British and Australian prisoners of war arrive in Seoul and Incheon on September 25, 1942
Notes: For the best experience, I recommend also reading the first-hand accounts of the Allied prisoners of war to get the perspectives of both sides.
Some links that I found showing the first-hand stories of the Allied prisoners of war in Korea:
Keijo Camp | RFHG (fepowhistory.com)
familyhistory-markkirk – AlfKirk1916 (google.com)
Microsoft Word – PAC-JINSEN CAMP (axpow.org)
In his blog, Professor Akizuki Nozomi of Meiji Gakuin University identifies the former location of the former Seoul (Keijō) Prisoner of War Camp at present-day Singwang Girls High School (신광여자고등학교) at 서울시 용산구 청파동 3가100: (Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/U2dmKCo5U7XvBBTK8)
His blog entry in Japanese: Part 1: https://ameblo.jp/onepine/entry-12449283025.html Part 2: https://ameblo.jp/onepine/entry-12449507571.html
Below is the route that the Allied prisoners of war took during their march from Yongsan station to Keijō Camp (credit to Professor Akizuki):
Why am I posting this kind of content? Read my reasons here: https://exposingimperialjapan.com/2021/11/nostalgia-for-imperial-japan-and-its.html
(Translation)
Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) September 26, 1942
British prisoners of war in disgrace
Alas, their walking pace tends to be unsteady
Having dreams on the first night in the prison camp
British prisoners of war with faces as if they had swallowed lead marched in four lines from Yongsan Station to the Seoul (Keijō) Prisoner-of-War Camp in Aobachō at midnight on the afternoon of September 25. The streets were packed and lined with spectators who had come to see the living spoils of war, the British prisoners of war, walking from the train station along Hangang-daero, turning at Samgakji and then toward Kyōmachi, and then walking from Motomachi 1-chōme to Aobachō 3-chōme.
Protected by military guards and honorable POW monitors of Korean descent, the prisoners of war walked with the same disheveled gait as on the day they were defeated on the Malaysian front. For a while, the crowd gasped upon seeing the varied appearances of the prisoners of war, whose eyes were unashamed and unabashed: neatly trimmed faces, shaved heads, curled up mustaches in the shape of the Chinese character for eight (八), carrying rolled up blankets and military packs resembling rucksacks on their backs, messy clothes and demeanor, stylishly dressed Australian soldiers. “Oh my! You see, we must not lose the war,” the crowd whispered to each other here and there.
The prisoners of war arrived at the prison camp at 1:30 p.m., and a military-style internal affairs team was immediately organized in the camp yard. British officers and enlisted men, and Australian officers and enlisted men were selected in separate groups, and the enlisted men joined their respective groups. Their movements were extremely slow, and in contrast to the disciplined demeanor of our Imperial troops, there was no sense of bravery to be found in the soldiers.
At 2:00 p.m., after the division of the prisoners had been completed with an interpreter, all the prisoners lined up for the solemn announcement and swearing-in ceremony by Colonel Nagano of the Seoul Camp. Lt. Col. Cardell (the highest ranking officer among the prisoners of war) received the title of commander and gave the order “Kiwotsuke! (Attention!)” which he had already learned. Then he saluted Colonel Noguchi with a “Kashiranaka” salute.
Colonel Noguchi, the Director, stood on the center stage and gave the following instructions in a solemn tone through the microphone. Simultaneous interpretation was provided.
“The following is an admonition to you on the occasion of your internment in this Korean prison camp. In the first place, the United States and Great Britain have oppressed East Asia and attempted to invade and overrun a billion people. At this time, the people of our nation of 100 million rose up springing into action. In less than a few months, the Imperial Army, the sons of the gods, defeated the United States and Great Britain with valor and fury, achieving unprecedented results in the world.
This is a testament to the fact that the heavens favor the righteous. You have been defeated by the divine army. It is a natural consequence of your actions. You have lost the power to fight now, but you did face us once. You must well understand that your defeat was by the divine army.
Some of you may still be troubled by your defeat. But since you surrendered to us, you must clear your mind of hostility and follow our rules. You must endure being placed in a different environment and experiencing inconvenience due to different customs. If you do not wipe away your hostilities today and obey us, we will give you the warm treatment prescribed by our excellent, world-renowned Bushido (the Japanese way of the warrior).”
Upon listening to these words, they realized that tides of the Greater East Asia War were turning decisively, since their own British military was defeated on all fronts in the fighting to the south, and their moods thickened with resignation. Dark shades appeared on their faces for a moment, as if they were more troubled by homesickness than by thoughts of their country’s military strength.
