Major P.T. Howard POW of the Japanese

Discussion in 'War Against Japan' started by Jba45ww2, Dec 19, 2018.

  1. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    Jba45ww2 and Extreme like this.
  2. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    Jba: and thank you to you, and welcome to the forum. That was quite an introductory posting.
     
  3. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Similar and some same photos here:
    Photo Album
    Papiermache - Post 8. Unfortunately the Liberation Questionnaire is too faint for me to read the dates clearly but could you check that the move to Thailand was June 42. The 18 Division Roll has Major Howard not moving from Singapore until 22/10/42
    upload_2018-12-21_12-4-26.png

    Tim
     
    papiermache and Tricky Dicky like this.
  4. Jba45ww2

    Jba45ww2 Well-Known Member

    Thanks to everyone for the feedback and the information. The sacrifices that these men gave and honor they displayed must never be forgotten.
     
  5. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    Leaving out the dates ( looked again with 3.5 strength £1 glasses)( now corrected in my post, thanks for the clear typing on the list, Timuk ) Major Howard's LQ refers to Changi, Farrar Park and Sime Road camps in Singapore. In Thailand he was at Chungkai at about 60 km from Banpong, Bankau ( Bankow) at about 87.9 km, Wantake ( Wun Takien) at about 81.3 km, then Chungkai again.

    No mention of Tarkenun, which is at various distances according to the date of re-survey by the Japanese engineers but is above 200 km from Banpong, but JC/49 is definitely the JAG's code for Tarkenun. He gives Lt Col Johnson as his sometime camp leader and Johnson was at various camps including Bankow, 110 km, 203 km and 227 Km. A mystery, but getting to the bottom of these things sometimes leads to fresh discoveries. Lt Col Owtram's memoirs ( Outram sometimes) were recently published and they might mention him.

    As a matter of interest the JAG's codes for the camps were Farrer Park JC/47, Sime Road JC/132, Chungkai JC/33, Bankow JC/70, and Wun Takien JC/66. If these files exist they go to series WO311 at Kew, but very few are there, only fifteen files out of about 340 last time I looked, about three minutes ago. The JAG's files for Europe are a different matter: lots of those but I've no idea whether the complete set is there.

    The best thing to do would be to view the original LQ, which looks likely to have information on the reverse side (and there may be a second LQ ) and look up the index to WO347 to see if he is in any of the hospital records in the same series. These can be brilliant at locating people, but often severe ill-health or injury led to the record being created.

    Jba, I agree with your view as I think we all do. I tend to be matter of fact about it all, but there are moments...My uncle died on a hell ship, when it was sunk by "friendly fire", hence my interest, and when I first started to research a lot of resources were not available. There are still record series at Kew which are marked as "still accruing" and one never knows when another tranche will suddenly arrive at Kew. I hope you visit there soon.
     
    timuk likes this.
  6. Jba45ww2

    Jba45ww2 Well-Known Member

    Tim, many thanks again for the updated information connected to Major Howard. This grouping will definitely be my first in depth research since my retirement. I am sorry to hear about your uncle and the circumstances surrounding his death. It sounds as if you are very persistent and I hope you eventually find all of the answers you are seeking.

    I also want to let everyone know how impressed I am with this Forum. I have been very impressed with everyone's knowledge and willing to share information. Wanted to say Thanks!
     
    papiermache likes this.
  7. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    it's a pleasure: it was very good indeed to see the photos. Finding all the answers for me would probably involve travelling to archives in Holland and America, but Japanese sources can be very informative although rather limited. At the moment the internet offers no end of material, especially the archives of the United Nations War Crimes Commission to be found at the International Criminal Court website here: ICC Legal Tools: What are the ICC Legal Tools?

    If you are new to the subject it is fairly well settled that "Railroad of Death" by John Coast is the best book. Published in 1946 it was put in evidence in the trial of a Japanese in mitigation. The modern edition helps identify the names of allied officers whose names had been altered."The War Diaries of Weary Dunlop" by (Sir) Edward Dunlop, an Australian, is excellent for the work of the hospitals. A wonderful individual who saved countless lives.

    As an example of how to research the subject when the witnesses were still around "Return from the River Kwai" by Joan and Clay Blair is a superb example of painstaking research. Unfortunately it made a rotten film.

    I am also fond of some books by ordinary soldiers who often portray the condition of the POWs very well.

    Good luck with your research.

    John
     

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