Omuta Mitsui Miike, Fukuoka #17-B - Japan
Fukuoka #17 Branch POW Camp – The Nightmare POW Camp, Japan
was a Japanese Prisoner-of-war camp located at Mitsui Kozan Miike Kogyo-Sho coal mine and Mitsui Zinc Foundry in Shinminato-machi, Omuta-shi, Fukuoka-ken, Japan.
Fukuoka No.17 Branch Camp (Omuta)
Established as Fukuoka No.17 Branch Camp at Shinminato-cho, Omuta City, Fukuoka Prefecture on August 10, 1943. Closed in September 1945. The POWs were used by Mitsui Mining Company working at Miike Coal Mine.
Total of 1737 POWs (730 American, 420 Australian (28 from 2/4th MGB), 332 Dutch, 250 British and 5 other nationality) were imprisoned at the end of the war.
138 POWs died while imprisonment. (Including Lally 2/4th MGB)
2 POWs starved to death while confined to Camp jail.
1 POW was killed by stubbing by Japanese guard when he escaped from camp and was captured.
WORK FOR POWS WAS in coal mines and zinc smelters three shifts per day of approximately 100 men per shift. Conditions in the mines were pronounced dangerous although only three men were killed outright during the period of confinement of 22 months. Many men received painful injuries from falling rock and other causes.
Fortunately for prisoners there was among the group an experienced coal miner who gave the men safety talks and pointed out some of the dangers of coal mining, which were not apparent to the novice miners. The coal mines were operated largely by American prisoners, the smelters by the British and Australian prisoners. Coal mines were approximately 1 kilometre from camp. Hours of work: 12 hours per day, 30 minutes lunchtime. The men were given one day off every 10 days.
‘The Camp was set up on a cliff edge, surrounded by electric wires with sentry boxes. Constant sleet and ice added to the isolation and desolation. There were no birds, no grass, nothing alive – the fumes from the nearby zinc works had killed everything.
The Camp Commander, the Japanese and Korean guards were the most cruel and sadistic one could ever find – they revelled in terrible torture, death and sadism was metered out for the most trivial things. The average Australian could not comprehend and would be unable to truly understand the horrific suffering of POWs.
God had forgotten this place on earth.
The Camp could have been Satan’s own.
After the Japanese, the Camp was controlled by the American POWs who had been there for some time – survivors of the Philippines campaign at Bataan and Corrigidor. The bulk of these men were the lowest form of mankind you could find – treacherous racketeers who had become like animals to survive. Men did not speak to one another, only snarled. The Australian POWs found it especially challenging to be put into different rosters or shifts from their mates who had supported each other under adversity since 1940.
Men ‘s lungs collapsed from the terrible cold, dying in terrible agony. There was nothing anybody could do. POWs were fed a stavation diet of millet (birdseed) which passed through the body in less than an hour, making their hunger worse than ever. There was no laughter, joking or horseplay that characterised the Australian character and which had kept most of the POWs alive in past years – just terrible cold, starvation and work in the bowels of the earth. After a while even Australians stopped speaking – the POWs knew they were doomed and death would be a welcome release.’
From Lance Corporal Alan Herd NX25438 2/6th Field Coy, RAR, 7th Division published in ‘Articles about Prisoners of War and the Japanese Including the Burma-Thai Railway 1941-1945’ compiled by Lt. Col (Ret’d) Peter Winstanley OAM RFD (JP)
Lance Corporal Alan Herd had been too sick to go down the mine “I knew my days were numbered. I was living in another world – the twilight world where there was no hate, no fear of death, no wanting to go home only a peace which cannot be described.
Then suddenly and unexpectedly, on a bright clear day – there came thousands and thousands of bombers and fighters, so many the sky appeared black. The ground and building shook. Fighter escorts swooped so low – surely they surely realised we were POWs because no bombs fell on us.
A few days later no shifts went to the mines and we realised the war was over. From the 100s of exhausted and spent POWs there was not one cheer ……. just nothing! If anybody spoke he was snarled at and abused.’
Omuta Miike, Fukuoka #17-B – Japan
A provincial manufacturing town Omuta was about 40 kilometres from Nagasaki in southern Kyoshu. A large camp, it held about 1700 men made up of Americans, Dutch, British and Australians. As the Americans had been there the longest they held most of the ‘good’ jobs in administration and cookhouses. The Americans and Australians worked in the coalmines and the British in the zinc mines for Mitsui Company and the Dutch coaled ships.
Amongst the Australians were 18 men of 2/4th from Don Force who had left Non Pladuk, Thailand for Singapore in June 1944. They sailed on ‘Aramis’, a former French troop carrier. There were 200 Australians and 300 Dutch on-board and arrived Moji on 19th June 1944.
The second group of 2/4th men in camp were mostly from ‘A’ Force and were on the last transport to leave Singapore for Japan. The ‘Awa Maru’ with 525 Dutch, American and Australians left Singapore on 26 December 1944 and included 18 men from 2/4th. The Awa Maru arrived Moji mid January 1945.
Omuta was the first built camp they had seen since Changi. Quite different to bamboo and atap huts of Thailand/Burma. Facilities included a reasonable hospital, a communal bath, barbers shop and a canteen or sorts.
This was all that was ‘good’ about Omuta.
The mine was ruled by Mitsui, the camp was ruled by IJA and finally there was the American mafia to deal with. They all used brutality beyond our comprehension.
The Australian POWs had to quickly learn that honesty and the spirit of comradeship which existed in Singapore and without which they would not have survived working on the Burma-Thai railway did not exist here. Thieving, cheating and racketeering was the way of life. Wet clothes could never be hung to dry out unless you watched over them. The same for food and utensils in the mess hall. One watched every item they owned for fear of theft!
The American mafia was in fact a group known as the Democrats run by Lt. Edward Little of the US Navy who ran the Mess Hall and Sgt Bennett who was in charge of Camp Duties.
Above: Lt Little on right
Starving men traded anything and illegal food trading took up much of camp routine.
Corporal Billy Alvin Ayers, 4th Material Squadron 1942 Bombardment Group, US Army Air Corps wrote in his Affidavit:
“Bennett and Little made every effort to win favour of the Japanese prison authorities”
“The two Americans would report minor infractions of Omuta’s fierce rules to the Japanese, causing POWs to suffer severe discipline by the Japanese.”
This was quite probably the real home of ‘King Rat’.
Lt. Little was court-marshalled after the war, however was not found guilty of any crimes! How unfair for the extraordinary number of POW’s whose lives and health was affected by Little’s actions. Little remained in the Forces, served in Korea, later died aged 53. Surprisingly Little was not ‘accidently’ KIA in Korea. (The above information has been gathered from several sources including:)
‘No Time for Geishas’ by G.P Adams, Corgi, London 1973
‘On Paths of Ash’ by Robert Holman edited by Peter Thomson, Pier 9, Murdoch Books P/L, NSW 2009.
This camp first opened 7 August 1943. Originally the campsite was a 200 yards square area and the buildings were formerly labourer’s quarters constructed by Mitsui Coal Mining Co. and operated by the Japanese Army. By April 1945 the camp had been expanded to 200 yards wide by 1,000 yards long. It was enclosed by a wooden fence approximately 12 feet high with 3 heavy gauge electric wires with the first one about 6 feet off the ground. There were several fir trees within the compound which was kept very clean at all times. The Japanese buildings were also located within the compound.
