ANOTHER ONE UP . . .
                  "THE KUKUTSU POW MEMORIAL"

The site of the Kukutsu POW Camp was located in the spring of 1997, when former Canadian Trade Office Director, Hugh Stephens, Michael Hurst and Jack and Polly Edwards made a trip to the countryside south of Taipei city in search of the camp. Jack and Polly had been in town for the initial service of remembrance that was organised to raise awareness of the Kinkaseki POW camp, and while in Taipei Jack expressed a desire to see if anything remained of the former Kukutsu Camp as well.

After much driving around, and when almost about to give up, the location of the site was pointed out to the group by two of the local area residents, so confirmed, positive identification was made.

During the next two years Michael Hurst further explored the area and former campsite with the aid of a journalist friend from Hsintien.

The Memorial in the former Kukutsu POW Camp

When the Taiwan POW Camps Memorial Society was formed last year, the idea was conceived to try to get permission to erect POW memorials at the sites of all the former camps that were located - where the situation was viable. Since Michael had gotten to know several of the local residents, he felt erecting a memorial at Kukutsu should not be too difficult a task.

The owner of the land was approached and after hearing the story and knowing of the Society’s intentions, readily granted permission for the memorial stone to be placed in a corner of his garden which was once the site of the POW camp.

The Society was, at the time, also negotiating with the local authorities in Taichung County to seek permission to erect a POW memorial at the site of the former Taichu Camp (this is still ongoing), and had already located two pieces of beautiful green Taiwan marble. One of the pieces was procured and whisked off to a local stonework factory for engraving. On Friday, November 12, 1999 the Kukutsu POW Memorial stone was picked up from the engravers, transported to the hills south of Hsintien and installed in the garden grotto of the former POW camp site.

On Saturday, November 20, 1999 with three former POWs of the Kukutsu Camp present - the POW Memorial was dedicated. Jack Edwards, Ben Gough and John Marshall all took part in the ceremony which featured comments from TPCMS Director Michael Hurst, and the Drirector-General of the British Trade and Cultural Office in Taipei, Mr. David Coates. Ex-POW Jim Scott who was not at Kukutsu, joined his mates in remembering their former comrades.

After a prayer of dedication by Jack Geddes, poppy wreaths were laid in honour of those who did not return and for those who still survive.

(l-r) Ben Gough, John Marshall and Jack Edwards by the meorial.

To date we have located 29 survivors of the former Kukutsu POW Camp and all have been sent a letter notifying them of the building and dedication of the memorial, along with a photo of the Kukutsu memorial stone, so that they will know that they and their mates have not and will not ever be forgotten.