Campbell-George-Alexander

To honour those who served their country

“In this their finest hour”

5045839

Lance Corporal

George Alexander Campbell

1906/09/16 - Born Belfast, Northern Ireland

Corps of Military Police

11th Division Provost Unit

Attached to 9th Division Provost Unit

1942/03/13 - WO 417/40, Casualty List No. 770. Missing.

Japanese PoW

1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore

PoW No. M7205

Japanese Index Card - Side One

Japanese Index card - Side Two

1942/10/20 - Transported oversea from Singapore to Taiwan in England Maru

1000 PoWs

1942/11/14 - Arrived Keelung, Taiwan

New PoW No. I 1124

1942/11/14 - Disembarking Keelung and transported by train to Taihoku, the capital of Taiwan. The PoWs were marched through the streets in front of a large civilian crowd.

Taihoku (Camp 6)

Work included building a memorial park and a man-made lake

George worked for eight months building a marina

1943 - Moved to Kinkaseki (Camp 1)

Worked in copper mine

Kinkaseki Camp

(The mine was joined to the camp by a 1.25 mile tunnel)

The mine had no timber props to shore up the rook and they were constantly showered with debris and in danger of it caving in. The tunnel from the camp to the mine had to be used twice daily and it was a constant worry to the PoWs as it was very unsafe.

Down The Mine

Written and Composed by Trumpeter Arthur Smith

`Kinkaseki´ POW Camp Taiwan 1942

There's a song in old Formosa that the Nips they loudly sing,

In the billets every eveing you should hear the music ring,

Now they sing to British soldiers who have travelled from afar,

To fight for king and country, now they’re prisoners of war,

But they know they'll see their homeland in the future once again,

Listen, while I sing to you the Nipponese refrain.

Chorus:

Down the mine bonnie laddies down the mine you'll go,

Though your feet are lacerated you dare not answer no,

Though the rice is insufficient and we treat you all like swine,

Down the mine bonnie taddies down the mine.

Now the boys were fairly happy till one cold and cloudy day,

When the 'Bunsho dono' he came out and he to them did say,

Now expect you all are wondering why you're out on this parade,

The reason is, you must be taught, the Taiwan serenade.

Chorus:

Down the mine bonnie laddies down the mine you'll go,

Though your feet are lacerated you dare not answer no,

Though the rice is insufficient and we treat you all like swine,

Down the mine bonnie taddies down the mine.

You should see us work with 'chunkles' and we work with baskets too

Though the method is old-fashioned to the boys its something new,

And we'll work away with patience till the dawn of freedom's day,

But until then the Nippon men will all be heard to say.

Chorus:

Down the mine bonnie laddies down the mine you'll go,

Though your feet are lacerated you dare not answer no,

Though the rice is insufficient and we treat you all like swine,

Down the mine bonnie taddies down the mine.

1945/03 - Mine was closed as the Allies were sinking the ships carrying the ore to Japan.

1945/02/27 - Transported to Japan in Taiko Maru

1945/03/10 - Fukuoka 5B (Kawasaki Machi, Tagawa Gun, Fukuoka Ken)

Work involved Coal mining for Furukawa Mining Company.

Fukuoka 5B

Photo is Aerial View of Mine and Camp

1945/09/22 - Liberated Fukuoka 5B camp, Japan

1946/01/11 - WO417/100, Casualty List No. 1957. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 1360 as Prisoner of War now Not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya.