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When compiling the Java Index it was noted that many of the British prisoners captured in Java, died at Rabaul and Ballali Island. Alf ‘Blackie’ Baker’s book ‘What Price Bushido’ and Don Wall’s ‘Kill the Prisoners’ confirmed this. Using these valuable sources of information these pages were formed with the help of the Commonwealth War Graves.
The 600 Gunners Party left Changi on the 18th October 1942, under the command of Lt-Col. J. Bassett, R.A., 35 L.A.A. aboard the Kenkon Maru, at the time the destination was believed to be New Guinea. The Bureau of Records and Enquiry at Changi later were led to believe the ship was torpedoed and all on board lost.
These pages are not meant to upset families but are written as a tribute to those of the 600 Gunners Party who gave their lives for their country.
Further information can be found at Gunner Alfred William Burgess who gave his life at Ballali Island on the 5th March 1943.
Background Music
The Naked Isle is written and sung by Jim Rowlands in remembrance of his grandfather Albert Owen Rowlands from the 600 gunners party. The Japanese reported that the ship carrying the prisoners was lost at sea after leaving Singapore, which is known as the Naked Isle.
It wasn’t till after the war the truth was found when a large mass grave was found on Ballali Island, the Japanese had used 517 of the fittest to construct a runway on Ballali Island leaving the sick at Rabaul, then when finished those of the 517 remaining left alive were massacred by the Japanese,
436 bodies were exhumed on Ballali Island, those remaining of the 517 are believed to have died before the massacre and buried on the island.
The date of death given by the Commonwealth War Graves is the 5th March 1943 for those who died on Ballali Island, the correct date is not known.
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