Vol. 10, Number 1
Spring - Summer 2009
In Memoriam
The following former Taiwan POWs have passed away since our last newsletter. We extend our sincerest sympathy to the families of these men and assure them that although they are no longer with us, they will Never Be Forgotten!
ALMA GLENN PRATT
S1C., US NAVY
JULY 15, 2004
(Not reported earlier)
DONALD DAVIDSON
CPL., 9/11TH INDIAN DIV. SIGNALS
September 11, 2008
(Not reported earlier)
JAMES L. WATSON
SGT., 155TH FIELD REGIMENT, R.A.
JANUARY 22, 2009
GEOFFREY MONUMENT
PTE., ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS
APRIL 18, 2009
JOHN C. DOUGLAS
L/BDR., 155TH FIELD REGIMENT, R.A.
APRIL 24, 2009
“We Will Remember Them”
DEDICATION OF MEMORIAL PLAQUE TO POW AIRMEN AT TAIPEI PRISON WALL
Finally, four years after our initial memorial service for the 14 executed American airmen at the wall of the old Taipei Prison on June 19, 2005, the dedication of a plaque to honour the memory of all the American airmen who were held in the former prison and the 14 who were needlessly executed there by a Japanese firing squad 64 years ago will take place on Saturday June 20th at 3 pm.
The ceremony will be held with the co-operation of the City of Taipei, the ROC Dep’t of Veterans Affairs and the American Institute in Taiwan. Local Taiwan friends and supporters of the Society have been notified of the details of the ceremony and we are hoping to have a good turnout for the event. This is the first of several memorials that we hope to erect in Taipei city in the next couple of years.
A word regarding donations to the Society:
Banks in Taiwan are reluctant to accept anything other than US dollars, so if making a donation to the Society please send the funds in US$ - preferably in a bank wire / transfer to our account here. Please contact us for the pertinent account information. Thank you.
REMEMBERING DEAR POW FRIENDS. . .
Several of my dear FEPOW friends have passed away lately. They have been very special friends and have helped so much in my study of the former Taiwan camps. Here are tributes to a few of them . . .
JAMES WATSON –
I have known and corresponded with Jim Watson for over twelve years, as he was one of the first POWs I contacted when I started this work. He was always so kind and helpful to me, and he shared so much of his experiences with me. The several times we have met over the years were truly memorable events.
A quiet and gentle man, he was well-liked and respected by all the POWs and those who knew him. The other POWs who were with him at Kinkaseki and Shirakawa Camps have told me what a caring man and what a leader he was in the camps. I will always remember his gentle nature and smiling face and the twinkle in his eye when he would look at me. God bless him - I will miss him dearly.
GEOFFREY MONUMENT –
From the first contact I had with Geoff over ten years ago we became the greatest of friends. He was our POW Society rep in the United Sates when he lived in Florida where he emigrated after the war with his beloved wife Millie. When she passed away a few years ago he returned to the UK and lived near the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas.
Geoff helped me so much with my work in finding out more about the Taiwan POWs and trying to put former American POWs in touch with me. He sent me his book and some other items for our POW museum here in Taiwan. He used to help me with eBay purchases I made for our museum when the seller would not ship to Taiwan - I would have them send the article to Geoff and he would send it on to me.
We finally met last year at the POW reunion in the UK and I was so looking forward to seeing him again this year. He was one of my most special FEPOW friends and I am just so happy now that I got to meet him at the reunion last year. Rest in peace, dear friend!
JOHN DOUGLAS –
I had corresponded for many years with John Douglas and his wife Audrey, before finally being able to meet them last year at our POW reunion in the UK. After all those cards and letters it was so great to sit face to face and chat with another one of my many FEPOW heroes. John always encouraged me in my work and provided whatever information and help he could.
He had an infectious smile and a great sense of humour and our time together was not nearly long enough as we tried to catch up on so many wonderful years. We were looking forward to seeing each other again this year, but sadly it was not to be. I am proud to say that he was my friend and I am surely much richer for having known him.