JAVA PARTY NO 20
WX8261 PTE ROBERT RAMSAY MCASKIL
McAskil had missed earlier Work Parties from Java to Burma-Thai Railway due to illness.
The NN Maru 17 sailed on 18-5-1944 with 800 POW’s from Batavia to Singapore. The group POW consisted of 194 British, 258 Australian, 42 American, 306 Dutch. This transport was known as Java Party 20, the 20th POW-transport from Java.
On 22-5-1944 the ship arrived in Singapore; the POW’s were taken to the River Valley Road-camp.
NOTE. Later on these POW’s were transported to Japan with Hozan Maru, Kokusei Maru, Hiyoki Maru and/or Miyo Maru (Japan Party 1).
McAskil missed his draft to Japan due to illness. He later joined Java Party 22, Noel Banks and Booth sailing to Sumatra and worked on the Pakan Baroe-Moearo Railway until his death 28 March 1945 from cardiac beri beri.
Java Party 20 & Sinking of Tamahoko Maru near Nagasaki 24 June 1944
19 May 1944 800 POWs departed Java on Kiska Maru to Singapore arriving 21 May 1944. POW group consisted of 194 British, 258 Australian, 42 American, 306 Dutch.
POWs were glass rod tested at Havelock Road Camp. One Australian and four Dutchmen were removed from Party. 795 POWs embarked on Miyu Maru.
The Australian was 2/4th soldier WX8261 Pte Robert Ramsay MCASKIL, who then was sent to work on the Sumatran Railway. McAskil died 28 March 1945 of cardiac beri beri aged 44 years at Kampoeng 106km near Kota Baroe, Sumatra. After the war his body was taken to Djakarta War Cemetery.
Japan 1 formed a convoy of 12 ships and four escorts known as H0-02 as well as Bauxite Convoy. 4 cargo ships carried POWs:
Miyo Maru (795 POWs from Java Party 20)
Hozan Maru (451 POWs as well as carrying bauxite)
Hiyoki Maru (450 POWs and bauxite)
Kokusei Maru (456 POWs and Bauxite)
3 June 1944 H0-02 convoy sailed Singapore to Japan via Philippines.
6 June 1944 160 miles E.S.E. Cape St Jacques, French Indo-China, USS Raton (SS 250) attacked the convoy. At 2225 hours an escort was sunk and USS Raton received damage.
11 June 1944 Arrived Manila where Tamahoko Maru loaded 7,500 tons copper ore into her holds and joined the convoy.
14 June 1944 sailed from Manila in a convoy of six ships.
15 June 1944 the convoy ran into a typhoon, causing damage to Miyo Maru.
18 June 1944 Convoy reaches Takao, Taiwan.
POWs on Miyo Maru were transferred into two holds on the Tamahoko Maru.
20 June 1944 Convoy H0-02 sailed out of Takao, Taiwan accompanied by escorts.
21 June 1944 Stopped over at Keeling, the convoy then headed for Japan.
24 June 1944 three US submarines Tang, Tinosa and Shark II attacked the convoy off the Japanese coast, 40 miles S.W. Nagasaki. The Tamahoko was hit and sank with the loss of 560 POWs out of 772 POWs on board.
25 June 1944 200 survivors of the sinking were taken to Fukuoka 14B Camp.
Survivors from Western Australia included:
WX5300 JOHNSTON, Gervase Clifford
WX5300 LECKIE, John Henshaw
WX9911 McDONALD, Gordon Stanley John
WX18552 MONTEFIORO, Arthur Eric
WX2844 PARKIN, Charles Owen
WX11771 ROSS, Gordon
WX9943 TICKLE, Horace James (later died illness)
Western Australians who Perished: