The experience of the men who became prisoners of the Japanese during WW2 is a story of endurance and survival. Names such asthe River Kwai, Burma Railway and Changi Prison have become etched in our knowledge of that period. But the camps spread acrossEast Asia including several in Taiwan or Formosa as it was then called. The story of the prisoner-of-war camps the Japanese had inTaiwan during World War II is not widely known, but is now being rediscovered. To date sixteen camps have been identified in Taiwan.Kinkaseki Camp, a mine, in northern Taiwan is the most notorious.

PRISONEROF WAR CAMPS IN TAIWANin conjunction with THE TAIWAN POW CAMPS MEMORIAL SOCIETY

For enquiries or booking please contact:

tours@spiritofremembrance.comor call 01634 233785

Tour Cost:

POA

HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights include visits to the locations of:

• HEITO POW CAMP

• KARENKO POW CAMP MEMORIAL

• TAICHU POW CAMP

• TAIHOKU POW CAMP # 6

• KINKASEKI POW CAMP

• TOROKU POW CAMP

• KUKUTSU POW CAMP MEMORIAL

• TAIHOKU PRISON

• THE TAIWAN HELLSHIPS MEMORIAL

We can help veterans, widows / widowersand their families access FREE TRAVELGRANTS and arrange travel for individuals,families or groups. Please CONTACT US tobook or if you require more informationregarding this tour to this moving location.

the fourteen American airmen executed by theJapanese in June 1945.

The POWs suffered horribly poor treatment in all ofthe camps on the island. There was never enoughfood. The men had to work tremendously longhours every day. They were not allowed to rest evenif they were sick or injured. They were beaten ifthey did not reach their work quota each day. Thishappened often so the men experienced beatingsalmost every day. The few medicines were keptfrom the POWs by the Japanese causing illnessand hardship for the men.

Notably, the most senior ranking officers in thecaptured Allied services were help in Taiwan.Additionally, the British Governors of Singapore,Malaya and Hong Kong; the Governors of Guamand the Dutch East Indies were in camps on theisland. They were at Karenko, Shirakawa andTaihoku Most of these personnel were later movedto Japan and Manchuria in late 1944.

We invite you as former POWs, your familymembers and all friends to join us on a remarkabletour. In conjunction with the Taiwan POW CampsMemorial Society Spirit of Remembrance cancreate a full package for you as an individual, familyor larger group including flights, accommodation,transport and help you apply for any grants thatmay help with the financial element of your tour.Contact us today to see how we can help you.

In 1942 the Japanese began bringing AlliedPrisoners of War to Taiwan. The great majority ofprisoners held in Taiwan were captured as a resultof the surrenders of Hong Kong in December1941 and Singapore in February 1942 and wereprincipally of British and Australian. However, therewere also Americans captured in the Philippinesand Dutch from Indonesia later in the war. Theywere brought to Taiwan to work as slaves for theJapanese war effort. They were put to work inmines, factories and any location where labourwas intense.

According to Japanese records, there were 4344Allied POWs "resident" in the Taiwan POW campsfrom August 1942 to September 1945. There werealso other POWs who arrived on hellships fromSingapore and the Philippines who died shortly afterarriving on the island and were thus never"resident". Finally, there were the American fighterpilots and bomber crews who were shot down orcrashed and captured by the Japanese fromOctober 1944 to May 1945. These men wereconsidered to be "war criminals" and as such wereincarcerated in the Taihoku (Taipei) Prison. Thisgives a total of 4367 men.

According to the Japanese records, 427 AlliedPOWs died while being held as prisoners of war onTaiwan. This included those men who died shortlyafter arriving in Taiwan off the hellships, and also