The POW barracks comprised 33 one story buildings 120’ x 16’ with 10 rooms to a barrack of wooden construction with tight tar paper roofs and windows with panes of glass. 3-4 officers were accommodated in one room 9’ x 10’ and 4-6 enlisted men in the same size. There was no heating – the climate was relatively mild however the poor general health of the POWs due to malnutrition, found the accommodation found the damp and cold extremely penetrating. It was worse for those who arrived from the tropical climate of Singapore/Thailand. Each room had a 15-watt light bulb however during the day, the rooms were sufficiently lit without the light bulb!
Bedding consisted of tissue paper and cotton batting covered with cotton pad 5’8” long and 2.5 feet wide. 3 heavy cotton blankets were issued by the Japanese in addition to a comforter made of tissue paper, scrap rags and scrap cotton.
There was a latrine at the end of each building consisting of 3 stools raised about 1 foot from the floor on a pedestal. Each was covered with a detachable wood seat and there was 1 urinal. There was a concrete tank beneath each stool and the POWs made wood covers for all stools to discourage flies. The tanks were removed twice weekly by Japanese labourers.
Air raid shelters 6 feet deep x 8 feet wide and 120 feet in length. They were timbered similarly to the coal mines and covered with 3 feet of slag and splinter-proof roof.
It was now the middle of winter and the change from tropical temperatures greatly affected the men. They slept on tatami mats with the resident fleas and imported lice. Any sleep was a bonus.
Well organised, the camp also had many rules to the point of being excessive, for which there were punishments.
These included wearing hat inside, not wearing hat outside, not placing your (identity number) tag on bed when going to benjo (sometimes difficult with illnesses such as dysentery, etc) as well as numerous other tags including sick tag, hospital tag, etc.
The lack of food, cold weather, heavy work and long hours in coal mines, sickness, adhering to constant pressure of rules and finally the constant and daily bombing raids took a toll on the men. The men existed in a state of perpetual anxiety.
It became worse, their shoes of canvas and rubber two toed sand-shoes wore out. The men now walked barefoot two miles through the snow and ice to the mine. There were also subjected to rock and coal falls as they were now taking out the safety pillars left in previous workings of an old mine.
The POWs were at the end of their endurance.
DOWN THE MINES
Work in the coal mine where 75% of POWs were employed was labour intensive and mining equipment suppled to use underground was antiquated and prone to regular failure. On arrival in Japan the POWs, who had previously worked out in the open on the Burma-Thai rail link were given a brief period of training by Japanese civilian mine employees on how to be miners.
Working in the mines was highly dangerous, not only because of rock falls, the men were subjected to unexpected bashings whilst working. They mostly had no shoes or protective clothing whilst working and marching to and from camp, and then were brutalised by camp guards for what? The working area below the surface required the men to stoop or work on hands and knees. It was impossible to stand. Then on top of this was the extreme shortage of food created by the American Mafia who had already reported several POWs to the Japanese for punishment – at least one POW had died. (In fact two American prisoners died of starvation in prison having been reported to the Japanese by Lt. Little). And not to forget – the men were subjected to frequent and sometimes very heavy air bombing raids.
Lou Lonsdale was recorded in “Ghosts in Khaki’ by Les Cody –
“In the exploration section some of the lateral tunnels were so low we were bent almost double whilst carrying jack-hammers, drills, shovels, picks and heavy logs for timbering. Most were involved in getting coal out; blasting then shovelling the coal into trucks and elevators for carriage to the surface. It was hazardous dodging trucks and Ken Lally WX9318 was killed when hit by a rake of trucks as he was returning to the coalface after mealtime. The guards in the mine and camp were much on the same level as those in the jungle – the slightest excuse was used to bash or punish POWs.”
Ken Lally WX9318 aged 30 years died on 23 March 1945.
His death ‘hit’ his 2/4th mates very hard.
Punishments included nearly naked prisoners forced to stand to attention in the snow in zero temperatures and periodically bashed, buckets of water thrown over them and left to freeze. Many were forced to kneel in the snow on bamboos with a bamboo pole behind their knees, Japanese guards frequently jumped on the protruding ends of the pole. One Australian after being severely bashed spent five days in this position and when released, gangrene from lack of circulation had set in and both legs had to be amputated.”
Bill Cake
“My job was timbering and laying rails in the tunnels. All work had to be carried out in a semi stooping position and any attempt to relieve the strain on your back by sitting or stretching on the tunnel floor was greeted by a barrage of rocks or coal from the civilian overseer. The tunnels were dripping with water and our only clothing was a G String.”
Les Krasnostein WX7446 who arrived with ‘Aramis’ Party prepared an affidavit for War Tribunal. Read further
Also please read Affadfavit of Albert Hambley WX10745
Mick Hummerston WX10931 arrived Moji on Aramis and worked at Fukuoka No. 17.
He wrote ‘some of the food at this camp was not too appetising – including dog, whale meat that he described like eating Tarzan’s Grip! When it was the season for persimmons they would eat them endlessly until season was finished, then there were frogs – and they would eat them for a while’.
But there was always tobacco available to buy.
The POWs never had any days off from work. During the latter months they spent time in air raid shelters as the Americans bombed regularly – the sight of the bombers raised the men’s spirits. At the same time they feared the future – when would the Americans invade, and where would they invade? What would happen to them – would they be wiped out by the Japanese?
One day there was a great explosion over the Bay (we were located across the Bay from Nagasaki) and thought the bombing may have hit the gasworks. Next minute they saw a great mushroom of smoke and they felt the shaking of it over the Bay – 30 miles away.
Of course the men did not know about the Atom Bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki – eventually they learned the details. There were several hidden radios in the camp. Suddenly the war was over – “but we POWs were to stay where we were. An American Major came into the Camp – all the Japanese had gone.”
The American bombers began dropping food in 44-gallon drums.
Mick Hummerston decided he couldn’t wait around at Omuta for a month to leave as the POWs were advised and about 3 days after the news he with several POWs decided to leave (they were threatened with a court -marshall when caught up with). “Being court-marshalled after being a POW for 4 years would be like having a holiday!”
Looking back Mick decided it was a stupid thing to do – but four of them departed camp. Walking to the Railway Station they intended to head south of the Island where they knew the Americans had taken over the Airport. The group proceeded to take arms off every armed soldier they came across!
On the train journey they had to get out a few times because the railway lines had been destroyed in every large town. They walked to the other side of the town to find another train. Sometimes they were picked up. The cache of arms grew considerably. They must have looked a terrifying sight. Four skinny men in rough clothes each armed with rifles.
Eventually they found there was no railway line to continue their journey. They came across a Japanese kempitai (Military Police) sitting in a truck. The 4 men commandeered the truck and under great duress got the driver to deliver them to where the Americans were, about 30 miles away.
The first American they came across in the perimeter of the air base couldn’t believe his eyes! He asked where they were from. They were probably the first POWs the men had seen.
Mick and his 3 mates were flown out to Manila after a day at the American base. They were provided new clothes. The four of them stayed in Manila for nearly 3 weeks. They were eventually joined by the POWs from Omuta by which time they were quite fat!
Read further about Aramis Party
At war’s end there were 31 men from 2/4th at this camp. The men did not depart Omuta until 15 September 1945, four weeks after Japan’s surrender during which time many thought they would never be rescued. We know these POWs had been living on a knife-edge for many months with the appalling living and working conditions.
‘While at the said camp I was employed in a coalmine along with other prisoners. My particular duties involved the timbering and layering of rails in the tunnels of the coalmine. The conditions under which this work had to be performed were particularly unpleasant. The tunnels themselves were insufficiently high for the average Australian to walk upright therein, hence work had to be carried out on a semi-stooping position. The tunnels were dripping with water and the only clothing worn by myself and the other prisoners working with me was a garment known as a “G String”, which consisted of a piece of cloth tied between the legs.
My condition while at the said camp was one of very poor health. My weight at that time was between 7 and 8 stone, whereas my normal weight is fourteen stone. I was also suffering from dysentery and suppurating carbuncles. The moisture in the said tunnels adversely affected my carbuncle so that they continually remained open and would not heal.
I remember a number of civilian overseers who directed the work of prisoners at the said Camp. I remember particularly one of these civilian overseers who was known to me as ‘the Screamer’ or ‘the Screaming Demon’. This overseer was far shorter and more thickset than the average Japanese and had a very broad face and large mouth’.
I worked in a gang of prisoners supervised by ‘the screamer’ on numerous occasions. He made conditions of work far worse in his gang than did other overseers under whom I worked. The Screamer’ had an uncontrollable temper and was continually screaming and screeching at prisoners. For no reason whatsoever he would frequently assault the men by hitting them with any implement available and also by throwing at them large lumps of coal or rock. It was his custom to make a particular point of hitting his victims upon any spot where they had suffered injury or had bandages to protect a wound or sore. When he assaulted me, which he did on numerous occasions he would always strike at my carbuncles, causing me the most acute pain and making conditions of the work almost insupportable.
I did not notice that any other prisoner died as the direct result of the assaults of ‘the Screamer’, although prisoners were dying continually throughout my stay in the Camp.
There were other overseers who ill-treated myself and other prisoners but I cannot now remember their names or describe them clearly. I have had difficulty in recalling details of the conditions at the said Camp owing to the fact that I endeavoured ever since my release to repress all memory of what we suffered during our internment.’
SWORN at Albany in the State of Western
Australia this 18th Day of July 1947
Before me: Signed W. E. Cake
Signed by A Commissioner of the Supreme
Court of Western Australia for taking Affidavits.’
FYI: A carbuncle is a red, swollen, and painful cluster of boils that are connected to each other under the skin. Compared with single boils, carbuncles cause a deeper and more severe infection and are more likely to leave a scar. People who have a carbuncle often feel unwell in general and may experience a fever and chills.
Australian POWs at Omuta
Mixed group arrived on 18 June 44 as follows: Australians #s 507-655; British #s 657-664 and Dutch 668-928.
Source: RG 407, Box 17
Name, Rank, Service, POW No, ASN, Date of arrival
Ablett, Norman Leslie,Army,Pvt,8572,WX7622,16 Jan 1945
Adames, Alfred William,Army,Pvt,8973,NX10986,9 Sep 1944
Aiken, James Murray,Army,Pvt,8628,TX8135,16 Jan 1945
Alchin, Mervyn,Army,Pvt,8971,NX31444,9 Sep 1944
Alderson, Herbert John,Army,Dvr,7607,VX35604,18 Jun 1944
Allen, Neville,Army,Pvt,8626,NX25820,16 Jan 1945
Anderson, Donald Godfrey,Army,Pvt,7559,NX72338,18 Jun 1944
Anderson, William George Henry,Pvt,8525,WX14634,16 Jan 1945
Armstrong, Alfred,RAAF,Cpl,8909,6368,9 Sep 1944
Armstrong, Russel Graham,Army,LCpl,8925,TX3565,9 Sep 1944
Arnold, George Richard,Army,Pvt,8972,NX78003,9 Sep 1944
Atkinson, Leonard James Melbourne,Army,Pvt,8465,VX12859,16 Jan 1945
Badinier, Harry Jules,Army,Pvt,8462,NX49042,16 Jan 1945
Bailey, John Ernest,Army,Pvt,8961,TX2929,9 Sep 1944
Banks, Darcy Lyndsay,Army,Sgt,8901,TX2653,9 Sep 1944
Barnett, Elliott Norman,Army,Pvt,8604,VX54750,16 Jan 1945
Barnett, Victor George,Army,Pvt,8511,WX8429,16 Jan 1945
Baxter, Allen John,Army,Pvt,8963,TX3557,9 Sep 1944
Bea, William Arthur,Navy,Signal,8452,23922,16 Jan 1945
Beattie, Alan Robert,Army,Pvt,8983,WX10791,9 Sep 1944
Belford, William,RAAF,Sgt,8902,404493,9 Sep 1944
Bell, Albert Alexander,Army,Pvt,7536,VX37758,18 Jun 1944
Bell, Robert,Army,Pvt,8521,NX52052,16 Jan 1945
Benjamin, John Henry,Army,Pvt,8548,NX49576,16 Jan 1945
Benjamin, Vernon Alfred Henry,Army,Pvt,8480,NX36158,16 Jan 1945
Bennett, George William,Army,Pvt,7537,VX37470,18 Jun 1944
