Fukuoka #21 Nakama
(Nakazuru)

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Fukuoka #21-B Nakama
Taisho Mining Company
(TAISHO KOGYO NAKAZURU TANKO)
NAKAZURU Works
FUKUOKA-ken, ONGA-gun,
NAKAMA-machi

Satellite view
Camp was part of a larger military compound.
Location - in relation to other camps; camp at upper center of map
Aerial (Jan. 1948; courtesy of Japan Map Archives)

Timeline:
15 Jun 1944: Established as Fukuoka Branch #21 at Nakama with arrival of Dutch and Australians.
21 Jun 1945: Approximately 100 British and Dutch arrive from Fukuoka #2 per son of POW, Henk Postma, email of 31 Oct 2009
Sep 1945: Rescue effected

Photographs:
History of Nakazuru Mining (in Japanese; no mention of POW camp)
Japanese historical site

Aerial view:
 Hell Ships:
The Dutch and Australians are known to have arrived on the TEIA MARU ex Singapore ex Death Railway. Not known where the British men were before prior to their arrival in this camp on 21 June 1945, most likely Fukuoka #2.

Labor:
Coal mining and related slave labor for the Taisho Mining Company. The mine had been abandoned and flooded when the POWs arrived.

Rosters:
Americans - 3 only - Original American roster
Rinaman, James C., Major, O&317293 (Ex Fuk-02) (Verklaring) - Dutch translation of affidavit
Shaw, Jerry E., Pvt, 19023434, Ft Mills Hosp
Upton, Joseph B., Pvt, 17030961,Ft Mills Hosp
Australians - 180 men including 2 deceased - Original Australian roster
British - 97 Men survivors - Original British roster
Dutch - 311 men (3 officers); XLS spreadsheet (courtesy of Henk Beekhuis) Original Dutch roster
FUK-21_Rosters_1946-02-16.pdf - ORIGINALS

Deceased:
From the book "Angel of the East Indies" p 164
19 Aug 1945: Sgt. Johannes Jacob Fredik Modder (Dutch) dies as a result of severe malnutrition- last man to die in the camp.
17 Jul 1945: Cedric William James (Australian) mine accident- cerebral hemorage and urethra injury.
23 Mar 1945: Pte Kenneth William Lally (Australian) dies from pneumonia
19 Aug 1944: Leonard Drossaers (Dutch) of fractured skull in mine accident.
10 Aug 1944: Karel Van Bourgonje (Dutch) of fractured skull in mine accident.
19 Jul 1944: Willem Daalman (Dutch) of broken back in mine accident.
Deceased- [External pdf file]

Memoir of Dutch POW, Jouwert Postma


Books
"Angel of the East Indies" by Dino Fanara - narrative of survival of Dutch soldier Adolph Van Dooremole. Accurate portralal of hellship and working conditions at the camp. Includes accurate narrative of his wife and four children's survival under Japanese imprisonment in Java. Highly recommended.