| Zentsuji POW Camp |
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Zentsuji POW Camp Osaka Command, Section I Zentsuji Machi (town) Nakatado-gun (Military District) Kagawa Ken (Prefecture) TAKAMATSU* (*) - designates a private company in command of camp. Time Line: See Guam Timeline Rescue effected on 5 Sept 1945 Photographs, Maps, and Sketches Aerial Photograph and Camp layout Location Map Photographs & Sketches Includes picture taken by Japanese guard/ 8 sec. download time. Movements: 2nd group of Officers [Listof 25] arrive from Tanagawa on 3 Sep 1943 British officers were moved in January 1945 to Mitsushima POW Camp - possibly to Miyata and Hakodate as well, date not confirmed. Unknown [for now] destination for Dutch officers. American officers moved 23 June 1945 to Rokuroshi Links of merit: Sketches of Zentsuji US Naval History article with sketches of life in Zentsuji. Large file but worth the wait. Japanese Camp Staff: Camp Commander: Hosatani -Convicted and sentenced to 20 years Camp Doctor: Saito- Convicted and Hanged Asabuki - Camp Interpreter "Mr. Cambridge" Mariyania- Camp interpreter Additonal Research by Netherlands researcher, John Slootmaekers regarding Intl Red Cross Committee records. Report of 20 April 1944 states 690 POW's at date, mostly officers ; Col. K. Sugiyama was Camp Commandant on 4 August 1944 |
Primary Labor Use: Stevedores at Sakaide Rail Yards and the Port of Takamatsu Note: The camp was a "Show Camp" for propaganda purposes. Contained mostly Officers plus enlisted ranks from Guam & Wake Island. Camp Rosters: English, American, Dutch, Australian/ New Zealand/ Fiji Rosters of Wake men transferred to Zentsuji and the five men murdered at Yokohama Interviews: 15 Dec 2001 PFC.Carroll D. "Barney" Barnett, USMC, Sumay Marine Detachment- Zentsuji POW Camp. Excellent description of the invasion of Guam. "Barney" passed away, December 2001. Affidavits: Capt Michael Ushakoff- describe conditions at camp Coast Watchers: List and details of capture of the New Zealand coast watchers at Zentsuji before the Americans arrived from Guam Books Describing Life at Zentsuji: Joe "Fingers" Brown- "We Stole to Live" - the single best POW book on this camp. Contains pictures of over 90% of the men. [Best Book] Ed Hale's Book "First Captured, Last Freed"- Hale was a crewman aboard the USS Penguin and enslaved at Hirohata POW Camp. Don Binns - "A Survivors Story: An American POW in Japan during WW II" - A new e-book written by NAvy man stationed at Piti Navy Yard NEW BOOKS: Meg Parkes- "Notify Alec Rattray" by Meg Parkes from the diary of her father, Atholl Duncan, British officer sent to Zentsuji & Rokuroshi. Excellent compilation of information and explanation of diary entries. Sequel: "A.A. Duncan is OK" is now available |