Unit diaries relating to service of Geoffrey W. Fennell - Wallet 2 - Part 11

Here are the impressions that Haito Camp made on Gunner Scrivens who went there

from Kinkasaki.

"We arrived at Haito at noon on Nov 14 1943 having spent a very unpleasant

16 hrs in the train from Keelung, the station for Kinkasaki. It was good to

get down to the "Sunny South" as it was already getting pretty cold at the mine

and had rained continuously for the last six days. Haito Camp itself occupied

a much larger area than Taihoku or Kinkasaki. It had a large grass padang and

a fairly large stream ran down the whole length of the camp. This little bit of

extra space gave us the sense of having a little more freedom, through not being

confined to the huts all the time. The stream was a Godsend as it provided unlimited

bathing, and a form placed in the stream made washing clothes too easy. The huts,

when we arrived were in a poor state of repair but fortunately it was the dry

season as they were made of mud with atta roofs. When the rain did come it poured

through the atta! The sides comprised a combination of mud and cement on top of

a bamboo framework as at Taihoku, but in most places it was just framework. Just

before the rainy season started, the huts were knocked down and elegant efforts 

were put up in their place with red tiled roofs. The fields surrounding the camp

were all planted with sweet potatoes. We were told on arrival that there were

some 15 miles of furrows. During the year we were there new fields were being added

all the time and when we left, the area under cultivation was colossal. There were

fields of ground nuts and potatoes. The yield from the first crop of potatoes

was very poor and the only people who derived any benefit from them were the pigs.

The ground was well manured before the second crop was planted and eventually

anything up to 400 kilos a day went into the cookhouse.

We were working for a Sugar Factory, clearing the ground of stones. The country

was so flat and extended for so many miles that it gave one the impression of

being at one time a sea-bed rather than a river-bed. At first, the primary object

of the work seemed to be to clear the ground for planting, but later, the main

object seemed to be to get the stones. Of the thousands of tons of stones that have

been collected, nobody had any idea what they were used for! Two parties had to

be found every morning.

One party loaded a small train consisting of trucks holding 4 or 5 tons, and the

other a big train whose trucks held twice as much. The weaker men worked on the

small train (in theory), 5 men to each truck, and they collected the stones that the 

natives had sorted out in long lanes. A line was laid through these lanes. The

first few days were OK, but each load took the stones further away from the truck

and they had to be carried up to 40 yds before they would lay a new line. These

trucks were always unloaded just outside the camp, which was the loading point for

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the Big train. An average day for the small train was 5 loads, but on many days they

got away with 4. The Big train was loaded by means of a wooden plank about 6" broad.

These were always pretty steep and invariably warped, so that loading was anything

but easy, and the steepness of them made it a bit hard on the old legs! When we

first arrived, we were working 5 men to a truck, 3 loads a day, 2 in the morning

and one in the afternoon.

Later, the demand for stones became great, and it went up to 5 loads a day, also

4 loads at night loaded by the natives. This was found to be too much and it came

down to 4 a day. This went on for a couple of months and every one was just about

"on their knees". Fortunately, natives took over the loading of the Big train. We had

a break of 6 or 7 weeks and then started off again. This time it was 3 loads with

4 men to a truck. The first load was before breakfast, which we had about 9.30 and

turned out to be not as bad as had been anticipated. Throwing 8 tons of stone around

before breakfast is something I must try on getting back to England! Except for the

5 loads a day, the work I thought was quite reasonable for anyone in an average

state of health.

From the health point of view though, Haito was pretty deadly. In the early days,

malaria "played merry hell" with everyone as the death roll, mounting to 90, showed.

But a combination of doing away with swamps, by cultivating the fields surrounding

the camp, and proper treatment in the form of attabrin tablets has made a 100%

improvement. The sun and fresh air certainly improved the health of those who came 

from the mine.

