PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS IN TAIWAN
in conjunction with THE TAIWAN POW CAMPS MEMORIAL SOCIETY The experience of the men who became prisoners of the Japanese during WW2 is a story of endurance and survival. Names such as the River Kwai, Burma Railway and Changi Prison have become etched in our knowledge of that period. But the camps spread across East Asia including several in Taiwan or Formosa as it was then called. The story of the prisoner-of-war camps the Japanese had in Taiwan during World War II is not widely known, but is now being rediscovered. To date sixteen camps have been identified in Taiwan. Kinkaseki Camp, a mine, in northern Taiwan is the most notorious.
Tour Cost:
POA
In 1942 the Japanese began bringing Allied Prisoners of War to Taiwan. The great majority of prisoners held in Taiwan were captured as a result of the surrenders of Hong Kong in December 1941 and Singapore in February 1942 and were principally of British and Australian. However, there were also Americans captured in the Philippines and Dutch from Indonesia later in the war. They were brought to Taiwan to work as slaves for the Japanese war effort. They were put to work in mines, factories and any location where labour was intense. According to Japanese records, there were 4344 Allied POWs "resident" in the Taiwan POW camps from August 1942 to September 1945. There were also other POWs who arrived on hellships from Singapore and the Philippines who died shortly after arriving on the island and were thus never "resident". Finally, there were the American fighter pilots and bomber crews who were shot down or crashed and captured by the Japanese from October 1944 to May 1945. These men were considered to be "war criminals" and as such were incarcerated in the Taihoku (Taipei) Prison. This gives a total of 4367 men. According to the Japanese records, 427 Allied POWs died while being held as prisoners of war on Taiwan. This included those men who died shortly after arriving in Taiwan off the hellships, and also
the fourteen American airmen executed by the Japanese in June 1945. The POWs suffered horribly poor treatment in all of the camps on the island. There was never enough food. The men had to work tremendously long hours every day. They were not allowed to rest even if they were sick or injured. They were beaten if they did not reach their work quota each day. This happened often so the men experienced beatings almost every day. The few medicines were kept from the POWs by the Japanese causing illness and hardship for the men.
HIGHLIGHTS Highlights include visits to the locations of: • HEITO POW CAMP • KARENKO POW CAMP MEMORIAL • TAICHU POW CAMP • TAIHOKU POW CAMP # 6
Notably, the most senior ranking officers in the captured Allied services were help in Taiwan. Additionally, the British Governors of Singapore, Malaya and Hong Kong; the Governors of Guam and the Dutch East Indies were in camps on the island. They were at Karenko, Shirakawa and Taihoku Most of these personnel were later moved to Japan and Manchuria in late 1944. We invite you as former POWs, your family members and all friends to join us on a remarkable tour. In conjunction with the Taiwan POW Camps Memorial Society Spirit of Remembrance can create a full package for you as an individual, family or larger group including flights, accommodation, transport and help you apply for any grants that may help with the financial element of your tour. Contact us today to see how we can help you.
• KINKASEKI POW CAMP • TOROKU POW CAMP • KUKUTSU POW CAMP MEMORIAL • TAIHOKU PRISON • THE TAIWAN HELLSHIPS MEMORIAL We can help veterans, widows / widowers and their families access FREE TRAVEL GRANTS and arrange travel for individuals, families or groups. Please CONTACT US to book or if you require more information regarding this tour to this moving location.
For enquiries or booking please contact:
tours@spiritofremembrance.com or call 01634 233785