Other Properties - Aust. Groups

Lot 3307    SESSION 12 (11.30AM THURSDAY 1ST AUGUST)    Other Properties - Aust. Groups

Estimate $500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $730

GROUP OF FIVE TO POW: 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45. NX35446 J.Tucker. All medals impressed. Extremely fine.

Together with a matching swing mounted set of miniatures; modern 2/19th Aust Infy Bn colour patch on descriptive card.

John Tucker, born 19Feb1909 at Darlington Point, NSW; Enl.20Jun1940 at Wagga Wagga, NSW; captured in Malaya and POW in Osaka Japan; Disch.12Mar1946 as Sergeant ex 2/19Bn.

Sgt John Tucker gave a sworn affidavit at Darlington Point, NSW on 28 May 1947 for the bringing to trial of Japanese suspected of War Crimes at Osaka 2B, Kobe House, 25B Maibara and 5D Maruyama Prisoner of War Camps. His affidavit reads as follows,
'I was NX35446 Sergeant John Tucker of 2/19 Bn, A.I.F. and was taken prisoner by the Japanese at Singapore on the 16th February 1942, and arrived at Changi Camp on approximately 23rd February 1942, remaining there until August 1942.
(1) Conditions at Changi Camp were reasonably good, food supplies were sufficient and were of reasonably good quality, and in general could not complain of the circumstances.
(2) I was moved by boat "The Kama-Maru" to Kobe area, Osaki Camp in August 1942. The conditions on board ship were very poor, sanitary conditions consisted of one convenience only for approx. one thousand men, practically all Australians. Food consisted of two bowls of rice a day, and very little water, and no water for washing purposes at all. I was subjected to one beating whilst on board ship for not saluting the Japanese guard whose name I did not know, the voyage took approx. ten days.
(3) On arrival at Osaki Camp in the beginning of September 1942 we were given a fortnight on instructions as to Japanese drill and routine in preparation for work. I was then put to work on the ship building yards working from 0700 hours to 1800 hours with only one hour break for the midday meal. Food consisted of a bowl of rice for breakfast, brown bread for midday meal, and rice and a type of vegetable soup for evening meal. At the beginning we worked for seven days a week, but after a time one day a week was allowed off for washing purposes etc.
(4) Whilst in this camp, I was a witness to a beating of Sergeant Des Mulcahy by the camp commandant, whose name I cannot recall, but feel confident that Sergeant Mulcahy could supply that, the beating consisted of being bashed about the face breaking both jaws, he was not allowed by the camp commander to go to hospital but was stood down from work for a few days, I cannot recall the time this beating took place. Sergeant Wal Stringer was also bashed by one of the guards, with a leather belt to the extent that he was unable to lie on his back for nearly a week, this guard's name I cannot recall, as guards were often changed.
(5) I took sick at approx at the end of 1943, and remained in Osaki Camp Hospital for six months, the conditions in hospital were fair, our own orderlys (sic) being in attendance, were visited once a fortnight by a Japanese doctor by the name of Miataki known to us as the mad Doctor, who was more often than not under the influence of intoxicating liquor, the attention given by this Doctor was in my opinion useless, his main job appears to be to get as many men back to work as possible. I had one finger injured badly, and had to have it opened thirteen different times by a Dutch doctor under the instructions from a Japanese orderly by the name of Taujino known to me as sleepy which finely (sic) necessitated it being amputated on returning to Australia.
(6) I was discharged from hospital approx. nine months previous to cessation of hostilities. After three months from discharge, I was sent with approx. one hundred Australians to Kobe House, as Engineers and mechanics, to work in the railway yards. After a fortnight in this job the yards were demolished by an American aircraft, we were then put to work as warf (sic) labourers until war ceased.
(7) The conditions gradually deteriorated during the last nine months, food was very scarce, and of very poor quality, sickness developed in the camp, particularly beri beri, up to twenty-five percent of the P.O.W. there contracting this disease.
(8) At first we were taken to a hill about two miles from camp whilst there was an air raid on, but over the last three months, we were guarded in a house in camp, and not allowed to leave whilst an air raid was on. To the best of my knowledge no casualties were sustained by any Australians from these air raids.
(9) Of the names supplied on your 34431 of 16th May 1947 there are only three I can recall
(a) Miataki "The Mad Doctor of Kobe House", whom I have mentioned in paragraph five.
(b) Taujino known to me as "Sleepy", is also mentioned in paragraph five, he was a Japanese orderly and appeared to have a lot of control in the running of the hospital. It was a well known fact amongst the patients that he had ill treated many, but I was not a witness to any ill treatment other than mentioned in paragraph five.
(c) Kanamura-Takee known as "Gentleman Jim" KKKKK No knowledge of ill treatment of any kind by the Japanese, was brought to my notice.
Note: John Tucker refers to Osaki Camp in his affidavit but the correct name is Osaka Camp. Also he refers to a boat "The Kama-Maru", and this is probably "Kamakura Maru"

Darlington Point is a small town on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River in the Riverina District of western NSW.

With research.