Rations, except in the latter part of our stay, compared very favourably with other

camps. The canteen was quite good, a reasonable amount of tomato and soya sauce always

being obtainable. Fresh tomatoes, when in season, came into the canteen quite

regularly. By far the biggest boon of the lot was a banana plantation just on the

outskirts of the camp. At first, we could rely on canteen bananas on Wednesday and

Sunday. Anything from 10 - 20 per man for as many sen. Bananas also came in every

other day as rations at an average of 3 per man.

Although we worked for a Sugar Company, we only saw sugar in the last 2 months and

that came as a tea bowl per man every 10 days.

The American Red X stores were issued without any trouble. The only fly in the

ointment was         the order that all cigarettes had to be taken out of the packets,

which meant that by the time we got them, they had been handled 5 or 6 times. On

the whole, therefore, Haito was a reasonable camp provided that one kept fit. If not,

the usual comments to the treatment of the sick applied.

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An Impression of Kinkasaki

Diagram - see original document.

Here is an account of the Camp by L/Sgt Scott.

"Kinkasaki Camp lay in a Valley surrounded by hills on all sides. Owing to the

population cultivating extensively, there were few trees or bushes. The Mine and

Fishing villages are on the hillsides. Being about 1000 feet above sea level,

the air was very invigorating, and there is rain for approximately 9 months in

the year.

The Billets were the usual Nippon structures of mud, lime, or bamboo frames, and

leaked very badly in rain weather. The camp area was about a quarter as big again 

as Taihoku.

The Copper mine lay about 100 feet above Sea Level. To get to the entrance we had

to walk up 100 steps and then down 600 steps, where one was given a lamp to enter

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the mine. The outside workings are the same as in England. Three minerals

were worked, Gold, Manganese bronze, Copper. The normal workers were Taiwan men

and women who lived in the surrounding hills. The Mine overlooked a wonderful

bay.

Reveille and breakfast were at 0600 hrs. As work was due to start at 0900, a start

was made about 0730 over 1 mile and a half level going and then 1000 steps down.

Tiffin consisting of rice and veg was carried in a box together with working tools,

chankuls, baskets and 15 cwt trucks. The working places were in long caverns of

stone. This stone was drilled by compressed air drills worked by POWs who were told

how many to do a day. The loose stone was chankuled into a basket, carried about 

5 to 15 yds, and thrown down a chute into a bogey truck, which, when full, was

pushed away by POWs.

The working conditions were very bad; acid running from the roof, heat 200°F in

most places and many men had to work in their bare feet, through lack of boots.

The roofs were very bad and there were continual "falls" as the mine authorities

did not believe in using timber. The Chutes had no covers, and owing to the bad

light, men frequently fell down from 30-90 feet. To reach the working floor we had

to climb ladders which were continually in need of repair. Smoking was permitted.

Work started at 0900 and went on till 1200, when there was a break for half an 

hour for tiffin. Then followed a period from 1230 to 14.45, and then the trek

back to Camp.

Rates of pay were as follows:

Hot Spots - NCOs 25 sen Gunners 20 sen per day

Cold Spots -   " 15 sen         "  10 sen per day

During the first 4 months we were treated like slaves and were struck at the

slightest provocation. When work was done, they gave more just for the pleasure

of hammering us. The Buncho, or Japanese Commandant, can be described by the fact

that he ordered a couple of fowls to be spreadeagled for fighting! The Hospital

Nippon staff orderly used to illtreat the patients, while asking them how they

felt. On one occasion in the mine they put 4 men in a working hole and they were

told to do 16 Bogies. After sweeping the hole out, they could only get 12 Bogies

and owing to the resulting hammering 1 man went to Hospital, 1 bed-down, and 2

with medical cards. This was only one incident of hundreds. Camp was nearly as

bad, for instance, a man with diarrhoea was trying to run to the benjo in wooden

sandals and was told by the sentry to go without them. After moving a yard or so

the sentry stopped him and bashed him causing him to have 2 stitches in his

leg and injuries which prevented him working for 2 months. (The Sentry told the

Commandant that the man was coming from the bengo barefoot).