Beresford, Eric Stanley,Army,Pvt,8490,NX40461,16 Jan 1945
Best, John,Army,Pvt,8593,NX43735,16 Jan 1945
Blanton, Jack Mortimer,Army,LCpl,7522,NX68407,18 Jun 1944
Bloxham, Sejwyn James,Army,Pvt,8540,NX50649,16 Jan 1945
Boon, Jack Rider,Army,Cpl,8914,NX32675,9 Sep 1944
Borley, Sydney Herbert,Army,Pvt,7568,NX20633,18 Jun 1944
Boundy, Richard,Army,Pvt,8542,SX14942,16 Jan 1945
Bourke, Charles Norris,Army,Pvt,7638,VX68157,18 Jun 1944
Britnell, Frederick,Army,Pvt,7573,VX67437,18 Jun 1944
Broadbent, Lorre,Army,Cpl,7517,SX9636,18 Jun 1944
Brodie, Alexander William,Army,Pvt,7531,QX22061,18 Jun 1944
Brooker, Frederick Charles,Army,Cpl,8538,VX59928,16 Jan 1945
Broomhall, Allan James,Army,Pvt,8962,TX8419,9 Sep 1944
Brosnan, John,Army,Sgt,8483,NX32938,16 Jan 1945
Brown, Arthur Vincent,Army,Pvt,7590,NX68397,18 Jun 1944
Brown, Charlie,Army,Pvt,8460,VX22520,16 Jan 1945
Brown, Edric Lehworth,Army,Dvr,7591,NX73031,18 Jun 1944
Brown, Ronald,Army,Sgt,8535,NX36313,16 Jan 1945
Bryden, Richard Glencairn,Army,WO1,7509,QX17889,18 Jun 1944
Buchanan, Ernest Alexander,Army,Pvt,8512,W23457,16 Jan 1945
Bullivant, Perc George,Navy,ABS,8439,S2857,16 Jan 1945
Bulmer, Gregory William Henry,Army,Dvr,7619,NX45498,19 Jun 1944
Burnett, Charles Leonard,Army,Cpl,8919,TX3551,9 Sep 1944
Bush, Kenneth Thomas,Army,Pvt,7594,NX43925,19 Jun 1944
Bush, Walter David,Army,Dvr,7547,NX66484,19 Jun 1944
Byrnem Arthur James,Army,Sgt,7512,QX9464,19 Jun 1944
Cake, William Erniest,Army,Pvt,8610,WX12661,16 Jan 1945
Cameron, William Stuart,Army,Pvt,8985,TX3427,9 Sep 1944
Campbell, Thomas William,Army,Pvt,7608,VX35306,19 Jun 1944
Carroll, Patrick John,Army,Pvt,8566,VX36780,16 Jan 1945
Carroll, Richard Cyril,Army,Pvt,8457,NX37052,16 Jan 1945
Cassidy, Ronald Charles,Army,Dvr,8938,TX3439,9 Sep 1944
Caughlin, George Anzac,Army,Pvt,7560,NX49742,19 Jun 1944
Chapple, Frederick Robert,Army,Pvt,8530,VX25876,16 Jan 1945
Charman, Keith Joseph,Army,Pvt,8495,NX23094,16 Jan 1945
Clarke, William,Army,Pvt,8596,NX49246,16 Jan 1945
Clay, Leo William,Army,Pvt,8539,QX21156,16 Jan 1945
Cole, John William,Army,Pvt,7561,NX26180,19 Jun 1944
Collins, John,Army,Pvt,8459,NX35528,16 Jan 1945
Connelly, Mervyn Joseph,Army,SSgt,8531,VX51131,16 Jan 1945
Connor, Roy James,Army,Pvt,8466,NX72502,16 Jan 1945
Cook, William Thomas,Army,Pvt,7546,NX44950,19 Jun 1944
Cordwell, Benjamin Shaw,Army,Pvt,8966,TX3776,9 Sep 1944
Coulter, Edward,Army,Spr,8471,NX53530,16 Jan 1945
Cox, Geoffrey Frederick,Army,Pvt,7564,VX44054,18 Jun 1944
Cramp, James Thomas,Army,LCpl,8567,VX45480,16 Jan 1945
Crimmins, Reginald Ernest,Army,Pvt,8464,NX29877,16 Jan 1945
Crooks, Leslie Alfred,Army,Cpl,8913,TX5336,9 Sep 1944
Crow, Roderick Bruce,Army,Pvt,8665,TX2827,9 Sep 1944
Cruvey, Percival Henry,Army,Cpl,8918,NX38685,9 Sep 1944
Cunnington, Thomas James,Army,Pvt,7654,WX17588,18 Jun 1944 [2/1st Heavy Btry]
Curby, Douglas Frank,Army,L/Bmdr,7523,NX36106,19 Jun 1944
Daniels, Nevill Charles Walter,Army,Gnr,8947,NX36855,9 Sep 1944
Dann, Lawrence Richard,Army,Pvt,8594,VX50507,16 Jan 1945
Davidson, Harley John,Army,Gnr,8977,NX36865,9 Sep 1944
Dawson, Albert Walker,Army,Pvt,8607,VX21110,16 Jan 1945
Dawson, Leslie John,Army,Pvt,7595,SX14142,19 Jun 1944
Dawson, Neil Trevor,Army,Pvt,8967,TX3395,9 Sep 1944
Dayble, Robert George,Army,Pvt,7544,VX62034,19 Jun 1944
Dean, William George,RAAF,L/Ac,8926,34141,9 Sep 1944
Deogh, Reginald Burton,Army,Pvt,8981,TX3907,9 Sep 1944
Derkenne, Edward Gerard,Army,SSgt,7511,NX45942,19 Jun 1944
Dewey, Geoffrey,RAAF,Sgt,8898,403755,9 Sep 1944
Dews, Ira Lake,Army,Spr,8575,NX37332,16 Jan 1945
Dinon, Joseph,Army,Pvt,8976,TX8275,9 Sep 1944
Dixon, Garnet Frank,Army,Pvt,7615,VX26074,19 Jun 1944
Doderico, Bert Humbert,Army,Dvr,7648,VX5572,19 Jun 1944 Bert died in mining accident
Dodsworth, William Robert,Army,Sgt,7513,SX8188,19 Jun 1944
Dolan, Vivien Alfred,Army,WO,8974,TX8238,9 Sep 1944
Draper, Douglas,RAAF,Pvt,8893,2996,9 Sep 1944
Duggin, John Alan,Army,Pvt,7622,WX10199,19 Jun 1944
Dumbrell, Douglas Wilmot,Army,Pvt,8520,NX27113,16 Jan 1945
Duncan, Ian Lovell,Army,Capt,7508,NX35135,18 Jun 1944
Dunnell, Norman Leonard,Army,Pvt,7655,WX17595,18 Jun 1944
Dunphy, Rick William,Army,Pvt,8489,NX40917,16 Jan 1945
Eames, William Arthur,Army,Pvt,7563,QX21644,18 Jun 1944
English, Darnly Philip,Army,Pvt,8570,NX53465,16 Jan 1945
Evans, William Charles,Army,Dvr,7484,TX4780,18 Jun 1944
Everett, Charles William,Army,Pvt,8545,VX50546,16 Jan 1945
Falk, Harry,Army,Gnr,8940,NX54115,9 Sep 1944
Farrell, John Herbert,Army,Dvr,7600,VX50858,18 Jun 1944
Farrell, Leonard Howard,Army,Pvt,7610,SX10944,18 Jun 1944
Feening, Eric John,Army,Pvt,7575,NX73312,18 Jun 1944
Ferguson, Thomas Donald,Army,Pvt,7576,WX12201,18 Jun 1944
Ferris, John Joseph Seaton,Army,Cpl,8916,NX52496,9 Sep 1944
Filkins, Colin Joseph,Army,Pvt,8621,NX27250,16 Jan 1945
Finn, Jack,Army,Cpl,8920,NX55202,9 Sep 1944
Finn, Maurice,Army,Pvt,8550,VX55955,16 Jan 1945
Fisher, Robert Hemingway,Army,Pvt,8463,QX12898,16 Jan 1945
Flaherty, James Douglas,Army,Sgt,8582,NX38745,16 Jan 1945
Flanagan, James Joseph,Army,Pvt,7602,WX7864,18 Jun 1944
Flannery, Jack,Army,Dvr,7554,VX39982,18 Jun 1944
Forbes, Frederick,Army,Pvt,8617,NX55194,16 Jan 1945
French, John Bernard Russell,Army,Sgt,8908,NX30660,9 Sep 1944
Fuller, Ronald Charles,Army,Dvr,7579,NX37606,18 June 1944
Gallagher, John Ronald,Army,Pvt,8494,NX25370,16 Jan 1945
Gange, Albert William,Army,Gnr,7534,VX37723,18 June 1944
Gardiner, Harry Stewart,Army,Cpl,8487,NX34480,16 Jan 1945
Gathercole, Maurice Vincent,Army,Pvt,8602,VX56140,16 Jan 1945
Geach, James Henry,Army,Dvr,7611,NX1207,18 June 1944
Geier, Clifford Cecil,Army,Pvt,7571,SX14395,18 June 1944
Geraghty, Oscar James,Army,Pvt,8446,NX27448,16 Jan 1945
Gibbs, Albert Edward,Army,Pvt,8955,QX16298,9 Sep 1944
Golledge, Edward Ernest,Army,Dvr,7639,VX53208,18 June 1944
Goodfellow, Sidney Richard,Army,Dvr,7631,SX9021,18 Jun 1944
Goodfellow, William Edward,Army,Dvr,7630,SX9022,18 Jun 1944
Gough, Norman Frederick Thomas,Pvt,7598,EX17310,18 Jun 1944
Gowers, Robert John,Army,Cpl,8587,NX52740,16 Jan 1945
Grant, Norman Herbert,Army,Sgt,8585,WX8228,16 Jan 1945
Gray, Edward Leslie,Army,Dvr,7629,SX10348,18 Jun 1944
Grey, Stephen,Army,L/Cpl,8927,TX3904,9 Sep
Guthrie, Keith Clifford,RAAF,Sgt,8435,400254,16 Jan 1945
Gutterson, James William,Army,Pvt,8952,VX37521,9 Sep 1944
Hagan, William Martyn,Army,Pvt,8528,NX26222,16 Jan 1945
Haley, William Francis,Army,Pvt,8614,NX26247,16 Jan 1945
Hambley, Albert James,Army,Pvt,8455,WX10745,16 Jan 1945
Hannah, Jogn Richmond,Army,Pvt,8507,VX43747,16 Jan 1945
Harcourt, William Edward,Army,Dvr,7606,VX19791,18 Jun 1944
Hardcastle, Selwyn James,Army,Gnr,7555,NX50068,18 Jun 1944
Hardey, Edward Charles,Army,Pvt,8517,WX12157,16 Jan 1945
Harris, Maxwell Reeve,Army,Pvt,7541,TX6129,18 Jun 1944
Harrison, Harry Charles,Army,Pvt,7529,VX61792,18 Jun 1944
Harrison, Herbert Norman, Edward,Army,Dvr,7581,NX25030,18 Jun 1944
Harte, John Michael,Army,Pvt,8933,QX8298,9 Sep 1944
Harvey, Charles Fredrick,Army,Pvt,8622,NX49074,16 Jan 1945
Hay, Reginald George,Army,WO2,8895,TX3713,9 Sep 1944
Hayles, Thomas William,Army,Pvt,8608,VX57297,16 Jan 1945
Haywood, William Thomas,Army,Pvt,8618,WX9175,16 Jan 1945
Head, Edward Richard,RAAF,Sgt,8432,3333,16 Jan 1945
Hensby, Neil Auhustus,Army,Sgt,8907,TX3809,9 Sep 1944
Herd, Allan Charles,Army,L/Cpl,8444,NX25438,16 Jan 1945
Hitchen, Joseph Ronald,Army,Dvr,7634,VX30420,18 Jun 1944
Hogg, Roy,Army,Gnr,7642,QX17695,18 Jun 1944
Holdsworth, Keith William,Army,Pvt,8616,VX38269,16 Jan 1945
Holman, John Nicholas,Army,Pvt,8541,NX54087,16 Jan 1945
Holman, Robert Francis,Army,Pvt,8440,NX44861,16 Jan 1945
Holmes, Edward Arthur,Army,Pvt,7557,NX55524,18 Jun 1944
Holtzman, Leslie Norman,Army,Cpl,8486,WX7618,16 Jan 1945
Honer, Oliver James,Army,Pvt,8599,NX44854,16 Jan 1945
Honner, Neville Alexander,Army,Pvt,8564,NX44853,16 Jan 1945
Hopwood, Cecil,Army,L/Cpl,8488,NX15796,16 Jan 1945
Horton, Norman,Army,Pvt,7605,NX73002,18 Jun 1944
Howard, Joseph Walter,Army,Cpl,8590,NX25166,16 Jan 1945
Howeett, Donald Alfred,Army,Pvt,8980,TX2684,9 Sep 1944
Howell, Reginald Verdun,Army,Lt,7507,SX11488,18 Jun 1944
Hubbard, Ronald Oliver,RAAF,Sgt,8586,4544,16 Jan 1945
Hughes, Melvourne James,Army,Pvt,8560,QX22552,16 Jan 1945
Hummerston, Slade Lawrence,Army,Pvt,7614,WX10931,18 Jun 1944
Hunt, Henry Barratt,Army,Pvt,8601,VX44453,16 Jan 1945
Inkster, James William,Army,Dvr,7644,VX43675,18 Jun 1944
Ionn, Sidney Harry,Army,Gnr,8934,NX34543,9 Sep 1944
Irvine, Reginald,Army,Dvr,7585,WX4434,18 Jun 1944
Jacobs, Alfred Gordon,Army,Pvt,8988,TX5106,9 Sep 1944
James, Thomas Robert,RAAF,Sgt,8584,14745,16 Jan 1945
Jeffery, William Lawrence,Army,Pvt,7632,WX17576,18 Jun 1944
Jellett, Joe Scarth,Army,Pvt,8469,VX21145,16 Jan 1945
Jenkins, Frederick John,Army,Pvt,7532,QX21404,18 Jun 1944
Jewell, John Reginald,Army,Dvr,7543,NX69268,18 Jun 1944
Jillett, Arthur Bruce,Army,Pvt,8620,QX17166,16 Jan 1945
Johnson, Artjir Colin,Army,Pvt,8559,SX14478,16 Jan 1945
Johnson, Dennis Patrick,Army,Dvr,7604,NX57898,18 Jun 1944
Johnson, Thomas Joseph,Army,Sgt,8532,VX27024,16 Jan 1945
Jolly, Arthur,Army,Pvt,8623,NX45090,16 Jan 1945
Jonas, Lawrence Burrall,Army,SSgt,7510,VX62326,18 Jun 1944
Jones, Frederick William,Army,Pvt,8612,NX1702,16 Jan 1945
Joseph, Reginald Alexander,Army,Pvt,8609,VX67431,16 Jan 1945
Junck, Bernard,Army,Pvt,8554,VX21273,16 Jan 1945
Kearn, Frederick John,Army,LCpl,8923,TX3995,9 Sep 1944
Karnaghan, Keith Hill,Army,Spr,8592,NX33448,16 Jan 1945
Kearl, Laurence George,Army,Dvr,7_92,NX54690,18 Jun 1944
Keating, Thomas,Army,Pvt,8515,VX51525,16 Jan 1945
Keefe, William Athol,Army,Pvt,8965,TX3002,9 Sep 1944
Kelly, John Phillip,Army,Pvt,8497,NX50873,16 Jan 1945
Kendall, Keith James,Army,Cpl,7515,VX63397,18 Jun 1944
Kershaw, Thomas,Army,Pvt,8552,NX654960,16 Jan 1945
Kestles, Thomas,Army,Pvt,7646,VX61346,18 Jun 1944
King, George Hector,Army,Pvt,8573,VX60812,16 Jan 1945
Kingston, Kemerley Birch,Army,Sgt,8484,400386,16 Jan 1945
Kingston, Robert Lyell,Army,Pvt,8987,TX3522,9 Sep 1944
Knight, Edward Alexander,Army,Pvt,8563,WX7496,16 Jan 1945
Knight, Freer Tasman,Army,Gnr,8978,TX4881,9 Sep 1944
Knott, Claude,Army,Pvt,8598,WX7616,16 Jan 1945
Krasnastein, Leslie,Army,Pvt,7535,WX7446,18 Jun 1944
Lally, Kenneth,Army,Pvt,WX9318 – died crushed between two mine trucks 23 March 1945.
