L/Bdr. George Harrison, a medical orderly attached to the 5th Field Reg’t. Royal Artillery, was truly one of the heroes of the Kinkaseki and Kukutsu POW Camps. Working alongside the doctors and the other orderlies in the camp, and also as the only medic down the mine at Kinkaseki, he helped save the lives of many of the men who otherwise might have died from accidents, unattended injuries or disease.
Following our first meeting at the big Kinkaseki POW reunion in the UK in 1999 we became close friends and kept in touch often over the years. He offered many stories of the camps and his time in them, as well as drawings of which being a commercial artist, he was ever prolific in doing. He had also made many sketches and drawings as a POW and shared these with me as well.
George passed away in December 2006, and when it was discovered that he would have no final resting place, the Society decided to have his ashes and also those of his wife Gladys, who had pre-deceased him a year earlier, interred at the Surrey and Sussex Crematorium in Crawley, Sussex.
Working with Cliff Foster, the Society’s UK rep of the time, and also Chairman of Royal British Legion Crawley Branch # 2185 back then, we also learned that due to lack of finances in the family at the time, Cliff’s father Alfred - also a Gnr. in the 5th Field Reg’t., and his wife had never had a proper memorial either. So it was decided to erect some kind of memorial to the two men, and on working with the crematorium staff and at their suggestion, it was decided to place a wooden memorial bench in the garden in honour and in remembrance of them and the other 5th Field Reg't. POWs.
The plan was announced by the POW Society and over the next year the necessary funds were raised to cover the cost of the interment service and the memorial bench. Thus on September 30th 2008, while on a visit to the UK for a Taiwan POW Reunion in Newcastle, the interment of ashes and dedication of the memorial bench took place. Three former Taiwan POWs - George Reynolds, Stan Vickerstaff and Jack Fowler, made the special effort to be with us on the day. The RBL Padre officiated at the service, along with an RBL Standard bearer - in all a very formal, proper and fitting ceremony. There were also representatives of the local Horley Branch of the Royal Artillery Association present to honour the men. Maj/Gen. Michael Steele, President of the branch paid tribute to George, his life and his service. George Reynolds, former Bdr. 5th Field Reg’t. R.A. also brought a tribute to his friend.
Memorial service for George and Gladys outside the chapel and by the memorial bench - September 30, 2008
Society Director (l) and Cliff Foster (r) with former POWs The original memorial bench. Stan Vickerstaff, George Reynolds & Jack Fowler.
In the years that followed, with the weather and the fact that it was only meant to last ten years, the wooden bench needed to be replaced. Cliff took up the task once again and in consultation with the crematorium staff, it was decided to replace the wooden bench with one made from granite which would last forever and remain there in perpetuity to honour and remember the men. Arrangements were made and a beautiful bench was procured and installed in July 2018.
The new polished granite memorial bench. The cast bronze inscription to the men, their wives and the 5th Field Reg't. POWS.
We are very grateful to the Surrey and Sussex Crematorium management for coming up with this plan and for donating the new memorial bench on our behalf in honour of the Far East prisoners of war. Now the memory of George and Alfred will live on, and in keeping with our aims, they will never be forgotten.