Harrison-John-Victor

To honour those who served their country

“In this their finest hour”

1463165

Gunner

John Victor Harrison

1917/01/29 - Born, Oldham, Lancashire

Occupation Butcher

1938/05/ - Enlisted

Next of Kin Mother, E Harrison, Mankinholes Farm, Todmorden, Lancashire

Royal Artillery

80 Anti-Tank Regiment

11th Division

Service

John pictured on the right

*1941/08/28*	*Mobilisation Centre to join 80th Anti-Tank Regiment. Departed Nottingham for Gourock, Scotland.*

*1941/08/29 14:00*	*Boarded HMT Scythia (Ex. RMS Scythia, Cunard Line)*
*1941/08/30 23:00*	*Convoy sailed for Singapore. (although no one onboard knew the destination at this time) This was named Convoy WS 11.*
*1941/09/13*	*Arrived Freetown, Sierra Leone.*
*1941/09/18*	*Sailed from Freetown.*
*1941/10/03*	*Arrived Durban, South Africa.*
*1941/10/07*	*Changed ships to SS Johan de Witt and sailed from Durban.*
*1941/10/22*	*Arrived Bombay, India*
*1941/10/27*	*Sailed from Bombay.*
*1941/10/31*	*Called into Colombo, Sri Lanka.*
*1941/11/06*	*Arrived Singapore.*

Upon disembarking the men were marched to the railway station where they entrained. 32 men were left at the docks to deal with weapons, stores and other equipment, for delivery over the next few days. *Instead of remaining together as a 4 battery regiment, the 80th Anti-Tank Regiment were informed that each gun crew would be operating independently under different commands.* *Battery 2 and 215 were to come under the command of 11th Indian Division.* *Battery 272 was to come under the command of 9th Indian Division.* *Battery 273 was to come under the command of Malaya Command.* *All battery’s were in action in Malaya.* *There are no records to confirm which battery that Alfred operated with, but he did state 11th Indian Division on his Liberation Questionnaire.* *Battery 272 were in action at Taiping, Kuala Krai, Gong Kedah Aerodrome, and Port Swettersham and reported mainly to the 5th Baluch Regiment.* *Battery 2 and 215 were further north around Alor Star Aerodrome and Sungai Patarni.*
*1941/12/08*	*The Japanese land at Sungai Patarni and Khota Baru.* For the next 3 months the allied forces fought a retreating action throughout Malaya, with particular strong battles at places they thought would become a holding line such as the Slim River. However, this was not just a battle of troops as the Japanese were jungle trained, had plenty of tanks, but most important had a massive airforce. The British and Australian airforce consisted of very old and slow aircraft such as Brewster Buffalo which were no match for the bombers and Zero fighters. Even the arrival of 50 Hurricanes that arrived in January only lasted a week.
*1942/01/29*	*All allied troops have retreated to Singapore.*
*1942/02/15*	*Singapore surrenders to the Japanese*

1942/04/06 - WO 417/41, Casualty List No. 790. Reported ‘Missing’.

1943/04/20 - WO 417/59, Casualty List No. 1114. Previously posted Missing, 15/02/1942. Casualty List No. 790. Now reported a ‘Prisoner of War’.

Japanese PoW

1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore

Changi

PoW No. M-8037

Commander General Keyes

Japanese Index Card - Side One

Japanese Index Card - Side Two

1942/10/25 - Transported oversea from Singapore to Taiwan with ‘Z’ Party in England Maru

1100 PoWs

Commander Lt-Col. E.W.F Jephson, 5 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

1942/11/06 - Disembarking Keelung

1942/11/14 - 500 of the PoWs moved to Kinkaseki (Camp 1) - Jinguashi

This incuded John.

Commander Major Crossley

New PoW No. I 1831

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.

1943/08/20 - Shirakawa, Taiwan

Commander Col. Jefferson

1944/10/20 - Kinkaseki, Taiwan

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

1945/02/20 - Kukutsu, Taiwan

1945/09/07 - Liberated Kukutsu

Liberation Questionnaire

Repatriation

In Keelung, transferred over to American Navy, 47th transport division leader Navy Rear Admiral D. E. Ketcham.

(Represented by American Navy 48th transport division Captain A.D. Crawley)

John arrived New Zealand on Hospital Ship Maunganui still suffering Beri Beri, Enteritis and Malaria.

1945/11/16 - WO417/99, Casualty List No. 1912. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 1114 as Prisoner of War now Not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya.