JAVA PARTY NO. 20 – MCASKIL
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.
