Lt. Claude Spencer Thorpe Woodcock, R.E. (NX59308) - Help please

Discussion in 'Prisoners of War' started by BFBSM, Apr 24, 2013.

  1. BFBSM

    BFBSM Very Senior Member

    I am looking for assistance with information regarding Lt. Claude Spencer Thorpe Woodcock, R.E. (NX59308). The information I have at the moment is from FWR, which told me, he was at the Niihama Isoura Branch Camp (Hiroshima 2-B ), which was also known as Fukuoka 13B. I also am aware he was aboard the Lisbon Maru which was sunk on 1 Oct 1942.

    I have obtained with Lee's help, his Japanese PoW card, now I need to understand the information provided as it is in Japanese. Could someone help me with a translation.

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    I would really appreciate any help given.
    Mark
     
  2. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    Mark,

    I cannot read the card but some script may be readable by both Chinese and Japanese people. The dates when Lt. Woodhead was captured and moved from place to place can be read. Date of capture is Christmas day 1941. In "Nengo numbers" that is 12-25 or 25th December in the year of accession of the Emperor Hirohito 16, or 1941. Years then start on 1st January of the following calendar year, not from the anniversary of the accession. The next date in chronological sequence on the card is 17-1-7, or 7th January 1942.

    Since you mention the Lisbon Maru we can guess that he may have been captured in Hong Kong. Then events are recorded as happening on 7th January 1942, then 11th October 1942.

    There are two war crimes cases about the Lisbon Maru. Summaries of the cases can be found by searching for " Hong Kong's War Crimes Collections". Click on "Documents" then "Snapshots of Cases." The case numbers are WO235/892 and WO235/1114. The latter is the more informative case. If you have permission you can download the case papers in pdf format, but otherwise it is a case of going back to Kew.

    Although the living witnesses are listed in the "Snapshot" the sworn or paper testimony is not. I know that there are affidavits and photographs on file WO235/1114.

    As to Lt Woodcock's later prisons it looks like the figures "7- -9B" are written in pencil in the top right corner of the front of the card. This may mean that he moved camp.

    Hopefully someone can give a translation. I once tried asking someone who looked capable of reading an IJA card at Kew and got a useful translation from a Chinese postgraduate student who was studying at Sydney University, Australia. The script might be in old-fashioned Japanese, but you will get a translation one day.

    John
     
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  3. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    I forgot about the Dutch National Archives system. Their privacy policy prevents some of the Dutch card translations being put online. However, their version of the Friends of the Nationaal Archief have translated a lot of their archive of cards and given the Japanese text and English translation. This can be a useful crib for cards at Kew.

    The link is : http://www.gahetna.nl/collectie/index/nt00425.

    Click on a name or two and you either get a scan of the original card or a translation.
     
  4. BFBSM

    BFBSM Very Senior Member

    John,

    Thank you for your response, and additional information and explanation of some of the entries.

    I can confirm, according to the information I have, his date of capture as 25 Dec 1941, and it was in Hong Kong. I appreciate, from the information provided by you, being able to now work out how the dates are written. Claude was a member of the Hong Kong Garrison and received a MiD in
    This is Gazetted in the Supplement to the London Gazette, 4 April, 1946:


    Which, along with the Gazetting of promotions, would indicate the number I have given originally as his service number to be incorrect. (Source already provided, in first post).

    I shall see who I can find locally to translate, but still hope someone here may be able to help.

    Mark
     
  5. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    Mark

    I thought the number was odd because a search at Australian Archives for name and number separately came up with nothing.

    I have posted again just above your last post with a link to Dutch National Archives.

    If you look in WO357 in the witness microfilms at Kew Lt Woodcock might have a card. It will not tell you much but it will say whether there was a Q form seen by the Judge Advocate General in the UK and whether he swore an affidavit for use in Japan by the US Judge Adviocate General. Of course, he may not have been in the UK after the war. It will probably have a camp name written in a code beginning "JC" which I can probably interpret.

    Once you have the Japanese camp names you can try the American Yokohama trial summaries for more background information. Summaries of these cases are at the University of Marburg website. Cases are listed by defendant's names but I can match some of the POW camp places to the case numbers. Search for "War Crimes Marburg". Go to "Phillips University Startseite". Click on "Dokumente". Click on "Yokohama" at the bottom of the next page. At the next page clicking on the Red column headings performs a "sort."
     
  6. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Hi Mark,

    Tony Banham's website may come in handy with your research into Lt. Woodcock. Don't be concerned in asking Tony a direct question or for help, he is exceptionally kind with investigations like this.

    http://www.hongkongwardiary.com
     
  7. BFBSM

    BFBSM Very Senior Member

    Thank you both, I shall be following up on these leads.

    I shall need to ask someone to follow up on the documents at Kew, living in Australia makes it a bit hard to visit. :wink:

    Mark
     
  8. BFBSM

    BFBSM Very Senior Member

    Well, I decided to ask my friends on FB, if they could translate some of the information for me.

    I have had one response with a translation so far.

    The first line of the second image reads:
    His presence at this camp is born out buy the list here.


    The second line reads:

    According to the above link about the Zentsuuji Camp, the above refers to the change of name of the Camp, on its transfer to the Hiroshima PoW Camp.

    It would also appear that on his arrival in Japan, he was sent to, the Osaka Concentration Camp on 11 Oct 1942, according to the fifth line of the second image. This is again the same camp, the information on the Allied PoWs Under The Japanese website, indicates such, and in the diary on that site:

    There is more to follow once I have clarification on some of the translations, as the initial translator was unsure of a couple of lines.

    Mark
     
  9. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Hi Mark,
    Just came across this. Are you still interested in Claude Woodcock? My father (ex Java and Ube) and Claude became friends in Zentsuji. They were transferred together in June 45 to Fukuoka 9 (Miyata) from where they were eventually released.
    Tim
     
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  10. BFBSM

    BFBSM Very Senior Member

    Tim,

    Yes I am still interested, and would be interested in anything you would be happy to share.

    Thank you,

    Mark
     
  11. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Hi Mark,
    If you haven't already seen them two good books to read are:
    Notify Alec Rattray by Meg Parkes. Covers Zentsuji.
    The Emperor's Guest by John Fletcher-Cooke. Covers Zentsuji and Miyata.
    For some reason, unknown to me, it would appear that officers were collected from other camps at the end of July 43 and moved to Zentsuji. My father was one of seven transferred from Ube.
    What is your interest in Claude Woodcock?
    Tim
     
  12. BFBSM

    BFBSM Very Senior Member

    Claude is a very distant relative.

    I shall have a look for the books you have listed, thank you.
     
  13. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Hi Mark,
    Sent you a PM.
    Tim
     
  14. BFBSM

    BFBSM Very Senior Member

    Thanks Tim.
     

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