.MaritimeQuest - HMS Implacable Message Board Messages 25 through 49
     
  3. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    A Chindit veteran once told me that a Japanese officer they captured in April 1944, actually willed himself to death. There was a Gurkha guard posted to watch over him 24 hours a day. One morning the guard was heard shouting and insisting that the man had simply fallen over dead for no apparent reason.

    Another anecdote mentioned a Japanese infantryman killing himself with the lid from a tin of bully beef. This was rather stupidly given to him as rations by his guard and he cut his throat with the half-opened lid.
     
  4. popeye1975

    popeye1975 Junior Member

    Dad specifically mentioned that he was one of two ratings in charge of the brig. The prisoner managed to acquire a screwdriver and the guards were only alerted by the sound of his yelling and screaming. The officer of the day told them to go in and stop him. Dad's reply was not repeatable in decent company
     
    canuck likes this.

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