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Toroku POW Camp American Only - no other nationalites present |
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TOROKU POW CAMP
(Touliu) Camp was a school building. Labor was in cutting and processing sugar cane plus random projects in the nearby village. Location Map- external link Timeline: 9 Nov 1944: 294 men arrive ex Hokusen Maru Air raids: Jan 1,2,3,4,9,14,15,16 16 Jan 1944: Ray Taylor dies 20 Jan 1945: POWS depart fo transit to Japan The men departed this camp and boarded the Melbourne Maru on 20 Jan 1945. This ship carried some 1015 POWS. On 22 Jan, while still at the dock, the ship was attacked and a bomb entered the forward hold killing an unknown number of men. Ship underway on 24 Jan and arrived Moji on 10 Feb 1945. Over next two days men were dispatched to various camps in Fukuoka, Osaka and Sendai areas. Books about this camp: Courage on Bataan and Beyond- a well done description of the experience of Abel F. Ortega, 192nd Tank Bn. Excellent selection of photos and the experience of the Death March, O'Donnell, Camp Murphy and hell ships to Japan and final days at Maibara. |
Hell Ship: Prisoners arrived on the Hokusen Maru, also known as the Haro Maru or Benjo Maru. One of the longest hell ship voyages of the war. First loaded 21 Sept 1944 and underway from Manila on 3 Oct 1944. Anchored Hong Kong 11-21 October. Carrier planes attacked on 13 Oct. Arrived Taiwan 24 Oct and men debarked on 8 November. During the entire voyage, 36 men died en route. 294 selected POWS arrived Toroku on 9 Nov 1944 along with two officers and one doctor who remained less than one day. See List of men who perished en route to Taiwan (Formosa) on the Hokusen Maru Slave Work Parties: Sqd #1-Cane Party; Sqd #2-Mill Party; Sqd #3-(Mill-10 men) (Farm- 20 men); Sqd#4- farm party; Sqd #5- City Party; Sqd #6- Regular workers; Sqd #7 (35) Carpenters sanitation woodcutters etc; Sqd #8- Medical & misc; Sqd#9- Misc-mostly sick Roster: Courtesy of Alcide Benini. This roster lists the 294 men assigned to Toroku and was originally prepared by Hubert D. Hough. Dates of death are noted. |