Extract from the Journal of the Taiwan POW Camp HQ in Taihoku
Title
Extract from the Journal of the Taiwan POW Camp HQ in Taihoku
Description
A translation certified as true used as exhibit "O" in James Cross' affidavit. On the reverse is handwritten 'Try to tell.... any ex-POW... That you believe... that the atomic bombs should not have been dropped on Japan. The atomic bomb saved his life!'
Date
1946-09-19
Temporal Coverage
Coverage
Language
Type
Format
One double sided printed sheet with handwritten annotations
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
Identifier
SMilsonGW937875v90003-0001, SMilsonGW937875v90003-0002
Transcription
[indecipherable words], 185, ROYAL HOSPITAL CHELSEA.
[inserted] Presented to [indecipherable word] V Brown by [indecipherable word] Stuart E. Gordon [/inserted]
[underlined] BRITISH DIVISION [/underlined] [inserted] [indecipherable name] [/inserted]
[underlined] Document No. 2701 [/underlined]
(Certified as Exhibit “0” in Doc. No. 2687)
[boxed] From the Journal of the Taiwan POW Camp H.Q. in Taihoku. entry 1 August 1944 [/boxed]
1. (entries about money; promotions of Formesans [sic] at British camps, including promotion of Yo Yu-toku to 1st C1 Keiblin – 5 entries)
2. The following answer about [underlined] the extreme measures for POW’s [underlined] was sent [underlined] to the Chief of Staff of the 11th Unit (Formosa POW Security No. 10). [/underlined]
“Under the present situation if there were a mere expolosion [sic] or fire a shelter for the time being could be held in nearby buildings such as the school, a warehouse, or the like. However, [underlined] at such time as the situation became urgent and it be extremely important, the POW’s will be concentrated and confined in their present location and under heavy guard the preparation for the final disposition will be made. [/underlined]
[underlined] The time and method of this disposition [/underlined] are as follows:
(1) [underlined] The time. [/underlined]
[underlined] Although the basic aim is to act under superior orders, individual disposition may be made in the following circumstance: [/underlined]
(a) When an uprising of large numbers cannot be suppressed without the use of firearms.
(b) When escapes from the camp may turn into a hostile fighting force.
(2) [underlined] The Methods [/underlined]
(a) [underlined] Whether they are destroyed individually or in groups, or however it is done, with mass bombing, poisonous smoke, poisons, drowning, decapitation, or what, dispose of them as the situation dictates. [/underlined]
(b) [underlined] In any case it is the aim not to allow the escape of a single one, to anihilate [sic] them all, and not to leave any traces. [/underlined]
3. To: The Commanding General
The Commanding general of Military Police
Reported matters conferred on with the 11th Unit, the Kiirun Fortified Area H.Q. and each prefecture concerning the [underlined] extreme security in Taiwan POW Camps.” [/underlined]
I hereby certify that this is a true translation from the [underlined] Journal of the Taiwan POW H.Q. in Taiwan, entry 1 August 1944. [/underlined]
Signed: [underlined] Stephen H. Green
STEPHEN H. GREEN [/underlined]
This is Exhibit marked “0”, referred to in the Affidavit of JAMES THOMAS NEHENIAH CROSS.
Sworn before me this 19th day of September 1946
[page break]
This is exhibit marked “0”, referred to in the Affidavit of JAMES THOMAS NEHENIAH CROSS.
Sworn before me this 19th day of September 1946.
/s/ [underlined] P. A. L. Vine [/underlined]
[underlined] MAJOR R. M. [/underlined]
2. [underlined] This document No 2701. 1 Aug 1944. does not give any date of these orders to be carried out. [/underlined]
As the news of the Nip surrender reached our F E P O W camp 16 AUG 1945, a British Officer and an N C O took over our camp, [underlined] it was revealed that we were to be put to death on 18 AUG 45, so we missed disposition by two days. [/underlined] Flags came out of hiding, and were flown from the longest bamboo poles and erected on the top of the Watch Tower, flags of the U S A, Dutch and our Union flag. At daylight the next day, we marked out on spare ground, our Union Flag, Red, was made up of broken red bricks, white, tapioca, flour and Blue bamboo ashes. This was seen by the R A F and very soon we had supplies dropped, including cans of rice!! The sighting of the lay-out was mentioned, an ex R A F Officer at one of our annual dinners, some years ago. It is sad to know this ex Officer became blind.
These flags were used many, many times to cover the remains of our comrades, who laid to rest in a solemn manner and the followers dressed in clean but ragged parts of uniform, the sounding of the Last Post, a pause, the Reveille, very impressive.
[signature]
S.E. Gordon
8.2.82
[inserted] [underlined] ATOMIC BOMB DROPPED [/underlined]
HIROSHIMA AUG 6th 1945
NAGASAKI. AUG. 9th 1945
TRY TO TELL . . .