After the admonition, they signed an oath that they would not flee and would obey all orders. It was three o’clock in the afternoon when everyone had completed the forms. Then they went to the internal affairs team. Each person was provided with four warm blankets. The prisoners of war assigned to the cooking team worked diligently to prepare dinner. Brown-haired hands began to chop the vegetables that filled the aluminum dishes. There was also a liquor store. The signs here and there were written in both Japanese characters and English letters. Nervous Korean monitors were working actively.
A rare sight: “soldiers in women’s clothing”
Headed to Incheon Camp in silence
Incheon Telephone Report: Defeated prisoners of war numbering (redacted) people, who had no courage in the face of our righteousness, arrived at Sangincheon Station by special train at 2:15 p.m. on the 25th. This marked the first step in their march to enter the camp. From the square in front of the station and from the second-floor windows, they were gazed at by the proud Japanese people. Prisoners of war numbering (redacted) people lined up in four rows and columns under the command of our Imperial Army, remaining silent under the “white flag of silence”.
Some of them were carrying bags with the numbers “B42” or “B52” written on them, and some were carrying backpacks with water bottles and lunch boxes hanging from them. Some wore navy blue and red women’s clothing, perhaps given to them as mementos of their wives, and some even wore red flowers in their hats.
There was also an old prisoner of war who looked like a tourist in khaki shorts and hat, carrying a large trunk with labels stuck all over it. There were some wounded soldiers who were carried away in trucks. This was the pitiful state of the British prisoners of war, who had always been proud of the British Empire with their immorality and cruelty. They marched from the train station for 40 minutes, and then entered the camp in front of the Port train station (Photo: Prisoner of war unit on its way to Incheon Camp)
Three photos of the British prisoners of war: [Top] Director Noguchi’s speech, [Middle] Entering the camp headquarters, [Bottom] Signing an oath with tattoos exposed
Surrender is the only known gesture
A glossy note to be preserved for posterity
The British prisoners of war, who we can only assume had been educated to believe the motto, “If our enemy is strong enough, we should surrender, then our lives will surely be spared,” were sent here with facial expressions that almost looked as though they had never been involved in war. The words and deeds of these captives, who were uneducated and had a false worldview imbued in them, were full of bittersweet smiles from ignorance. Here are a few glimpses that we caught at the landing scene.
The prisoners of war afflicted by ringworms were dangling canvas bags resembling first aid kits on their backs and in front of themselves, clinking aluminum lunch boxes and thermos cups made out of coffee cans clink, and carrying flour bags under their arms. A young military doctor disinfected them with a sprayer at the bottom of the ramp as the prisoners of war with the ringworms walked about. The young military doctor then made a hand gesture instructing them to show him the palms of their hands, but instead they let go of their luggage under their arms and raised both hands. It seems they were only taught to surrender.
Then came material inspection. Every playing card they showed us was soiled and worn. These were the tools of gambling. There were many letters sent from the delinquent young women at the ports. Their blue eyes were darting desperately throughout all this.
The whole city of Busan was filled with hundreds of thousands of spectators. When they saw the wartime Japanese national uniforms, the perms, the Korean chima skirts, and the Korean durumagi overcoats, their blue eyes lit up and they innocently asked their captors if they were charging admission fees.
Chasing the dream of history
Surprised by their conceit
Private First Class Funakoshi, who graduated from the University of Washington and returned to Japan in 1939 with dual nationality, is working as an interpreter for the British prisoners of war. He recounted the following regarding his first time interacting with the British.
This was the first time I had come in contact with the British people, and I was surprised at their strong self-esteem. They must be having dreams of history. The reason why the British and Americans are so confident of their final victory is that they say that the military power of the United States is increasing day by day, while the military power of Germany is getting weaker day by day, which is inconceivable. Among the British officers who said such things, many are of noble extraction. The Australian soldiers were generally pure-hearted.
To the farming villages at harvest time
Sending soldiers home
Reinforcement personnel for bereaved family farmers
(Tokyo Telephone Report) The Army and Navy are very concerned about securing food supplies during wartime, and have decided to give some of the enlisted troops in Japan proper some leave time to return to their villages during the harvest season this year, when a good crop is expected. They are taking some really precious time off to return home while the Army is extremely busy defending the homeland during the Greater East Asia War as well as taking care of affairs for the departed troops. We request that ordinary farmers take this point into consideration and work with an awareness of themselves as a collective of warriors, while not falling into useless dependency.
In addition, the Army and Navy will provide active support and cooperation to the farmers of the families of fallen soldiers.
The authorities of the Army and the Navy will soon issue a memorandum to each corps under their control regarding this matter.
