No.5831168, Private, George Ralph BURROUGHS
Aged 24
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Born 11th December 1919 - 1st qtr 1920 Bury St.Edmunds 4a:2252, son of George William Harry and Rose Anna BURROUGHS (née NUNN) of 27 Long Brackland,
Bury St.Edmunds. He was a labourer as a civilian.
Captured at the surrender of Singapore to the Japanese on 15th February 1942. On 4th September 1944 convoy HI-72 left Singapore, amongst the vessels were two ships with over 1,2000 prisoners of war on board being taken to mainland Japan for forced labour. About 900 were on the 'Kachidoki Maru' and 1,300 on the 'Rakuyo Maru'. On the morning of the 12th September the US submarine 'Sealion' torpedoed the Rakuyo Maru and just before midnight that same day the US submarine 'Pampanito' torpedoed the Kachidoki Maru. At 22:54, LtCdr Paul E. Summers on USS PAMPANITO (SS-383) fired three torpedoes at KACHIDOKI MARU and got one hit in No.7 hold that caused flooding. At 23:15, KACHIDOKI MARU stopped and foundered. At 23:37, she sank by the stern. 12 sailors and 476 passengers (including the POWs) were KIA. The escorts rescued 521 POWs and transferred them to KIBITSU MARU for Japan. American submarines later returned and rescued 159 survivors of whom seven died en route to Saipan. In all, 92 Australian and 60 British ex-POWs survived These Japanese vessels came to be known as the "Hell Ships" due to the inhuman treatment of the prisoners on board. None carried any indication that they were carrying prisoners.By this time the Allies were aware of all Japanese movements but until "Pampanito" picked up some survivors they were not aware of the mass transport of prisoners around the Pacific. |
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