大象传媒

Private Jack Fowler 鈥� 4th Battalion Suffolk Regiment

After the surrender in Singapore, I was in the River Valley camp before spending 3 weeks on a hell ship transporting the prisoners to Formosa (Taiwan). Once there, I went to the prison camp, Taichu. It was here that two prisoners escaped one British and one American. The punishment for the whole camp was to stand to attention in the parade ground for 6 陆 hours. Needless to say, they were captured and paraded in front of us bound with rope and wire. We were told we would never see them again. It was not until some time later that we learned they had been tortured and beheaded.

On November 20th 2000, my partner and I travelled back to Taiwan for the ceremony of memorial dedication at Taichu. I had the honour of reciting the poem 鈥淭he Taichu Memorial鈥� which was penned by the late Maurice Rooney, a former Taichu prisoner of war.

The Taichu Memorial

It was here at Taichu, in nineteen forty-two
We toiled as slaves, and it is true 鈥�
Starved and beaten, it鈥檚 our story to tell
Of years long ago in this place of hell

We return this day, and now once more
Through the portals of time, unlock memory鈥檚 door.
As we stand by this stone, we remember with pride
All of our comrades 鈥� especially those who died.

Those who pass by, and linger to stay
To read the words that this stone displays,
Will understand why our ties will not sever
While it stands here 鈥� now and forever

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