Young Pioneer Corps
Visited Seoul on the 29th
One hundred and forty-eight members of the Manchurian Pioneer Youth Volunteer Corps, who had undergone intense training at the Naepo Pioneer Training Center in Gangwon-do for one month and at the Naewon Training Center for three months, respectively, gathered in Seoul at 10:00 p.m. on the 29th. At 9:00 a.m. on the 30th, a send-off party was held in front of the main entrance of the Governor-General’s Office with Commissioner Tanaka in attendance. They will take the 8:10 p.m. train to Manchuria.
The Youth Volunteer Corps will enter the Ning’an Training Center in Mudanjiang Province, where they will undergo a refresher training for three months before constructing a model pioneer village in Manchuria.
Source: http://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1942-09-26
Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) September 24, 1942
Defeated British prisoners of war
British POWs land in Busan
Arriving in Seoul tomorrow
The living spoils of the Imperial Army
The living spoils of the Greater East Asia War… British prisoners of war from the Malaysian front numbering (redacted) people have finally landed at Busan on the morning of the 24th. This will mark their dramatic first step in the Korean peninsula, the military logistics base of the Asian continent, showcasing our transport team’s globally top-ranked iron wall. In the past, British troops were running rampant in the world, treating it as if they owned it, but once the Imperial Military arose, they raised their white flags and surrendered for their lives. Now, with their defeated bodies, they are clearly showing their defeat to the eyes of the 24 million people on the Korean peninsula. On December 8 of last year, upon receiving the Imperial Rescript, the Imperial Military conquered the Pacific Ocean in just nine months. The gratitude and excitement of the Korean peninsula in receiving the souvenir of victory grew even more intense, and the resolve to complete the Greater East Asia War was inflamed to the utmost.
On this day of excitement, the port of Busan was completely ready to receive the prisoners of war, and everywhere you went in the city there were stories about them. It was the first time that they were seen on the silver screen of the news programs. And although they had heard about the prisoners of war and wondered what they would look like, they were filled with the joy of being able to see them with their own eyes one night later, their imaginings now turned into reality.