Lamb, Rowland John,Army,Pvt,8627,VX61068,16 Jan 1945
Lambert, Douglas Moyle,Army,Pvt,8529,TX4259,16 Jan 1945
Law, George Joseph Harold,Army,Pvt,8956,TX4553,9 Sep 1944
Lawer, Reginald Frederick,Army,Pvt,7599,WX8810,18 Jun 1944
Lawson, George,Army,Pvt,8946,TX3825,9 Sep 1944
Lawson, William Norman,Army,LCpl,7524,SX8760,18 Jun 1944
Lay, Frederick Walter,Army,Pvt,8555,VX59151,16 Jan 1945
Leadbetter, Eric Clarence,Army,Dvr,7621,QX16479,18 Jun 1944
Leahey, Frederick Trevor,Army,Pvt,7551,NX49855,18 Jun 1944
Lergessner, Walter John,Army,LSgt,8536,QX14534,16 Jan 1945
Lester, Bruce Harold,Army,Pvt,7588,NX1656,18 Jun 1944
Lewis, George,Army,Sgt,8553,VX32252,16 Jan 1945
Lindsay, William John,Army,Cpl,7519,QX13785,18 Jun 1944
Livingstone, David Stanley,Army,Pvt,7527,SX9007,18 Jun 1944
Lock, Kingsley Clyde,Army,LCpl,7526,SX9008,18 Jun 1944
Lock, William Charles,Army,Pvt,8470,VX19316,16 Jan 1945
Lonsdale, Joseph Lewis,Army,Pvt,7627,WX16727,18 Jun 1944
Love, Alan Iredale,Army,Sgt,8899,NX50742,9 Sep 1944
Low, Robert James,Army,Pvt,8611,NX48938,16 Jan 1945
Lowe, William Robert Keith,Army,Sgt,8999,TX8375,9 Sep 1944
Lucas, Harry,Army,Pvt,8509,WX13752,16 Jan 1945
Lynch, Patrick Francis,Army,Dvr,7645,VX43660,18 Jun 1944
Magor, Reginald Gordon,Army,Pvt,7582,WX8656,18 Jun 1944
Mallett, Reginald Hubert,Army,Dvr,7574,WX69364,18 Jun 1944
Mallise, John Alexander,Army,Pvt,8069,NX49840,9 Sep 1944
Mann, Percival James,RAAF,Sgt,8896,401043,9 Sep 1944
Mantach, William,Army,Cpl,8915,NX51534,9 Sep 1944
Marlin, Cyril Hilton,Army,Pvt,8522,NX55902,16 Jan 1945
Marshall, Eric Leslie,Army,Pvt,8450,NX28345,16 Jan 1945
Marshall, Mervyn George,Army,Gnr,7548,QX14823,16 Jun 1944
Marshall, Ronald Max,Army,Pvt,8496,NX40228,16 Jan 1945
Marshall, Stanley John,Army,Pvt,8979,TX5072,9 Sep 1944
Marston, Cyril Donald,Army,Pvt,8931,TX3360,9 Sep 1944
Martin, John Thomas,Army,Pvt,8491,NX21330,16 Jan 1945
Martin, Sid Harold Stanton,Army,Pvt,8456,NX66252,16 Jan 1945
Mather, Ronald George,Army,Spr,8447,NX4563,16 Jan 1945
Mawson, William Joseph,Army,Spr,8449,NX53842,16 Jan 1945
May, William Patrick,Army,Cpl,8557,QX10406,16 Jan 1945
Mayberry, John Alexander,Army,Pvt,8562,VX32008,16 Jan 1945
Mayger, Stanley Vernon,Army,Pvt,8951,VX25724,9 Sep 1944
Mc Arthur, Alan Herbert,Army,Pvt,8930,VX53197,9 Sep 1944
Mc Carthy, Lyle,Army,Pvt,8968,NX22412,9 Sep 1944
Mc Clelland, Donal William,Army,Pvt,8574,VX23631,16 Jan 1945
Mc Cosker, Gordon Joseph,Army,Gnr,7549,QX11185,18 Jun 1944
Mc Cotter, Joseph,Army,Pvt,7556,NX34574,18 Jun 1944
Mc Donald, John Oliver,Army,Cpl,8991,NX45531,9 Sep 1944
Mc Gee, Emmett,Army,Spr,8955,NX16219,16 Jan 1945
Mc Grath, George James,Army,Dvr,7524,WX12714,18 Jun 1944
Mc Kean, James RobertCharles,Army,Pvt,8510,QX23114,16 Jan 1945
Mc Lean, Donald David,Navy,Off Ste,8502,22957,16 Jan 1945
Mc Millan, Raymond Clement,RAAF,Sgt,8583,1290,16 Jan 1945
Mc Velca, Edward Douglas,Army,Dvr,7612,VX37122,18 Jun 1944
Mc William, Gordon James,Army,Pvt,7623,SX14587,18 Jun 1944
Meers, Jack,Army,Pvt,8603,VX55152,16 Jan 1945
Michell, Euguane Thomas,Army,Pvt,8958,VX41151,9 Sep 1944
Miller, John George,Army,Gnr,7570,QX7839,16 Jun 1944
Miller, Reginald James,Army,Pvt,7542,WX13338,16 Jun 1944
Monagham, Milton Chalres,Army,Pvt,8943,QX21820,9 Sep 1944
Moore, Arthur,Army,Spr,8499,NX24592,16 Jan 1945
Moore, Cyril Phillip Clarence,Army,Pvt,8518,SX8173,16 Jan 1945
Morgan, Gordon Roy,Army,Pvt,8957,TX5347,9 Sep 1944
Morgan, Henry Bidmead,Army,Cpl,8437,SX9654,16 Jan 1945
Morris, Roy James,Army,Pvt,8546,NX43483,16 Jan 1945
Moylan, Neville,Army,Pvt,8613,NX5745,16 Jan 1945
Mueller, Raymond Henry,Army,Dvr,7625,VX29510,16 Jun 1944
Muirhead, Robert Edmund James,Navy,ABS,8453,12917,16 Jan 1945
Murchie, John Langford,Army,Pvt,7617,VX60772,16 Jun 1944
Murdoch, Kenneth Legorn,Army,Pvt,7569,NX43434,16 Jun 1944
Murphy, Alec Charles,Navy,ABS,8454,23286,16 Jan 1945
Murray, George Frederick,Army,Spr,8448,NX36795,16 Jan 1945
Murray, Robert Milne,Army,Pvt,8600,VX57962,16 Jan 1945
Nicholls, Alan Sydney,Army,Pvt,8551,VX61109,16 Jan 1945
Nicholls, James Hamilton,Army,LCpl,7525,SX9446,16 Jun 1944
Nicholls, Maurice James,Army,Pvt,8458,SX12398,16 Jan 1945
Nicholls, Mervyn Douglas,Army,Pvt,8964,TX2567,9 Sep 1944
Nighelsen, Roy Alban,Army,Spr,8472,NX25848,16 Jan 1945
Oakley, Vincent Vernon,Army,Cpl,8911,TX4142,9 Sep 1944
O’Loughlin, James,Army,Spr,8580,NX17321,16 Jan 1945
O’Neill, Reginald Clifford,Army,Pvt,8944,TX3641,9 Sep 1944
O’Regan, Patrick James,Army,Pvt,7589,NX44265,16 Jun 1944
O’Sullivan, Vivian Percival,Army,Gnr,7545,QX10956,16 Jun 1944
Parke, Charles Spencer,Army,Pvt,7601,NX7758,16 Jun 1944
Parke, Frederick Ernest,Navy,Stkr,8544,W1218,16 Jan 1945
