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A Memorial for George HarrisonAs you will have seen on our ‘In Memoriam’ page of the last issue, we noted the passing of George Harrison, L/Bdr. 5th Field Reg’t. R.A. who was a POW in Taihoku Camp #6, Kinkaseki and Kukutsu Camps. He was a medical orderly and greatly assisted Dr. Wheeler and Capt. Seed in caring for the men. As the first medic to be allowed to go down the mine at Kinkaseki, he was instrumental in helping many men who were injured by rock-falls and other accidents, and he is also credited with saving a number of lives. I’m sure there are very few men who were in those camps who didn’t know of George and who may have even come under his care at some time or other. When Dr. Wheeler and Capt. Seed were sent to Shirakawa Camp, it was George and David Donnelly who were left on their own to care for the remaining 350 men. Later, after the Kinkaseki POWs were all moved to the jungle camp at Kukutsu, George and David assisted the American and British doctors who came into the camp with further medical care for the men until the war ended. It has come to our attention that although George and his wife - who pre-deceased him the year before, were both cremated, no actual provision was made for a proper internment or memorial plaque for them. This is such a shame for one who did so much for the men, and we would like to do something to ensure that George and his wife are given a fitting burial and a memorial plaque. Our Society has decided to undertake this project and we are asking for your help. Our UK representative Cliff Foster, whose father was also a POW at Taihoku, Kinkaseki and Kukutsu, became good friends with George in his last years, and he is representing the Society on this project. We have custody of the ashes and Cliff is working with a local cemetery to arrange a place of internment and a fitting memorial plaque. The cost will be about £1,250.00 or US/CAD$2,500.00. We have already received a little over £225.00 and we have pledges for more, but we still have a way to go to before we can have the internment service which will be officially conducted by a Chaplain from the Royal British Legion. We are asking our friends and supporters if they would like to donate to this very worthwhile cause. Donations should be sent directly to Cliff Foster in the UK and he can be contacted by email at: clifffoster_600@hotmail.com for more information and to make arrangements for sending the donations. This is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to recognize and say thanks to a great man, and to ensure that he will not be forgotten. Please help us to achieve this goal.
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