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Hiroshima 2B formerly Zentsuji 3-B/ Fukuoka 13-B |
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Source:
Wes Injerd Zentsuji 3-D YAMANE (SUMITOMO KOGYO) EHIME-ken, NII-gun, SUMINO-machi, YAMANE Per IRRC: Niihama-shi, Ehime-ken Map: Satellite View (Google Maps) Topographic Map Street Map (Slow Loading) Timeline: 22 Apr 1943: Established as Fukuoka 13-B BESSHI EHIME-ken, NIIHAMA-machi 25 Apr 1943: First Dutch arrive ex Hawaii Maru 14 Jul 1943: Jurisdictional control transferred to ZENTSUJI POW CAMP 3-B 20 Jul 1943: Established at NIIHAMA-shi 8 Sep 1943: Red Cross officials supposedly "visit" camp; seen from distance only. No contact with POWs* * Note from Center for Research: IRCC took the word of Japanese officials as no actual visit was made. 14 Nov 1943: Moved to NIIHAMA-shi, ISOURA 10 Sep 1944: 300 men arrive ex Aki Maru per Vermin affidavit 13 Apr 1945: established as HIROSHIMA 2-B (SUMITOMO KAGAKU KOGYO) EHIME-ken, NIIHAMA-shi, ISOURA 28 Aug 1945: First food drops 10 Sep 1945: Rescue Effected Men sent by train through Zentsuji (picked up Yanks therein) then to port of Takamatsu thence ferry to Uno. Next train took men through Osaka to Wakayama. Photos: AWM Photo collection. Photograph PO2502.001; Shows former POWS lined up for food & delousing at nearby Wakanuri. AWM - enter search tern "Niihama" in collections, Many more pictures including Japanese guards sentenced to death. Links: Capt (Dr) David Hinder (Aussie) article relects on his experience at Niihama after the Atom bomb was dropped. Journals of Victor Johannes Maria Vermin; External Link Japanese Staff: Capt Murakami - Camp Commander "Lopper"; War Crime trial sentenced to death. Unknown guard: "Mickey Mouse" Oka San - "Happy" Additonal Research by Netherlands researcher, John Slootmaekers regarding Red Cross records. Intl Red Cross Committee: Zentsuji POW Camp No. 3 (questionnaire 21 April 1944) Address : Niihama-shi, Ehime-ken, Nippon Opened 22 April1943 329 POW's at date - Dutch, 4 officers and 325 Dutch enlisted from Java; Visit [by IRCC] to camp: none to date 3 Red Cross relief goods per person issued, no mail and other parcels to date. |
Labor:
Employed by Sumitomo Yamane: Copper Mine & smelter Niihama: Casting Foundry for machine parts and a land reclamation project. Hell Ships: Hawaii Maru ex Singapore via Formosa; departed Changi 3 Apr 1943 and arrived Moji 24 April 1943. 300 men to Niihama included 250 Dutch per V.J.M Vermin (NEIA). Aki Maru ex Singapore, 4 weeks in Manila Harbor, Formosa and Moji. Departed Singapore 1 July 1944- arrived Moji 8 Sep 1944; 1250 POWs. Australians placed into Niihama Camp Book: Kurrah! An Australian POW in Changi, Thailand & Japan, 1942-1945 by F.W.G. "Bill" Power, Australia 2nd of the15th Camp consisted of 245 Australian men of whom 3 died; an unknown number of Dutch but almost all Australians ex-Thailand ex Changi. Deceased: External link (pdf) - slow loading Rosters: Australians: 245 include 3 deceased men; ranking man was Lt. Peter Selwyn Withycombe Dutch Roster: not located yet (401 men) Dutch POWs known to have been at Niihama: Bakker, W. , soldier 46703, Niihama Bauer, Wilhelm, navy, Niihama Bouwman, Willem H., no details, Niihama Braaksma, J.E.P., soldier 150316, Niihama Breemen, Mart Isab. van, no details, Niihama Broek, van den, sergeant 914311, Niihama Faubel, Ronald, 2e lt, Niihama Fosse, David Em de la, Niihama Graaf, Jacob de, soldier 90636, Niihama Gruyter, Frederick de, soldier 44021, Niihama Haeften, Tom vam, sergeant 172615, Niihama Kesler, Jan, soldier 31203, Niihama Laurense, Johannes L. , soldier 67723, Niihama Lay, Wie Kao, no details, Niihama Maass, Raymond G. , soldier, 119714, Niihama Above Dutch names courtesy of Henn Beekhuis In early September, the POWS discovered a civilian camp nearby (see Vermin Journal) that had not received supplies and the POWS carried food to them. This was Aiko Health Facility, 1741-1 Miyoshi-cho, Futami-gun. It contained nurses and medical officers from captured Dutch vessel, Op ten Noort Total: 44 |