In Memoriam

REMEMBERING DEAR POW FRIENDS. . .

So many of our dear FEPOW friends have passed away this year. Many have been very special friends and have helped us so much in our study of the former Taiwan camps. Here are tributes to a few of them . . .

John McCann - was the only Takao POW to ever contact us and through him we learned about conditions in the camp and the men who were there.

Clement Schmitt - was the only American ex-POW from a Taiwan camp to ever re-visit Taiwan. He came here in 2004. He had been in the Taichu Camp following his journey in September 1942 on the hellship Lima Maru. He only stayed in Taiwan for two months as later in mid-November that year he and the other Americans were transferred to Yokohama Japan. He spent his later years visiting schools in his native Florida, sharing his story with the students in an effort to help them learn and remember the suffering of the POWs for their freedom.

Bill Notley - the “little boxer of the 155th Field Reg’t.”, was a lightweight boxing champion in the army and a dear friend. Bill almost never missed a POW reunion anywhere and was always happy to be with his old mates again. He came to Taiwan in 2000 and I met him several times in the UK as well. Always having a cheery smile and a good story to tell, he will be missed by his many comrades.

Harry Chatt - had also become a good friend over the past couple of years. Harry supplied us with a lot of material, documents and drawings of his time as a POW. He was supposed to attend this year’s POW reunion in Newcastle but wasn’t feeling well at the time. I spoke to him on the phone at his home after the reunion and he was very cheery but sadly he died just three weeks later.

George McKay – although we hadn’t had much inter-action over the years, George always liked to receive our newsletters and when I knew I would be visiting Scotland this September I telephoned him to try to arrange a visit. We both looked forward to meeting for the first time, but unfortunately he wasn’t well so our meeting never took place. He died a month later.

Maurice Cunningham - was a very dear and long time FEPOW friend. We first came to know each other in 1998 and we visited in his home several times. He also gave me a lot of material and information about the camps and the men, and was instrumental in helping me with a lot of info on the camps and finding the men. I had been to see him in September during my visit to the UK and he passed away quite suddenly in early November.

Wyndham K. Forbes - aged 99 years, was our oldest Taiwan FEPOW. In our last issue we wished him happy birthday and we were looking forward to celebrating his 100th. He was one of the last of the officers, a good friend and instrumental in helping with information about the Shirakawa Camp. His 1943 Christmas card, given several years ago, is featured on our website this year.

It is very apparent that we are losing these wonderful men at an increasing rate and it is so important that we make sure that they are honoured before it is too late!