THE NEW BOOK ON THE TAIWAN POWS AND CAMPS IS NOW AVAILABLE

COMING EVENT - FEPOW DAY - AUGUST 14TH 2021 

     On Saturday August 14th the Taiwan POW Camps Memorial Society will host the 14th FEPOW (Far East Prisoner of War) Day event to be held in Taiwan. As usual, it will be held at the SPOT THEATRE (台北之家－光點電影院) - 18, Zhongshan North Road Sec. 2 (台北市中山北路二段18號) in downtown Taipei.

     Being that this is the 80th Anniversary of the start of the Pacific War, we are featuring the award-winning movie "They Were Expendable". Made in 1945, produced and directed by John Ford, it stars Robert Montgomery and John Wayne. The film focuses on the battle of Bataan and the demise of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron-3 and its men, who expend themselves trying to slow the Japanese advance in the Philippines. It is a famous WW II movie that you won't want to miss.

     As usual, a short memorial service to honour the FEPOWs and civilian internees will take place prior to the movie being shown.

     Everyone is invited, but space is limited this year to a maximum of 30 persons, due to the covid-19 virus. Reservations are required – no-one will be admitted if they have not registered and only the first 30 people registering will be admitted. So be sure to register early to be assured of a seat. Please supply your mobile phone number for contact tracing purposes when you register. Masks must be worn and temperatures will be taken.

Note: This year due to virus restraints, no drinks or snacks will be served, so if required please bring your own personal liquid refreshment.

     The deadline for reservations is set at 5:00 pm Wednesday August 11th, so please kindly let us know ASAP by email if you’re planning to attend. Doors open at 6:00 pm and the event will begin at 6:30. If, after registering, you find you are unable to attend please let us know so we can give your seat to someone else.

     An email notice has been sent out to our local Taiwan supporters and friends and we are hoping to have a good turnout again. We look forward to seeing you on August 14th. 

Note: The new book “Never Forgotten” which tells the story of the Taiwan POW camps in WWII will be available on a reserved order basis only. If you have not yet purchased a copy and would like one, please indicate that when you make your reservation and you can purchase and pick it up the event.

'NEVER FORGOTTEN' - THE TAIWAN POWS' STORY. . .

     After 24 years of research and more than three years in production, we are happy to introduce the long-awaited book by Society director, Michael Hurst MBE, titled –    'Never Forgotten. . . The story of the Japanese Prisoner of War Camps in Taiwan during World War II.'

     It is the only book ever written that provides the complete story of all the Taiwan Prisoner of War camps and the men who were interned in them.

Description:  Softcover Book: 23.5 cm x 16.5 cm (9 1/2 x 6 1/2 inch) format, with cover photo featuring the sculpture of the two POWs in the Taiwan Prisoner of War Memorial Park in Jinguashi, Taiwan. The book contains 620 pages of text and is lavishly illustrated with 850 photos, artwork and ephemera (many in color). Printed on high-quality glossy paper, they visually enhance this epic saga making its 32 chapters and appendices come alive for the reader. 

Summary:  This highly researched history of the little-known Japanese POW camps on Taiwan in World War II features the accounts of former Taiwan prisoners of war through numerous interviews, the collection of materials supplied by them and their families, and thousands of hours spent poring over their diaries and letters, as well as other material from war records, regimental diaries and archives. It is their story, told in their words from what they have shared with the author, and that which was discovered during 24 years of research. This is a must read for anyone interested in the history of World War II and the prisoners of war in the Far East.

      For more details and information on how to obtain a copy, kindly click on ‘THE BOOK’ page in the menu on the left. Full details as to cost, shipping and payment are outlined.

Note: For those in Taipei and New Taipei City - a signed copy of the book can be purchased from the Society using Taiwan dollars. You may contact the Society directly at society@powtaiwan.org to request a copy and local delivery can be arranged.  Further local book-signings may also be held in the future and notices will be posted on the website and direct emails will be sent to all of the Society’s members and friends locally.   

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to mail service from Taiwan to the UK being temporarily suspended, we are NOT accepting any book orders from there as we are unable to process them. So UK residents please DO NOT place any orders for the book until further notice when the mail service resumes again. Thank you for your understanding and co-operation.

THE LAST REMAINING KINKASEKI POW CELEBRATES HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY

     On Saturday May 22nd, Adam Houston - former Signalman in the British Royal Corps of Signals in World War II, and the last remaining Kinkaseki prisoner of war, celebrated his 100th birthday. With his daughter and a number of friends in attendance, a small ceremony was held outside the senior's home in Burlington, Ontario, Canada where he currently resides.

     Originally from Scotland, Adam and his wife Agnes immigrated to Canada in 1956. He started working in the post office in 1957, and over the years rose to be the Superintendent of Operations at a plant in Toronto. He was instrumental in making innovative changes and implementing new systems, many of which are still in use today.

      He and Agnes came to Taiwan in 2005 and were present at the dedication of the Taiwan POW Memorial Park on the site of the former Kinkaseki Camp. Over the years Adam was a huge inspiration and help to me in documenting the POWs’ story.

     Adam had never claimed his WWII medals, and knowing this, daughter Marie Smith contacted, the MOD in the UK to apply for them for him. The response was quick and the medals arrived in time to be given to him on his special day. They were officially presented to him by Andrew Barber, Chairman of the Halton Ontario Naval Veterans Association who had served as a signalman in the Canadian Navy in the Korean War. A prayer of dedication and blessing was rendered by the Rev. Cannon Stuart Pike, the local Royal Canadian Legion Branch Chaplain. Adam was moved to tears on receiving this precious gift.

     Our heartiest congratulations to this warm, wonderful man - and one I am so proud to call my friend, on his 100th birthday. He also has the distinction of being the oldest living former Taiwan POW and the last surviving Kinkaseki prisoner.

75 YEARS LATER - THE AFTERMATH OF WORLD WAR II AND JAPAN TODAY. . . 

2020 was the 75th Anniversary of the end of World War II, and the following is a collection of articles and comments regarding the postwar position of the Japanese government and also those of the various allied governments in the aftermath of World War II. Some of these facts will be shocking to readers, but they are included here so that all may know of the corruption and collaboration that has gone on in the 75 years since the end of the world's greatest conflict. For example . . . 

* The United States granted immunity to Emperor Hirohito and Prince Asaka. Evidence shows that General Douglas MacArthur and his senior aides and Japanese high court officials schemed to fix testimony at the Tokyo war crimes trials so as not to implicate Hirohito.

* MacArthur also managed to have Generals Homma and Yamashita captured and brought to mock trials very soon after the Japanese surrendered - even before the war crimes trials were properly set up and convened.. . .

CLICK HERE to read the full story from the Articles and Stories section.

POW WEBSITE PHOTOS - MORE WANTED

     Over the past 23 years we have gathered photos of almost 700 former Taiwan prisoners of war and have added them to our listing of the 4,370 men who were interned in the various camps in Taiwan. Now, in addition to listing the POW’s name, rank, regiment and the camps where he was interned, a photo of the man has been added to that listing where available. Also, if the man died as a POW in Taiwan we have included a copy of his grave photo from the Honour Roll. We hope this new format will help these men to be remembered more personally with the addition of their photos, as this is what our site is really all about.

     We are still looking for more photos of the former Taiwan POWs - hopefully in uniform taken around wartime, but photos taken later after the war are acceptable too. We invite you to contact us and share photos of your Taiwan POW relative to add to our collection which will help us to further ensure that they are not forgotten.

Our Honour Roll consists of the names of all the men who died while POWs resident in camps on Taiwan during World War II.

Click to view Honour Roll