Hell Ships to Burma

WILLIAMS & BLACK FORCES

In October 1942 a group of 1700 prisoners from Java commenced work on the Burma end of the Death Railway, along with Major Green’s Force they were the first Australians to start work on the railway. The survivors of this group were to work for 15 long months, in some of the harshest and most disease ridden jungles in Asia. Most of the group were Australians however included in the party from Java were 111 Dutch and 190 Americans. Neil MacPherson from William’s force has supplied a map showing the journeys of three Hell Ship that these men endured to reach Burma. All of the prisoners that worked on the Burma end of the railway were transported by sea, unlike the Thailand work force who were transported by rail.

POW Hellship Ken Kon Maru 4574 ton torpedoed 21st January 1943 off Bougainville loss 43 Japanese crew.

These maps were prepared and sent to Neil MacPherson by long time Researcher of Southeast Asian Campaign 1941-1942

Hundreds of the survivors from these three journeys, including Neil MacPherson were to survive a fourth Hell Ship journey on the Awa Maru, the last POW Hell Ship to survive the journey to Japan. Because over 10,000 POWs of the Japanese died through the sinking of Hell Ships in transit to Japan it was unusual for any prisoner to survive four journeys.

POW Hellship Maebashi Maru 7005 ton torpedoed 30th Spetember 1943 off Rabaul loss 1450 Japanese

POW Hellship Yamagata Maru 3907 ton torpedoed 16th April 1944 off Mindanao loss 33 Japanese