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1106391
Leading Aircraftman
Joseph Michael Groake
(Known as Joey)
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Japanese PoW
Captured Java
8th March 1942
Held Java, Moluccas (Haruku, Ambon)
Died
Age 30
5th November 1944
Sailed on the Maros Maru from Ambon on the 17th September 1944 bound for Raja/Makassar/Surabaya.
On 9th September the ship arrived in Makassar, here the engine had to be repaired, which took forty days. The conditions on board were very bad for the POW’s, as the heat in the holds was suffocating. Here 159 POW’s died, they received a seaman’s grave in the harbour of Makassar.
The conditions on board were horrendous throughout the journey with only 327 of the 650 prisoners surviving the journey. Joseph died at Makassar.
Memorial
Column 438.
SINGAPORE MEMORIAL
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