At the Arai Ryokan (guesthouse) in front of the station, where Colonel Atsuchi of the Korean military press office was stationed, groups of newspaper reporters, photo crews, and news cameramen came and went, busy communicating with each other so that the excitement of the announcement of the landing of the prisoners of war on the 23rd would be known behind the front lines. The port of Busan was filled with the excitement of the century that night. (Censored by the Korean Army)
Source: http://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1942-09-24
Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) March 1, 1943
Prisoners of war who arrived in Korea
Demons! Behold the raw remains of the U.S. and Britain’s insidious defeat!
Published on March 8
Greatly Moving!
The day of rejoicing is coming for our 24 million compatriots!
Two great cultural films by Korean Films!
(Censored by Imperial General Headquarters, edited by Ahn Seok-yeong)
1944
Recommended by the Governor-General of Korea
Directed by Kenjiro Morinaga, supervised by the Korean Military Command and the Governor-General of Korea
Kenjiro Morinaga, Director
Akira Seto, Cinematography
Korean Film Distribution
March 1, all Korean red and white films are released simultaneously
Source: http://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-03-01
(Transcription)
京城日報 1942年9月26日
うらぶれの英人俘虜
哀れ歩調も乱れがち
収容所に第一夜の夢を結ぶ
鉛を嚥んだような面持ちの英人俘虜が四列の隊伍を組んで龍山駅から青葉町の京城俘虜収容所への市街行進に移ったのは二十五日の午後零時半、駅頭から漢江通、三角地を京町へ迂回し元町一丁目から青葉町三丁目までの俘虜通過の沿道は活きた戦果の英人俘虜たちを見んものと押しかけた観衆でギッシリと埋まっている。
警衛の兵隊と誉れの半島出身俘虜監視員に護られ、マレー戦線で敗れたその日を姿で歩調も乱れがちに往く俘虜の眼は恥ららいもなく臆する色もない綺麗に刈り込んだ顔、坊主頭、尻をピンと刎ねた八字髭、リュックに似た背嚢に巻いた毛布に肩にした雑然たる服装と風態、小粋な恰好をした濠洲兵ととりどりなこの俘虜の姿に観衆はしばらくは声をのんでいるが、”ああ！矢張り戦争は敗けてはいけない”とそこでもここでも囁き合っている。
俘虜たちが収容所に到着したのが午後一時三十分、収容所の営庭で直ちに軍隊式な内務班の編成が始められた。英人将校、下士官、濠洲人の将校、下士官が別班に選び出され、下士官班にそれぞれの兵隊が編み込まれる。動作は至極緩慢で、わが皇軍の規律ある態度と打って変わってどこを押しても勝ち目のない勇ましさの感得出来ない兵隊である。
通訳つきで班編成が終り、午後二時一同整列して京城収容所長野口大佐の諭告と宣誓式が厳粛に行われる。カーデル中佐（俘虜中最高官）が指揮官の名を受けて早くも覚えた”キヲツケ”の号令をかける。そして野口大佐に対し”カシラナカ”の敬礼を捧げる。
中央壇上に立った所長野口大佐はマイクを通じ荘重な口調で諭告をなす。逐条通訳が行われる。
汝らを朝鮮収容所に収容するに当り諭告を発す。そもそも今回の戦争は米英が東亜を圧迫し、侵略を企て十億の民を蹂躙せんとした。この時わが皇国一億の民は蹶然起ち上がった。神の子たる皇軍は勇猛を揮って米英を撃破し、数ヶ月を出でずして世界未曾有の戦果を挙げた。
これはまさに天は正義に与することを物語っているのだ。汝等は神軍に敵してしかして敗れたのである。当然の帰結である。汝等は今戦う力を失っているが、しかし一度はわれに立ち向かったのである。汝等が敗れたるは神軍に敵したことをよく了解しなければならぬ。
敗れてなは悩み続けている者もあろう。しかし、われに降伏した上は敵意を清算し、われの規定に従わなければならぬ。習慣の異なるため不自由なる環境に置かれることこれは我慢しなければならぬ。敵性をきょうこの日払拭して従いなば、われは世界に優れたる武士道によって規定されたる温かき取り扱いを与えるであろう。
と諄々と説けば自国英軍が南方各戦線でことごとく敗れ去り大東亜戦の戦局は既に決定的であることに気づき諦めの色が濃く動く。祖国の戦力のことを思うことよりも、望郷の念に虜われるのが重いのか暗い陰が一瞬顔を斑どる。
諭告が終ると次いで『逃亡を為さず総ての命に従う』宣誓書へのサインが行われる。全員が記入し終ったのが午後三時。それから内務班に入った。暖かい毛布が一人に四枚宛支給されている。炊事班にそれぞれ割り当てられた俘虜はせっせと夕食の仕度にかかった。アルミの食器に埋まる野菜が茶色の毛の手で切り始められた。酒保もある。そこここの標識には日本文字と英字が併記してある。緊張した半島出身の監視員が活発に動いている。
珍景”女服の兵隊”
黙々、仁川収容所へ
【仁川電話】わが正義の前には勇を語らぬ敗残捕虜〇〇名が二十五日午後二時十五分特別臨時列車で上仁川駅に到着。収容所入りの第一歩を印した。駅前の広場から二階の窓から射るような誇りだかい『ニッポン人』の視線を浴びて〇〇名の捕虜がわが皇軍の指揮にしたがい、四列縦隊に整列、”白旗の沈黙”をまもってなにも語らぬ。
彼らの中には『B四二』あるいは『B五二』の数字を記入したバッグを手に水筒、飯盒をぶらさげたりリュックサックを背負っているものもあり。また妻の形見に貰ったのか紺に赤の女服を着て帽子には赤い花までつけている。
またレッテルのべたべた貼りつけられた大きいトランクを提げてカーキ色の半パンツに帽子という観光客のような捕虜のじいさんもある。中にはトラックで運ばれる負傷兵もあった。これが不倫非道をかつてほしいままにし、大英帝国を誇った英捕虜のあわれな姿であった。駅前に四十分市中を行進。港駅前収容所に入った【写真＝仁川収容所に向かう俘虜部隊】
英人俘虜の三態：【上】野口所長の訓示【中】収容所本部に入る【下】入れ墨を覗かせて宣誓文にサイン
降伏しか知らぬ仕草
後世大事に守る艶文
”敵は強ければ降伏するのだ。命だけは確かに助かる”と教育されて来たとしか思えない英軍俘虜たちは凡そ戦争とは縁遠いといった顔つきで送られてきた。無教養な上に誤れる世界観をつめ込まれている俘虜たちの言動には無智からくる微苦笑ものの数々がある。これは上陸風景の中から拾い上げた一つ二つ。
救命袋のようなズックの袋を前後に吊るしコーヒー缶の湯呑、アルミの弁当箱をからから鳴らし小脇にメリケン袋を抱えた田虫だらけの俘虜がタラップの下で噴霧器の消毒を受ける若い軍医さんの消毒の恰好に田虫の俘虜は一廻りする。若い軍医さんが更にハンドという、手のひらを廻せばよいものを小脇の荷物を放って両手を挙げる。彼等は降伏することだけしか教えられなかったらしい。
物品検査だ。出されるどのカードも手垢でよれよれだ。これが賭博の道具なのだ。港の莫蓮女から送られた沢山の手紙。こればかりはと碧眼をきょときょとさせて必死である。
釜山市中は数十万の観衆で埋まった。国民服をパーマをチマをツルマキを見て碧眼がぱちり、入場料でもとっているのかとは俘虜の偽らざる質問。
歴史の夢追う
自惚たっぷりに驚く
ワシントン大学を卒業し、昭和十四年帰国した二重国籍をもつ船越一等兵は英人俘虜の通訳をしているが、同一等兵は英人にはじめて接して左の如く語る。
英人に接するのは今度はじめてだが、自尊心の強いのには驚いた。歴史の夢をみているのだろう。英米が最後の勝利を確信しているその理由に彼等は米国の軍事力が日毎に増大するのに反し独逸の武力が日毎に弱くなっているとあられもないことをいう英人将校には華族的素質を持つものが多い。濠洲兵は概して純情だ。
刈り入れ時の農村へ
在営兵を帰郷さす
遺家族農家へも援兵
【東京電話】戦時下食糧の確保に重大な関心を寄せている陸海軍当局では今年豊作を予想される刈り入れ時の農村へ内地在営下士官兵の一部に特に休暇を与え帰郷させることとなったが、陸軍としては大東亜戦争下国土防衛、留守業務など極めて繁忙な中から真に貴重な時間を割いて帰郷させるものであり、一般農家として、この点をよく考慮し、徒な依頼心に流れることなく農家自体が総力戦士としての自覚をもって活動するよう要望している。
また陸海軍としては出征遺家族農家の刈り入れに対しては特に積極的な援助と協力を示すことになっている。
なおこれに関しては近く陸海軍当局から管下各団隊に通牒が発せられる。
開拓の若人隊
二十九日に寄城
江原道洗浦開拓民訓練所で一ヶ月内原訓練所で三ヶ月それぞれ猛訓練を受けた満州開拓青年義勇隊百四十八名は二十九日午後十時京城着列車で集合。三十日午前九時から総督府正面玄関前で田中総監臨席して壮行会を挙行。同午後八時十分発列車で渡満する。
青年義勇隊は牡丹江省寧安訓練所に入所、三ヶ月間の再訓練を受けて満州に模範開拓村を建設する。
京城日報 1942年9月24日
敗残の英軍俘虜
港釜山へ”白旗上陸”
京城へはあす到着
皇軍の生きた戦果
【釜山にて大山、須山両特派員発】赫々たる大東亜戦争の生きた戦果．．．マレー方面の英軍俘虜〇〇〇〇名はいよいよ二十四日朝釜山に上陸。世界に冠たる我が輸送陣の鉄壁を誇示して大陸の兵站基地半島に劇的な第一歩を印すのだ。嘗ては世界も我もの顔に横行していた英軍がひと度起った皇軍の前に命欲しさに白旗を掲げて降伏。いま敗残の身を提げて凋落の表情を我が半島二千四百万の目の辺りにはっきりと見せるのだ。昨年十二月八日畏くも大詔を拝してより皇軍の征くところ敵なく開戦僅かに九ヶ月にして太平洋を征服。勝利の土産を迎える半島の感謝感激はいよいよ昂まり、ここに大東亜戦完遂への覚悟を爾が上にも煽らせるのである。
感激のこの日の玄関釜山の港は俘虜を迎える態勢全く成って街のどこへ行っても俘虜の話で溢れている。ニュースの銀幕に初めて観た。そして聞いた俘虜ではあったが『一体どんな恰好をしているんだろう』その想像もいまや現実と化して一夜経てばこの眼で見られる嬉しい感激で一ぱいだ。
朝鮮軍報道部厚地大佐が陣取っている駅前の荒井旅館には二十三日俘虜上陸発表の感激を銃後に知らせるようと新聞記者団、写真班、ニュース・カメラマンの群が足しげく出入りして連絡に忙しい。釜山の港はこの夜世紀の感激に更けて行った。（朝鮮軍検閲済み）
京城日報 1943年3月1日
朝鮮に来た俘虜
鬼畜！米英のうらふれた敗残の生々しき姿を見よ！
三月八日公開
大いなる感激！
二千四百万同胞の上に喜びの日は来る！！
炸裂する朝映二大文化映画
（大本営検閲済・安夕影編）
昭和十九年
朝鮮総督府推薦
朝鮮軍司令部・朝鮮総督府 指導
森永健二郎 演出
瀬戸明 撮影
朝鮮映画配給
三月一日全鮮紅白一斉封切
