The former FEPOWs at the entrance of the Kinkaseki Mine
(l-r) H. Brant, W. Notley, R. Goodman, G. Reynolds, J. Fowler, B. Slack,
S. Vickerstaff and S. Dodds

REMEMBRANCE WEEK . . . (con’t.)

       On Friday November 17 a busload of FEPOWs, family members and TPCMS staff travelled into the hills south of Taipei for a visit to the Kukutsu POW Camp. Their first stop was the village of Hsintien where the group got to see once again the old suspension bridge that the POWs used to cross on their way to the camp up in the hills.
       After walking across the bridge the group re-boarded the bus for the six-mile journey up the narrow winding road to the site of the former camp where the men from Kinkaseki were sent after the mine closed.
       Despite the drizzling rain, a very meaningful service of remembrance was held. Former Kukutsu POW Ray Goodman read a poem, Stan Vickerstaff spoke of his memories, and Katherine Heard read a poem in memory of her late husband who was also in the camp.
On Saturday November 18, a Royal British Legion group joined us as a part of their Far East POW tour.
       The twelve members of the group were warmly welcomed at a small reception put on by the TPCMS.
Saturday evening saw everyone gathered at the Banker’s Club once again for the annual POW Memorial Banquet. Following a lovely buffet dinner, several of the FEPOWs reminisced about some of their POW experiences. Everyone was moved as they listened to the stories of hardship and suffering, and how the men had pulled together to help each other to survive those awful times.
       Sunday, November 19 dawned clear and bright as more than eighty people gathered at the site of the memorial at Kinkaseki for this year’s Remembrance Service. With eleven former POWs, four POW widows and six POW sons and daughters, the ceremony was a very moving tribute to those who had suffered so much in Taiwan’s fifteen POW camps.
       After some words of welcome from Nick Bridge, Director of the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office in Taiwan, each of the former POWs read poems or stories to honour the memory of those we were remembering that day. Father Louis Gendron, a Canadian missionary and long-time resident of Taiwan, gave a very meaningful address and led in the prayers of remembrance.
Following this, the wreath-laying ceremony took place at the memorial. Wreaths were laid by the FEPOWs, war veterans, representatives from the Commonwealth and Allied governments, the Taiwan POW Camps Memorial Society, The Royal British Legion and the wives, widows and sons and daughters of the FEPOWs.
       The local government officals and the people from the village of Chinguashi also paid their respects with many floral tributes being placed on the site, and the Kinkaseki Memorial looked resplendant with all the wreaths and flowers surrounding it on that sombre November morning.
Following the service, a visit was made to the entrance of the mine where the POWs had a glimpse back in time, and for some it provided a further opportunity to lay some ghosts to rest.
The following week held a lot of activities for the guests. On Monday November 20 everyone journeyed to the site of the former Taichu Camp for the dedication of the new POW memorial there. (See story on page 7.) Local sightseeing tours, and a visit to Taihoku #6 Camp rounded out the week’s activities.
       As this year’s activity came to a close and each of the FEPOWs returned home, everyone felt that this had been a most memorable time and an unforgettable experience. We will not forget the FEPOWs either!