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The food, on the other hand, for those working in the mine, was plentiful as

regards rice, in fact the men had more than they could eat. There were of course

the usual deficiencies of vitamins due to lack of fats and meat. The Cookhouse

put up an excellent job of work.

The party from the Regiment arrived at the mine in August 1943. From May 1944 

onwards, conditions changed for the better. Lt Wakyama left and his place was 

taken by Capt Nomura, who came from Shirakawa Camp. He was rated by everyone as 

a "Nippon Gentleman". "The Goons" wished to be treated as brothers and the 

Nippon Guards became very friendly. The Hospital patients and sick were treated 

very well. The amount of rice decreased but on the other hand pasties were 

frequently served for the evening meal. Sports were organised, but the men were 

in no fit state for them. However, from 4.30 in the afternoon till 7.30 next morning

our time was our own".

NEW CONDITIONS AT SHIRAKAWA

October had certainly been packed with excitements. By the 26th all the newcomers

had arrived and on the 30th the Camp was reorganised. All Lt Colonels and Majors 

moved into the Generals' block, 3 to a room, and became No 1 Squad. The remaining 

officers moved into the old Colonels' hut and were organised into 3 new Squads. 

The BORs were graded into "fit" men and "light workers", and formed Squads 5 and 6 

and occupied the old 9 and 10 Squad Hut, and the old enlisted men's hut. The 

centre floor of the 9 and 10 Squad hut was removed, and partitions taken down, 

with the result that they now consisted of a raised sleeping platform, and the old 

7 & 8 Squad hut was treated the same way, as new arrivals were expected, as it was 

rumoured that the Camp was to be brought up to 700. It was evidently to be made 

into a Convalescent Camp coupled with light Farm work for the fit men.

Before dealing with the Hospital arrangements, mention should be made of the Air 

Raid Questionnaire. The Commandant sent for Col Jephson and asked for his co-operation

as regards Air Raid Precautions. As a result, he and the Squad Leaders 

put forward several suggestions such as (1) Marking the camp clearing as a PoW 

Camp (2) Having the windows out during raids to avoid glass splinters (3) Unrestricted 

use of the benjo (4) All to lie down on beds as at present (5) Fire 

watchers to be appointed for each hut etc.

When the Commandant read this he said it was not what he wanted at all. Two officers 

per Squad were asked to send in written answers to the following questionnaire 

(1) Were the planes Allied? (2) What targets were they attacking (3) How many 

planes and were they from Aircraft Carriers or China (4) Were we afraid and if so 

of what (5) How did the behaviour of the Guards impress us.

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The Interpreter returned at the end of the month having accompanied the Generals

to Japan. He told an American friend that he had found that a marriage had been

arranged for him but that his honeymoon had been somewhat disturbed by bombing!

He prophesied that "as the bones of contention" had been removed, our treatment

would improve, PX Stores were unlimited, and the Commandant and the Guards were

horrified at the state of health of the new arrivals.

The Hospital

Col Glattly of the US Medical Corps, late Chief Surgeon Luzon Force, was the only

remaining Doctor out of 18! As it was obvious that he could not cope by himself,

a voluntary organisation was introduced. Lt Cooper of the Regiment was appointed

"Matron" or "Registrar", and General Chief Staff Officer to Col Glattly. Lt Knights

became an assistant Dresser together with Capt Hinton of the Lanarkshire Yeomanry,

who had previously done good work at Kinkasaki. Col Hennessey also helped with

Outpatients in the Huts. A permanent squad of officers was formed to provide Food

servers, dish washers, mosquito net fixers, and most important of all medical

orderlies to wash the patients, clean the rooms and make themselves useful generally.

The roster was changed weekly.

