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P/JX236353
Able Seaman
Victor George Williams
1915/04/19 - Born Dovercourt, Kent
Son of George Henry and Helen Rebecca Williams
Royal Navy
HMS Exeter
Service
On the entry of the Japan into the war in December 1941, HMS Exeter formed part of the ABDACOM naval force which was intended to defend the Dutch East Indies from Japanese invasion.
On 27th February, 1942, HMS Exeter was badly damaged in the Battle of the Java Sea when she received a hit in the boiler room and was ordered to Surabaya. The destroyer HMS Electra was sunk covering her withdrawal. On 1st March while Exeter was attempting to reach the Sunda Straits, she was again engaged by the Japanese cruisers Nachi and Haguro. HMS Exeter was soon badly damaged by gunfire and a torpedo from the destroyer Inazuma. Taking on water she began to list to starboard, by noon on the same day she sank. Her escorting destroyers, HMS Encounter and USS Pope were also lost in this engagement. About 800 Allied seamen, including the commander of HMS Exeter, Captain O.L. Gordon., became prisoners of war.
Japanese PoW
1942/03/02 - Captured Java
PoW No. 157
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index card - Side Two
1942/10/10 - Transported Asama Maru from Celebes to Japan
Mostly men from Battle of the Java Sea
1942/10/23 - Arrived Japan
1942/10/24 - Fukuoka 2B - Nagasaki (Kawanami)
Worked for Kawanami Shipyard
Many prisoners were killed and a large number were seriously injured which could have been prevented through even rudimentary precautions upon the part of the ship building company.
Died
1943/06/30
Fukuoka 2B
Cause of Death - fracture of base of cranium
Body Cremated
Place of Burial Church Cura, Nagasaki
Memorial
Brit. Sec. G. D. 2.
YOKOHAMA WAR CEMETERY
Information
Carly Morris
HMS Exeter
Asama Maru
Fukuoka 2B
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
KEW:- WO 361/1475/2, WO 392/26, WO 345/56, ADM 104/139
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