ANY EX-POW . . .
THAT YOU BELIEVE . . .
THAT
THE ATOMIC BOMBS
SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN
DROPPED ON JAPAN.
THE ATOMIC BOMB SAVED HIS LIFE! [/inserted]
[inserted] Presented to [indecipherable word] V Brown by [indecipherable word] Stuart E. Gordon [/inserted]
[underlined] BRITISH DIVISION [/underlined] [inserted] [indecipherable name] [/inserted]
[underlined] Document No. 2701 [/underlined]
(Certified as Exhibit “0” in Doc. No. 2687)
[boxed] From the Journal of the Taiwan POW Camp H.Q. in Taihoku. entry 1 August 1944 [/boxed]
1. (entries about money; promotions of Formesans [sic] at British camps, including promotion of Yo Yu-toku to 1st C1 Keiblin – 5 entries)
2. The following answer about [underlined] the extreme measures for POW’s [underlined] was sent [underlined] to the Chief of Staff of the 11th Unit (Formosa POW Security No. 10). [/underlined]
“Under the present situation if there were a mere expolosion [sic] or fire a shelter for the time being could be held in nearby buildings such as the school, a warehouse, or the like. However, [underlined] at such time as the situation became urgent and it be extremely important, the POW’s will be concentrated and confined in their present location and under heavy guard the preparation for the final disposition will be made. [/underlined]
[underlined] The time and method of this disposition [/underlined] are as follows:
(1) [underlined] The time. [/underlined]
[underlined] Although the basic aim is to act under superior orders, individual disposition may be made in the following circumstance: [/underlined]
(a) When an uprising of large numbers cannot be suppressed without the use of firearms.
(b) When escapes from the camp may turn into a hostile fighting force.
(2) [underlined] The Methods [/underlined]
(a) [underlined] Whether they are destroyed individually or in groups, or however it is done, with mass bombing, poisonous smoke, poisons, drowning, decapitation, or what, dispose of them as the situation dictates. [/underlined]
(b) [underlined] In any case it is the aim not to allow the escape of a single one, to anihilate [sic] them all, and not to leave any traces. [/underlined]
3. To: The Commanding General
The Commanding general of Military Police
Reported matters conferred on with the 11th Unit, the Kiirun Fortified Area H.Q. and each prefecture concerning the [underlined] extreme security in Taiwan POW Camps.” [/underlined]
I hereby certify that this is a true translation from the [underlined] Journal of the Taiwan POW H.Q. in Taiwan, entry 1 August 1944. [/underlined]
Signed: [underlined] Stephen H. Green
STEPHEN H. GREEN [/underlined]
This is Exhibit marked “0”, referred to in the Affidavit of JAMES THOMAS NEHENIAH CROSS.
Sworn before me this 19th day of September 1946
[page break]
This is exhibit marked “0”, referred to in the Affidavit of JAMES THOMAS NEHENIAH CROSS.
Sworn before me this 19th day of September 1946.
/s/ [underlined] P. A. L. Vine [/underlined]
[underlined] MAJOR R. M. [/underlined]
2. [underlined] This document No 2701. 1 Aug 1944. does not give any date of these orders to be carried out. [/underlined]
As the news of the Nip surrender reached our F E P O W camp 16 AUG 1945, a British Officer and an N C O took over our camp, [underlined] it was revealed that we were to be put to death on 18 AUG 45, so we missed disposition by two days. [/underlined] Flags came out of hiding, and were flown from the longest bamboo poles and erected on the top of the Watch Tower, flags of the U S A, Dutch and our Union flag. At daylight the next day, we marked out on spare ground, our Union Flag, Red, was made up of broken red bricks, white, tapioca, flour and Blue bamboo ashes. This was seen by the R A F and very soon we had supplies dropped, including cans of rice!! The sighting of the lay-out was mentioned, an ex R A F Officer at one of our annual dinners, some years ago. It is sad to know this ex Officer became blind.
These flags were used many, many times to cover the remains of our comrades, who laid to rest in a solemn manner and the followers dressed in clean but ragged parts of uniform, the sounding of the Last Post, a pause, the Reveille, very impressive.
[signature]
S.E. Gordon
8.2.82
[inserted] [underlined] ATOMIC BOMB DROPPED [/underlined]
HIROSHIMA AUG 6th 1945
NAGASAKI. AUG. 9th 1945
TRY TO TELL . . .
ANY EX-POW . . .
THAT YOU BELIEVE . . .
THAT
THE ATOMIC BOMBS
SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN
DROPPED ON JAPAN.
THE ATOMIC BOMB SAVED HIS LIFE! [/inserted]
Collection
Citation
“Extract from the Journal of the Taiwan POW Camp HQ in Taihoku,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed September 7, 2026, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/collections/document/55396.