The Generals Hut, North end, was known as the Hospital Annexe and divided into

sections of 5 rooms each containing 3 patients for purposes of medical and sanitary

attention. Sgt Elliott, L/Sgt Scott and L/Bdr Wersby were in a bunk together, with

L/Bdr Daff just up the passage. All four were suffering from stomach troubles,

having had dysentery at various times and were all skin and bone. They were

all however very cheerful and very thankful to get away from the mine to better

surroundings. Q Horner was attached to the Hospital as PT instructor and O/C Sunbathing,

and could be seen every morning and afternoon looking the picture of

health himself, surrounded by patients lying on blankets and doing mild arm, leg

and breathing exercises. Owing to their emaciated condition nothing very serious

could be attempted.

The month closed with the removal of all bamboo home-made chairs, wash-stands,

camp equipment, less camp beds. The reason for this was unknown except that the

order had presumably come from HQ at Taihoku, who hated to see any attempt to

make ourselves comfortable. However the loss of a bamboo chair is really not

much to worry about compared to the hardships being endured by those in other

camps.

November started quietly, the main point of issue being to decide how Canteen

Stores were to be dealt with. The majority of the men would not be in a position

to earn any pay for some time and, as a result, a scheme was drafted whereby the

officers were to contribute sufficient money from their credits to allow every

man to receive goods to the value of 11 Yen. This sum was based on a monthly

issue of 2 Syrup, 2 Sauce, 4 Fish Flakes, 2 Salt, Sugar, 1/10 lb of tea and

cigarettes as issued to the troops in red packets, costing 4 sen a packet of 10.

These plans were disturbed by a bolt from the blue, launched, as usual at the weekend!

On Sunday Nov 5th, Col Jephson was summoned to "the Hill" and told that 600 POWs were

arriving in about 2 days time! They would be accommodated in 7, 8, 9 and 10 Squad

huts with the balance in half 5 Squad. 7 & 8 Squad Hut was to be converted immediately,

to accommodate BORs. Incidentally, Nov 5th was Col Jephson's birthdy so

he received a pleasant (?) surprise from the Nips!

The chief difficulties would be the supply of water, and the cooking of extra meals.

The Nips did not know who the new arrivals were - they might be Chinese mandarins

with masses of luggage, or else shipwrecked sailors and soldiers with nothing!

Regarding the water, it was decided to ask for permission for them to go out to the

well and have a good wash once a day. Storage facilities in camp would not allow

this extra water to be drawn. Regarding food, 10 extra men were warned for cookhouse

duties; meals would be served in 2 shifts.

The new arrivals were to be divided in 5 Squads, A to E, and a Field Officer was

put in charge of each squad to act as "bear leader". It was understood that 400

would be moving on in about 3 days time. Sunday was classed as being an ordinary 

working day, and the necessary alterations were made. On Sunday night, however,

there was an "Air Alert". On Monday morning, Col Jephson was told that the date of 

arrival was postponed. Our conjectures were that (1) The party was coming from

overseas, probably from Thailand (2) Their convoy had been attacked or had found the 

Port of Takao in the process of being attacked (3) They would now disembark at

Keelung (4) We might find some of our Regiment who had been left behind in Singapore

among the party. Nothing further transpired until 2 days later. On Wednesday, Nov 8th

we were told that only 200 would be coming, mostly Americans with a few officers

and a padre. The Interpreter and the BB went off on Tuesday night to meet them.

Squads A - C were abolished and evicted officers returned to their rooms.

Since the arrival of certain officers from Thailand in the previous party, every

effort had been made to get old friend located. As a result, we discovered that

Major Nelson and Capt Howard, BMRA and Staff Capt RA, 9 Ind Div, had Staff jobs in a

Base Camp in Burma and were both well. Lt McKenzie was in Thailand working as a 

Medical Orderly in a Hospital. No news could be got of Capt Godman, Lts Reid and

Vincent, but Major McEwen had been with the parties on Railway construction.

Unfortunately it was impossible to locate any NCOs and men about whom we were

naturally very worried, owing to the news we had received about the epidemics of plague

and Cholera. Sgt Beardmore was located and was said to be well.

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The party arrived at midday on Nov 8th covered in grime and heavily bearded!

