UK KINKASEKI REUNION - A HUGE SUCCESS
by Michael Hurst

     This summer, for the first time since the end of World War II, the survivors of the infamous Kinkaseki POW Camp at Chinguashi, got together for a Kinkaseki POW reunion.
      It was principally organized by ex-POW Maurice Rooney, who had visited Taiwan last year for the annual remembrance service, along with Stan Vickerstaff, Ben Slack and Jack Butterworth - a FEPOW newsletter editor in the UK.
       My wife and I had the privilege to travel to the UK to join in the reunion, which was held at the holiday resort of Gunton Hall in Suffolk on the east coast of England. I was also hoping to meet other ex-Kinkaseki men on my travels throughout the UK after the reunion, and to learn more of the POWs’ story. We arrived in London on July 5 and had three pleasant days of sightseeing. On the evening of July 7 a small group of ex-POWs gathered at the Union Jack Club for a dinner and get-together These men, principally from the London FEPOW Club, were unable to attend the larger reunion but had wanted to meet us to say thank you for the memorial which was built here in Taiwan in their honour and memory. We had a great time of fellowship and the evening turned out to be too short for all that we wanted to do.

After dinner at the London reunion

      Then it was up to Gunton Hall for what turned out to be a most wonderful weekend for everyone. POWs who had not met, or seen each other for 40 – 50 years had an emotional time as they recounted stories from those past days. Some of the men had been in the same regiment but had never known what happened to their mates. Others had kept in contact over the years, and it was so great to seem them having a good time together all weekend.
      Altogether there were 28 former Kinkaseki men, a number of their wives, several widows, and sons and daughters of the POWs in attendance – totaling over 65 people.
       Every evening rousing sing-songs were held around the piano in the lounge, and despite the age of the participants (most of them around 80 years old), these often lasted until the “wee hours” of the morning. Everyone had a great time reminiscing and singing together.
        Before going to the UK we had made considerable preparations for the reunion. My wife and I had produced four videos on Kinkaseki and the building and dedication of the memorial, which we showed in the afternoon sessions. We were pleased that one particular video, entitled “Kinkaseki –

       Then and Now” sparked everyone’s interest as it showed what Kinkaseki looks like now compared with 55 years ago.
        I was able to interview many of the FEPOWs and learned much more about their experiences at Kinkaseki and the other POW camps on Taiwan. It was truly a moving and heartwarming experience for us to meet so many of the Kinkaseki survivors and their families, and to see their deep appreciation for what we as a Commonwealth community have done here in Taiwan for their memory.
        As I talked with so many of them one central message kept coming through. It was that they hoped that they and their comrades - some of whom had died here in Taiwan, would never be forgotten – that is all they really want. I was so proud to show them that because of the Kinkaseki POW Memorial and the care and concern of the Commonwealth community here – that this would never happen - they would always be remembered!

The evening sing-a-longs were a lot of fun for all.

       After the reunion we were privileged to stay with a number of the FEPOWs. We were guests at the home of Maurice and Barbara Rooney in Norfolk, Ben Slack in Lincolnshire and Stan Vickerstaff in Nottinghamshire.While staying with these wonderful people we had the opportunity to visit with several more on our travels through the UK. Altogether we saw 42 of the 85 UK ex-Kinkaseki men whom we have contacted so far, 12 of the 32 widows and next of kin, and a number of other POWs who had been interned in Taiwan but not at the Kinkaseki Camp. Many of these latter contacts provided much-needed information that will surely help in locating some of the other Taiwan camps.
          It was wonderful trip – and one of the most meaningful and rewarding experiences I have had since undertaking all this POW memorial work more than 2 1/2 years ago.

The survivors of the Jungle Camp are happier now!