I always knew that my Pop was a POW, I wish I were able to tell him, when he was alive, how much I respect and admire him for all he went through. I mean, I know that I did, and I know that we talked about it... but as I get older and research his live more, I have more and more respect for him.
James Henry Geach.
In honour of my Pop:
Private James Henry GEACH
NX1207
POW in WWII for 3.5 years.
In his own words {a statement he made to the Australian Government in relation to investigating War Crimes, here is just a small exert from the statement I have}:
I was captured at SINGAPORE on the fifteenth day of February 1942. I remained at SINGAPORE until March 1943. In the middle of March 1943. I was sent to THAILAND and was employed on the BURMA Railway, late in 1944, I was again sent to SINGAPORE, remained there a few days, then embarked on a ship for JAPAN. In November 1944 I arrived at FUKUOKA PRISON OF WAR CAMP NO 17 OMUTA. Whilst I was at OMUTA I was made to work in a Coal Mine.
In 2006 when Nath and I travelled to Thailand... we went to the memorial site, I walked over the Mae Klong bridge of the Burma Railway. I wrote my Pop a note, I walked out alone, I stood out one of the platforms for some time: I said a prayer, I spoke to him... and I threw that letter over the bridge. In respect and remembrance, always.
Paying my respects during 2006, my first and only trip to Thailand (so far).
All the while my husband to be patiently waited for me and paid his own respects too. I think this was definitely one of our cementing experiences. That he understood my love for my Pop and my admiration for all he experienced.
Burma Railway, taken from Wikipedia:
The living and working conditions on the Burma Railway were horrific. The estimated total number of civilian labourers and POWs who died during construction varies considerably, but the Australian Government figures suggest that of the 330,000 people that worked on the line (including 250,000 Asian labourers and 61,000 Allied POWs) about 90,000 of the labourers and about 16,000 Allied prisoners died.
But the horrors, starvation, sickness, and death that occurred during the construction of the Thailand-Burma railway are not the whole story. Except for the worst months of the construction period, known as the "Speedo" (mid-spring to mid-October 1943), one of the ways the Allied POWs kept their spirits going in the hellish conditions was to ask one of the musicians in their midst to play his guitar or accordion for them, or lead them in a group singalong, or request their camp comedians to tell some rough jokes, or put on a skit.
After the railway was completed, the POWs still had almost two years to survive before their liberation. During this time, most of the POWs were moved to hospital and relocation camps where they could be available for maintenance crews or sent to Japan to alleviate the manpower shortage there. It was in these camps that entertainment flourished as an essential part of their rehabilitation. Theatres out of bamboo and atap (palm fronds) were built, set, lighting, costumes and makeup devised, and an array of entertainment produced that included music halls, variety shows, cabarets, plays, and musical comedies – even pantomimes. These activities engaged numerous POWs as actors, singers, musicians, designers, technicians, and female impersonators.
The ship journey my Pop endured on his transfer to Japan is commonly known as Hell Ship. Some details on Fukuko Camp 17 are here. There is also a great deal of information (and photographs) on the Australian War Memorial website, and I am continuing to go throught these and gather pertinant information to my Pop's history.
My Pop was recovered on 13th September 1945 (incidentally the 13th September is my first born son's birthday)!
His father (Benjamin Stevens GEACH) died before he knew his son had been recovered (rescued). My Aunt tells me he sobbed and sobbed when he was told his son was MIA (missing in action).
My Aunt also tells me that his sister Anne, and mother Elizabeth pined for him everyday until he came home.
He embarked aircraft carrier, HMS Formidable, in Manila for his journey home to Sydney, disembarking on 5th October 1945. Here they are arriving home:
Image from here.
Jimmy never thought much of Anzac Day and he threw his medals down the backyard, and I respect where he was coming from, but this day is significant, and we should never forget the sacrifices made for us, the atrocious and devastating experience our soldiers have made for us.
Pop and I will be forever in awe of your experience and the strength you have. I will forever be grateful for the sacrafices you made, for the strong character I am born from. This is the reason I always wear a penny on my running shoes.
RIP.
I love you. I know that my Dad will be thinking a great deal of his Dad today, they were best mates and they lived most of their lives side by side. I love them both.
On a side note: I am researching my family history a great deal lately, I think I am back to the 1500's with my Pop's family history. I plan on creating a blog to capture all I have learnt. It's going to take some time, but it is a project I am very passionate about and commited to. Will share updates as I progress.
Bxo
