EXPERIENCES OF AUSTRALIAN PRISONERS IN ASIAN POW CAMPS
By Xena Dakkak
Japanese
The Australian POW's in Asia experienced extreme conditions from the Japanese. The Japanese had POW camps throughout Asia, in different countries the experiences were varied.
Douglas Neville Ricketts
One experience of an Australian prisoner of the Japanese was Douglas Neville Ricketts who was born on the 5th of August 1918 in Drummonye. He was of private ranking in World War 2. He enlisted in the war when he was 21 of the 18th Battalion unit and from Sydney; he travelled to Singapore in early 1941. Douglas Neville Ricketts’ job was an anti-aircraft gunner in Malaya. Then he was taken as a POW in Singapore during 1942. He was taken to many POW camps in Asia from POW camps in Korea (Jinsen, Keijo and Konan). While Douglas Neville Ricketts was in the Keijo POW camp he was able to stay in contact with his fiancé at the time through letters.
A reoccurring trend in most of the POW camps is although they had bad treatment, the Australian prisoners were able to contact family and friends.
The Australian POW's in Asia experienced extreme conditions from the Japanese. The Japanese had POW camps throughout Asia, in different countries the experiences were varied.
Douglas Neville Ricketts
One experience of an Australian prisoner of the Japanese was Douglas Neville Ricketts who was born on the 5th of August 1918 in Drummonye. He was of private ranking in World War 2. He enlisted in the war when he was 21 of the 18th Battalion unit and from Sydney; he travelled to Singapore in early 1941. Douglas Neville Ricketts’ job was an anti-aircraft gunner in Malaya. Then he was taken as a POW in Singapore during 1942. He was taken to many POW camps in Asia from POW camps in Korea (Jinsen, Keijo and Konan). While Douglas Neville Ricketts was in the Keijo POW camp he was able to stay in contact with his fiancé at the time through letters.
A reoccurring trend in most of the POW camps is although they had bad treatment, the Australian prisoners were able to contact family and friends.
Source 1: "Letter on Japanese Issue Paper from Douglas Ricketts to his then fiance Catherine Shanahan."
http://www.austhistmuseum.mq.edu.au/exhibits/selarang/japan.htm
This source is a primary source; it was a letter from the date it was written on the 1st of July 1945. As stated in the caption the letter was written by Douglas Neville Ricketts to his fiance in Australia while he was staying at the Chosen prisoner camp in Korea. The fact that Douglas Neville Ricketts was able to send a letter to his fiance shows that he hope for his future and it proves that the Japanese did allow communication in the Asian POW camps. However in other aspects the Japanese weren't lenient, they had harsh rules and restrictions.
http://www.austhistmuseum.mq.edu.au/exhibits/selarang/japan.htm
This source is a primary source; it was a letter from the date it was written on the 1st of July 1945. As stated in the caption the letter was written by Douglas Neville Ricketts to his fiance in Australia while he was staying at the Chosen prisoner camp in Korea. The fact that Douglas Neville Ricketts was able to send a letter to his fiance shows that he hope for his future and it proves that the Japanese did allow communication in the Asian POW camps. However in other aspects the Japanese weren't lenient, they had harsh rules and restrictions.
Source 2: "A plan of the Jinsen Prisoner of War camp, Korea. Drawn by Douglas Ricketts as an addition to his journal, kept throughout his imprisonment."
http://www.austhistmuseum.mq.edu.au/exhibits/selarang/japan.htm
This source is a primary source it was a plan of the POW camp Jinsen in Korea that was drawn by Douglas Neville Ricketts. It shows how the Japanese POW camps in Korea were set out and that they also had medical facilities such as a hospital. In the foreground of the photo it is shown that there were areas of recreation such as playing sports. Therefore when the prisoners weren't working they did have some sport time.
http://www.austhistmuseum.mq.edu.au/exhibits/selarang/japan.htm
This source is a primary source it was a plan of the POW camp Jinsen in Korea that was drawn by Douglas Neville Ricketts. It shows how the Japanese POW camps in Korea were set out and that they also had medical facilities such as a hospital. In the foreground of the photo it is shown that there were areas of recreation such as playing sports. Therefore when the prisoners weren't working they did have some sport time.
Frank Arthur Ernest Elworthy
Another Australian prisoner of war captured by the Japanese was Frank Arthur Ernest Elworthy who was born on the 20th of May 1909 in Sydney. His rank in World War 2 was a Lance Corporal. He enlisted in the war when he was 31 of the HQ 22nd Brigade unit in 1940. He was captured in Singapore as a POW and was taken to Japan to stay in the Fukuoka No.22 POW camp in January 1945. The experience at the Fukuoka No.22 POW camp in Japan was exhausting and Australians alongside him slept on top of mats on the floor. Frank Elworthy’s job was to work in the coal mines for 12 hours and his food consisted of rice, fish and vegetable soup. The food wasn’t enough however it was decent and the Japanese did allow a bit of freedom in the Fukuoka No.22 POW camp.
The No.22 POW camp wasn't as bad as the other camps around Asia such as the ones in Thailand and Singapore. However some Australian prisoners did suffer from deficiencies of vitamins due to lack of food.
Another Australian prisoner of war captured by the Japanese was Frank Arthur Ernest Elworthy who was born on the 20th of May 1909 in Sydney. His rank in World War 2 was a Lance Corporal. He enlisted in the war when he was 31 of the HQ 22nd Brigade unit in 1940. He was captured in Singapore as a POW and was taken to Japan to stay in the Fukuoka No.22 POW camp in January 1945. The experience at the Fukuoka No.22 POW camp in Japan was exhausting and Australians alongside him slept on top of mats on the floor. Frank Elworthy’s job was to work in the coal mines for 12 hours and his food consisted of rice, fish and vegetable soup. The food wasn’t enough however it was decent and the Japanese did allow a bit of freedom in the Fukuoka No.22 POW camp.
The No.22 POW camp wasn't as bad as the other camps around Asia such as the ones in Thailand and Singapore. However some Australian prisoners did suffer from deficiencies of vitamins due to lack of food.
Source 1: "Pipes issued to the POWs by the Japanese on their arrival in Japan to work in the copper mines. The low grade tobacco was freely available."
http://www.austhistmuseum.mq.edu.au/exhibits/selarang/japan.htm
This source is a secondary source it is a photograph of the pipes back in the copper mines in Japan but the photograph was not taken at that time. This photograph confirms the idea that in some Japanese POW camps there was more of a lack of restriction such as smoking at certain occasions.
http://www.austhistmuseum.mq.edu.au/exhibits/selarang/japan.htm
This source is a secondary source it is a photograph of the pipes back in the copper mines in Japan but the photograph was not taken at that time. This photograph confirms the idea that in some Japanese POW camps there was more of a lack of restriction such as smoking at certain occasions.