Morning All. Wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction. I am based in UK and am researching my family history. I am trying to find any information on my paternal Grand Father. He died when my father was 3-4 years old, so dad has no recollection of him at all and has only recently been given some photos of him. He was captured by the Japanese in Java and was sent to a camp in Maluku, Indonesia. He died there in 1943. He is buried in Ambon cemetry. We think the graves were relocated to this cemetry, but not sure why. I have his Name, Rank and service number if it helps. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and fingers crossed that I can get further with my research.
Hello and welcome, Lesley You can contact CWGC for actual reason, but logic dictates that there were probably very many grave sites scattered in heavy jungle, plus Indonesia has not always been a friendly or safe place to visit or maintain graves to the desired standard. many fallen servicemens grave have been concentrated to more suitable locations where the appropriate standards of care can be maintained. In fact, this is what the CWGC have about the Cemetery: The town of Ambon, situated on Laitimor Peninsula on the southern shore of Ambon Bay, was severely damaged during the war, first by the Japanese who bombed it heavily in January 1942 and later by the Allied forces who attacked it in 1943 and 1944. The War Cemetery was constructed on the site of a former camp for Australian, British and Dutch prisoners of war, some of whom had been transferred from Java in 1943, and many of those buried in it died in captivity. Other burials were of Australian soldiers who died during the Japanese invasion on Ambon and Timor. Soon after the war the remains of prisoners of war from Haruku and other camps on the island were also removed to Ambon and in 1961, at the request of the Indonesian Government, the remains of 503 graves in Makassar War Cemetery on the island of Celebes were added to the cemetery. The total number of graves in the cemetery is over 2,000. Of this total over half are Australians, of whom about 350 belonged to the 2/21st Australian Infantry Battalion. Most of the 800 British casualties belonged to the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force; nearly all the naval dead were originally buried at Makassar. The cemetery is laid out in a series of terraces approached by short flights of steps on the central axis. The Ambon Memorial, which is in the form of a shelter, stands on the first terrace. It commemorates over 450 Australian soldiers and airmen who died in the region of Celebes and the Molucca Islands and have no known grave. The Cross of Sacrifice stands on the highest terrace in a wide expanse of lawn; the terrace below it contains most of the burials from Makassar. All the graves are marked with bronze plaques mounted on concrete pedestals and set in level turf. if you bear his surname, there are only about 5 "Mxxxx" graves that are not Navy or Air Force related. You or other Next of Kin can apply for his Service Record which might give you more background, but probably not much after his capture. There are quite a few books about Japanese PoW's, it might be best to contact the Far East Prisoner of War Society (FEPOW) or Children Of (COFEPOW) who have a vast array of knowledge and expertise gained from helping others in a similar situation to you. You title your post "POW Research" so what is it you want? Details of the camp(s) or something more specific? I'm sure you can readily imagine from films and books that being a prisoner of the Japanese was very unpleasant, but whether there is anything specific for him I can't guess. It wouldn't make for pleasant reading, perhaps concentrating on his unit and service life before capture would be more rewarding? Post up his details if you want, I'm sure the Pals here will do their best to assist.
have you looked thro the roll of honour at the cemetary?. Ambon War Cemetery Roll a- z.. http://www.archives.gov/research/ww2/ another option..
Thanks for your prompt replies folks. The information I have as follows: I have got some photos of him in uniform but can't figure out how toupload them at the moment. Name:HILL, JACK Initials:J Nationality:United Kingdom Rank:Driver Regiment/Service:Royal Corps of Signals Unit Text:77 H.A.A. Regt., R.A. Sig. Sec. Age:31 Date of Death:12/09/1943 Service No:2347755 Additional information:Son of Thomas and Mary Ann Hill, of Siddal, Yorkshire; husband of Alice Hill, of Siddal. Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference:14. A. 7. Cemetery:AMBON WAR CEMETERY As for the information that I am looking for, honestly, I don't know. I suppose anything about his life. I can understand that finding specific records of him as a POW is a very long shot. I think I would like to know how he was captured and where. What camp was he in? I know he went over on the HMS Warwick Castle, which was torpedoed on its way home. I was with my dad last weekend, when I asked him what he wanted to know, his reply was, 'I don't really know, I just want to know about him, because I never knew him'. Having never been in that situation, I can only imagine how Dad must feel, not knowing about a parent. I will check out the sites that you suggest. Thanks again
My dad has sent me an email of a photograph of a returned postcard. The card was sent by George Hill, brother of my Grandfather. As you can see by the address it was sent to, all it states is 'Java Camp Y'. I cannot find any information on this Camp. Where these type of postcards sent to a central place and then sent on to other camps? It was sent on 9th October 1944 which was a year after his death [horrible that they never knew he had died] and subsequently returned. Can anyone help in any way please? I feel I need to find out where and which camp it was, if only for my fathers sake as he so much wants to find about the dad he never knew. Many thanks
have you tried contacting here? lesley.. COFEPOW - Research Advisers COFEPOW - FEPOW Welfare research page..
OK, Lesley, let's suppose you have this site bookmarked now!! As said, apply for his Service Records. It should show when he was posted and I'd guess that it was a posting to Singapore. The Warwick Castle was torpedoed on 14th November 1942 off Portugal. Singapore surrendered to the Japanese on 5th February 1942, so he must have been on an earlier voyage. He was attached as a signaller to the Royal Artillery, the 77th Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment, probably with their HQ section. There were over 400 killed in the Regiment from 1942 onwards, the bilk of them in Far East cemeteries ranging from Singapore to Yokohama. On the day he died, only 2 others both RAF also died in Ambon and they are not together, suggesting collection from elsewhere. The small number would also indicate that it was perhaps malnutrition, illness or maltreatment that caused his death as, please forgive me, but at 31 he was not a "young" man.... He would probably have been moved from Singapore on one of the "hell ships" where prisoners were crammed below deck in stifling heat for days on end, some ships were sunk as there was no way of knowing that prisoners of war were being transported, along with vital war supplies for Japan. The range of cemeteries for 77 HAA looks as if they were being force marched through jungle terrain as much as possible, those falling by the wayside being summarily killed. There are many accounts of the brutal conditions and hardships of these prisoners. It would not do to dwell on that side, but concentrate instead on respect for his memory. He does have a marked grave, which many others do not have.
Thanks for all the info. My dad and I realise the hell he must have gone through at that time and we have decided not to dwell on it, as you rightly say. We do have written information that he died of dysentry, as did so many others. My dad has applied for Jacks service records and has had a reply today saying it could take 6-8 months. I think what my dad really wants to know, is when he was conscripted, and where he went to. We have no hope of ever visiting his grave so we will have to be content with the little we know about him. Thanks for all your help.