Apart from that, they appeared in much better fettle than those from Kinkasaki

and Haito. They were Americans from the Philippines, and Col Glattly the MO

was delighted to find 5 MOs and the whole of his Divisional Medical Staff from

Manila. The remainder were a mixture of 18 Div and Southern Area Singapore,

Argylls, Leicesters, E Surreys, 135 Fd Regt, 122 Fd Regt, 125 A/T, Cambs, Norfolks,

Suffolks, Heavy AA. There were 4 officers, a Padre, a Gordon, an Argyll and a

Cambs. They had been 5 months on the way! Rail, Thailand to Singapore. Boat to

Borneo and Manila, 5 weeks in Manila and had been torpedoed 3 times in trying to

leave Manila! We learnt quite enough to make us realise that the "Wild Eagles"

had gone completely out of business and the Nip Mercantile Marine was getting

a real pasting whenever it showed its nose out!

On Nov 10th, Heoki told Col Pugh that Roosevelt had been re-elected. Red 'ot news

and a decided blow to Nippon. The Nipponese officers in Manila had let some of

them listen in to the Wireless, whilst in Manila, to a speech by Churchill about

the Siegfried Line, a 3 day truce asked for by Keittel and Churchill's remarks

re the Far East. Nov 11th proved a cold day and it was impossible to hold any

2 Minutes' Silence for all as it was not a holiday. It was also the 1000th Day

of Captivity.

More news about Thailand

From a Bdr in 122 Regt we heard that in June 1942, as already recorded in the

Registers, Sgt Archer and about 12 other ranks went to Thailand with 135 Fd

Regt. They first went to Chungkai and worked on the first section of the Railway.

The work consisted of making embankments and cuttings, and the hours of work were

from 8.30 - 12 and 2-6, though later on, they sometimes went out for 3 days at a 

time. Sgt Archer was in charge of a Battalion Cook House. They stayed in a camp

for about 2 months and then moved on. On the first stage from Chungkai to Taisan

they lived in attap and bamboo huts, but later they had 160 lb tents. The food was 

good at the start, but got worse later and consisted of rice and peanuts. Nip

Sappers were in charge of the. Nip Civilian engineers looked after the Tamils

brought from the Rubber estates. The Tamils were paid $1 a day, but had 50 cents

deducted to be remitted to their families in Malaya. About October 1942 more

parties arrived from Singapore. In one party were about 60 men of the Regt.

The Working parties were now divided into 6 groups (4 Thai, 2 Burma)

No 1. British Party Base Nonproduc. Rail starts. (Base Nonproduc)

No 2. Chungkai to Tarsau. Argylls, Manchesters, Gordons, Loyals, Cambs, Suffolks,

Norfolks, RASC, RAOC, Malay Vols, 122, 137, 125, 155, 135, 148 RCOS for Wireless

Communications. Dutch.

No 3. Burma. Australians, Indians, a few Yanks off the "Houston".

No 4. Arawel to Tarsau about 60 men. 5 Fd, 3 AA, 6 AA, HKS 80 AT. Dutch.

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No 2 Group went through No 4 to Takanum Base Camp and worked on to

H & F Force who arrived in July 43 were still further on towards

311Km Camp

3 Pagoda Pass

(the above paragraph is not clear in the book)

Sgt Beardmore and about 20 of 5 Fd were in the 4 Group Wood cutting party. There

were 5 saw teams of 5 men each and 100 in the carrying party from the hillside

to the road, 10 trips in the morning, and 4 in the afternoon, one small log under

each arm. The wood was for the Cookhouse. I think Sgt Price was in this party.

They were known as "Beardmore's Mountaineers" and were all very fit.

H and F Group were the unlucky ones as regards illness. At Niki Niki 300 out of 500

Beds & Herts, & Cambs died of dysentery, beri beri, malnutrition and cholera, and

the atrocities were in their group. They were mostly sick administered from Singapore

and had to march from Bangpong to Niki Niki.