Parker, Richard Grey Vernon,Army,Capt,8992,NX71143,9 Sep 1944 (file courtesy of Peter Winstanley)
Parkes, Fredrick,Army,Pvt,8630,NX36572,16 Jan 1945
Pearson, John William,Army,Pvt,7577,QX25934,16 Jun 1944
Pfeiffer, Vincent Rupert,Army,Cpl,8588,SX6147,16 Jan 1945
Pickstone, Colin Clarence,Army,Dvr,7593,QX17979,16 Jun 1944
Pooley, John Miller,Army,LBmdr,8928,QX19750,9 Sep 1944
Poor, Arthur Francis,Army,Pvt,8508,QX13996,16 Jan 1945, 2/10th Field Regt
Power, Colin Bert,RAAF,LAc,8924,16274,9 Sep 1944
Price, Claude,Army,Dvr,8571,QX13619,16 Jan 1945
Priddis, Harold John,Army,Pvt,8591,NX49550,16 Jan 1945
Pyke, Gordn,Army,Pvt,8939,TX2902,9 Sep 1944
Randall, George William,Army,Pvt,8948,TX4610,9 Sep 1944
Ratliff, Urban Ernest,Navy,PO,8433,19354,16 Jan 1945
Rea, Edward Arnold,Army,Pvt,8498,WX13090,16 Jan 1945
Regan, Frank Edward,Army,Pvt,8514,NX72907,16 Jan 1945
Remmington, Rex,Army,Pvt,7636,NX48868,18 Jun 1944
Rex, Robert,Army,WO1,8431,VX14264,16 Jan 1945
Rice, Robert Charles,Army,Pvt,8606,VX56450,16 Jan 1945
Rigby, Mervyn Edward,Army,Pvt,8975,TX4681,9 Sep 1944
Riky, Bert,Army,Pvt,8982,VX35561,9 Sep 1944
Roach, Ronald Louvain,Army,Pvt,8959,TX3931,9 Sep 1944
Robins, Noel Henry,Army,Sgt,8903,NX50959,9 Sep 1944
Robinson, Maurice Keith,Army,Dvr,7647,SX10988,18 Jun 1944
Robson, Robert Baxter,Army,Cpl,8921,NX38672,9 Sep 1944
Rodda, David Vernon,Army,Pvt,8526,VX63738,16 Jan 1945
Rogers, Murray Geoffrey,Army,Pvt,7540,VX63337,18 Jun 1944
Ross, Horace Gillerist,Army,Pvt,7538,VX20948,18 Jun 1944
Rossendell, Francis Clyde,Army,Pvt,8949,TX4198,9 Sep 1944
Roth, Noel Edward,Army,Pvt,7556,QX13080,18 Jun 1944
Rubenach, Guy James,Army,Pvt,8441,TX4699,16 Jan 1945
Runge, David Ernest,Army,Dvr,7550,NX65609,18 Jun 1944
Russell, Arthur,Army,Spr,8473,NX14608,16 Jan 1945
Russell, James Henry,Army,Dvr,7652,SX9113,18 Jun 1944
Russell, William Robert,Army,Pvt,8960,TX4126,9 Sep 1944
Rutter, Carl John,Army,Pvt,8549,SX11757,16 Jan 1945
Salt, Bert Turner,Army,Pvt,8451,SX11338,16 Jan 1945
Savage, Valinetine,Navy,Stkr,8503,21514,16 Jan 1945
Scanlon, Vincent,Army,Dvr,7587,VX48477,18 Jun 1944
Scott, Allan,Army,Pvt,8579,NX22955,16 Jan 1945
Scott, George Edmund,Army,LCpl,8443,NX19878,16 Jan 1945
Scott, Lewis Frank,Army,Spr,8501,DX561,16 Jan 1945
Scriven, Francis,Army,Pvt,8568,QX20959,16 Jan 1945
Senior, Frederick Francis,Army,Pvt,8492,TX5346,16 Jan 1945
Sforcina, Frederick Henry,Army,Pvt,7539,VX63082,18 Jun 1944
Shannon, Leonard Keith,Army,Pvt,8557,VX41225,16 Jan 1945
Shave, Claude Henry,RAAF,Ac1c,8984,61224,9 Sep 1944
Shearman, Wallace Harold,Army,Pvt,8519,NX46695,16 Jan 1945
Shelley, Jack Edward,Army,Dvr,7640,NX66800,18 Jun 1944
Shirley, Alexander George,Army,Sgt,8904,VX45753,9 Sep 1944
Skennerton, Richard Francis,Army,Pvt,8935,QX10918,9 Sep 1944
Slade, John Ward,Army,Pvt,8569,VX61376,16 Jan 1945
Smallwood, Roy Alexander,Army,Gnr,8475,NX36858,16 Jan 1945
Smiley, James Robert,Army,Pvt,8527,VX63258,16 Jan 1945
Smith, Andrew Alan,Army,Pvt,8624,NX54941,16 Jan 1945
Smith, Jack,Army,Pvt,8493,TX4103,16 Jan 1945
Smith, Leslie Alberto,Army,Pvt,7586,NX72809,18 Jun 1944
Smith, Noel Boyd,Army,Pvt,8937,QX22953,9 Sep 1944
Snell, Gordon Arthur,Army,Dvr,7649,SX10283,18 Jun 1944
Soper, William,Army,Dvr,8666,NX27895,16 Jan 1945
Sparks, Ronald David,Army,?,8504,23063,16 Jan 1945
Spiers, James Blakely,Army,Spr,8442,NX41161,16 Jan 1945
Starcevich, Joseph Frederich,Army,Pvt,7603,WX8758,18 Jun 1944
Stewart, Ronald Allyn,Army,Dvr,7633,NX34499,18 Jun 1944
Stokes, Bruce Goodwin,Army,LCpl,7521,NX55715,18 Jun 1944
Stone, Ernest Albert,Army,Cpl,8910,TX1741,19 Sep 1944
Strange, Bruce Langley,Navy,OS,8476,5804,16 Jan 1945
Sunderland, Norman Joseph,Army,Pvt,8605,QX18410,16 Jan 1945
Sutherland, Herbert Gorge Bertram,Army,Cpl,7518,SX9011,18 Jun 1944
Swan, Leonard Jack,Army,Pvt,8556,NX50836,16 Jan 1945
Tanner, Douglas George,Army,Pvt,7653,WX16324,18 Jun 1944
Taylor, Arthur Walter,Army,LCpl,8929,NX71981,19 Sep 1944
Taylor, John Liddie,Army,Cpl,8917,NX50246,19 Sep 1944
Thomas, Harvey Ian,Army,Pvt,8577,VX18869,16 Jan 1945
Thomas, Keith Anthony,Army,Pvt,8986,VX29878,19 Sep 1944
Thomas, Norman Henry,Army,Dvr,7553,NX25913,18 Jun 1944
Thompson, Darrell James,Army,Pvt,7609,NX45058,18 Jun 1944
Thompson, David Sydney,Army,Cpl,8912,NX51413,19 Sep 1944
Thomson, Robert Melrose,RAAF,Sgt,8534,407304,16 Jan 1945
Thorold, John Chales Nicholas,Army,Sgt,8906,TX3535,19 Sep 1944
Tideswell, Raymond,Army,Pvt,8461,NX51780,16 Jan 1945
Tilney, Harry Lloyd,Army,Pvt,7613,QX10789,18 Jun 1944
Timms, Herbert Humphrey,Army,SSgt,8481,NX42843,16 Jan 1945
Tinsley, Hugh John,Army,Sgt,7514,NX50282,18 Jun 1944