No 4 Group had some Cholera, but 50% recovered. They were inoculated every three

weeks from Feb 43 - Oct 43. The chief illnesses were due to sores and ulcers

caused by cuts and scratches. 70 men lost their legs but as far as he knew, 5 Fd

were lucky. In the Cemetery at Chungkai, there were 1700 buried when Bdr B left.

The Railway was finished in Feb 44 and all moved back to the base Camp at Chungkai,

well commanded by Lt Col Owtram 139 Fd Regt. The camp held about 15000 men.

Food Ration - 15 Buffaloes a day, egg every 4 days, fish twice a week, Beans and

Soya Beans, 20 - 24 ozs rice.

In May 44 the men in the Regiment moved to Tamer Base Camp, the Sick Camp for No 4

Group and as far as is known they are still there, as none of them came back to

Singapore, Formosa bound.

Capt Christopher was Adjt & QM in Takinoon Base Camp. No news of Lts Reid and

Vincent.

From this, it is to be hoped that the Regimental party escaped the worst features

of Thailand.

CANTEEN AT SHIRAKAWA

The composition of the Camp had changed. There were now officers and other ranks.

Of the other ranks, about half were in Hospital or convalescing on red tickets and

would receive no pay. The maximum amount that could be earned by the working squads

was between 3 and 4 Yen a month, and this would not cover the normal canteen issues.

Previously, there had been more officers and fewer men, so that it was possible

for most of the men to earn up to 5 Yen a month by doing batman. In actual practice,

the only service required of the batman was washing clothes.

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A small Committee was formed, which produced a scheme whereby every BOR in the

Camp would receive Canteen goods free up to the value of 11 Yen. This figure

was based on the issue of 2 Syrup, 2 Ketchup, 2 Sauce, 2 Salt, Sugar and

cigarettes per month. To provide for this, officers would contribute from their

credits in the following proportions as a monthly maximum:

Lt Cols 61, Majors 44, Capts 38, Lts 11, 2 Lts 8. This scheme was put up to the

Commandant for approval.

NEGOTIATIONS FOR WORK

Nov 14th was the anniversary of our arrival in Taiwan, and there was a short Air

Raid Alert to celebrate it. Lt Gillett PCS, who was doing liaison officer with 

"The Hill", had taken up the Canteen Scheme to show the Interpreter. In the

course of conversation, the Interpreter said that he was very sorry that we were

getting so little food, and it was such a pity that we would not work. If we

did, we should get more. The Commandant had many plans to benefit us if we would

sign a paper that we would volunteer. The Interpreter said that the food was

very scarce in Japan, and we were far better off here. Gillett said that he did

not think anyone would sign a "blank cheque" regarding work as we had no desire to

work all day. The Interpreter said that the Commandant only wanted us to work

half a day, that we should run the work ourselves undisturbed by the "Goons" and he

intended to keep the sentries outside the wire while we were in Camp. He had

called in at Taihoku on his way back from Japan, to see Col Sazaki. The Colonel

hated the mention of Shirakawa as he had been very disappointed with the turn

events had taken, and had refused to talk about the Camp. The Interpreter thought,

however, that our signatures would cause him to alter his policy. The newcomers

had already signed a statement that they were prepared to work on the farm under

Nipponese supervision. They had been promised the full ration of rice.

Gillett came back and told Col Jephson. After a lot of discussion, it was decided

that the position had changed since the Generals and Colonels left, as there would

now be nobody between 50 and 60 out at work. That had been our main grouse before,

and had really caused the strike. The majority had no objection to working under

the old rules. The increased food ration would be beneficial, and it was felt to

be a good opportunity to re-open the question. We reckoned that we had scored "a

try" as the suggestion had come from the Nipponese. On Nov 16th, accordingly all

officers signed a paper which stated that we volunteered to work on the farm for our

own benefit under the same conditions prevailing in May 1944 (ie under our own

supervision, without interference from the goons, and the farm produce mostly

coming into our cookhouse. Lt Gillett took this manifesto up to the Interpreter, who

said that he was afraid the Col Sazaki would want to know what was mean exactly

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