Todd, Donald Bryan,Army,Sgt,8434,VX48742,16 Jan 1945
Toulmin, Norman Lindsay,Navy,OS,8543,W2199,16 Jan 1945
Towers, John Joseph,Army,Pvt,7626,NX38685,18 Jun 1944
Trembath, Wallace John,Army,Pvt,8532,NX49722,16 Jan 1945
Trouchet, Louis,Army,Sgt,8900,WX13103,19 Sep 1944
Turner, Elwin,Army,Pvt,8516,NX53104,16 Jan 1945
Turner, Leonard,Army,Pvt,8547,NX57750,16 Jan 1945
Tweedie, Donald Kenneth,Army,Pvt,8625,NX51579,16 Jan 1945
Upton, Neville Harold,Army,WO,8894,NX38655,19 Sep 1944
Uren, Thomas,Army,Bmdr,8922,NX38458,19 Sep 1944
Veness, Charles Norman,Army,Pvt,8945,TX4751,19 Sep 1944
Veysey, Ronald Arthur,Army,Pvt,7616,VX65376,18 Jun 1944
Voevodin, Anotole,Army,Pvt,8474,QX19755,16 Jan 1945
Walch, Robert David William,Army,Sgt,8629,NX59315,16 Jan 1945
Waldron, William,Army,Pvt,8970,VX46129,19 Sep 1944
Walker, Donald Raymond,Army,Pvt,8936,TX5901,19 Sep 1944
Walker, Henry Edward,Army,Cpl,8485,VX22708,16 Jan 1945
Wallace, Denis Ronald,Army,Pvt,8954,TX4097,19 Sep 1944
Wallace, Douglas Robert,Army,Pvt,8445,NX40434,16 Jan 1945
Wallace, Robert Clifton,Army,LCpl,8438,NX25325,16 Jan 1945
Walmsley, William Stanley,Army,Dvr,7628,NX51769,18 Jun 1944
Ward, Frederick Thomas,Army,Pvt,8942,WX7913,19 Sep 1944
Watson, Christian William John,Army,Pvt,8941,TX5466,19 Sep 1944
Waugh, Royal Alfred,Army,Pvt,7637,NX26988,18 Jun 1944
Weatherhead, Henry Strydan,Army,Pvt,8524,VX33823,16 Jan 1945
Weaver, Herbert Raymond Francis,Army,Pvt,8989,TX5379,9 Sep 1944
Webb, Roy Oliver William John,Army,Pvt,8513,VX51470,16 Jan 1945
Westerbeck, Arthur Eric,Army,Pvt,8561,VX67673,16 Jan 1945
Whitecross, Roy Hamilton,Army,Pvt,8477,NX68418,16 Jan 1945
Wilkes, Hugh,Army,Pvt,7596,WX9179,18 Jun 1944
Wilkins, Michael Henry,Pvt,855,WX17603 Moved Fukuoka sub-Camp12 Miyata
Wilkinson, Charles Reid,Army,Sgt,8905,NX54635,9 Sep 1944
Williams, Frank Edward,Army,Cpl,7520,SX9352,18 Jun 1944
Williams, Henry McKenzie,Army,Sap,8932,NX38670,9 Sep 1944
Williams, Thomas Albert,Army,Sap,8500,DX557,16 Jan 1945
Williams, William Lawrence,Army,Sap,8506,NX21822,16 Jan 1945
Willis, Frederick Reginald,Army,Dvr,8467,NX7125,16 Jan 1945
Wilson, Thomas Stuart,Army,Sap,8578,NX31952,16 Jan 1945
Wiseman, Frederick Ernest,Army,Pvt,8558,WX9495,16 Jan 1945
Wood, Keith Henry,Army,Pvt,8468,VX55216,16 Jan 1945
Wright, Raymond Robert,Army,Pvt,8478,SX8474,16 Jan 1945
Wyllie, Kevin James,RAAF,Sgt,8897,402899,9 Sep 1944
Yaxley, Leslie Charles,Army,Pvt,8953,TX3800,9 Sep 1944
Young, David,Army,Sap,8576,NX20360,16 Jan 1945
Yunker, Thomas William,Army,Sap,8505,NX38066,16 Jan 1945
Australians who died at Omuta
WX10931 ‘Mick’ Hummerston’s words:
Below: Norm Ablett, William George Anderson
Below: Victor Barnett & Joe Beattie
Below: Joe Duggin and Bob Dunnell
Below: James Flanagan and Norman F. T. Gough
Below: Norman Herbert Grant and Albert James Hambley
Below: Edward Charles Hardey and William Thomas Haywood
Below: Les Holtzman and William Laurence Jeffery
Below: Claude Knott and Reginald Lawer
Below: Joseph Lewis Lonsdale and Harry Lucas
Below: Reg Magor and Reginald Miller
Below: Joseph Starcevich and Doug Tanner
Below: Frederick Ward and Hugh Wilkes
Below: Michael Wilkins
On Mansell’s website the following names are recorded for Japanese Guards/overmen:
Sailor, One-armed Bandit, Pig, Smiley, Long Beach, Riverside (the Japanese Interpreter), Yotojisa also called Flangeface, Fox, Screamer, Devil, Wolf, Sikimato San-called Blinkey, Mouse, Big Stoop, Gold teeth, Turtle, Devil, Toko-San also called Billy Goat, Rat, Greyhound, Wingy, Pretty Boy and The Bull.
Les Kranostein wrote the names of the following over men in his affidavit:
‘Buck Teeth’
‘The Screamer”The Pig’
‘The Peanut’
‘The Sailor’
‘The Soldier Boy’
Today Japan’s World Heritage site: the Mitsui Miike Coal Mine
However there is no mention of WW2 POWs ever working there.
During WWII, the mine served as a POW camp called Fukuoka 17. The prisoners (Chinese, Koreans, Dutch, British, Australians, and Americans) were used as slave labourers to mine coal. Unfortunately, the local museum and the heritage site omit most of that history.
Australian prisoners-of-war were forced to work at the Mitsui Miike Coal Mine in Omuta, Kyushu, Japan during World War II. 440 were there, and 20 died in captivity. This site is World Heritage listed under “Japan’s Sites of the Meiji Industrial Revolution.” There is no mention of these Australian POWs at that site or at the Tokyo World Heritage information centre.
The above is from Sharp Family Tree, please read: https://sharpefamilyoffice.com.au/pow-camps
Also read https://thediplomat.com/2015/07/unesco-and-japans-act-of-forgetting/
OMUTA MIIKE MINES