Crimes list

Ritual bayonnetting on 23 March 1945 of 3 Aust + 1 US airmen at Karakallan, Beo, Talaud Islands, by members of 211 Infantry Regiment, 32 Japanese Division– : Flt/Lt L. Hann, WO P. Walters, Flt/Sgt L.N. King - On 13 Jan 1945 they were pilots of P40 Kittyhawk aircraft that were engaged on a ferry flight between Noemfoor and Morotai. These pilots did not reach their destination.

Murders of Pilot Officer McGuigan and Sick Berth Attendant Alex Hill at Tonesealama, the Celebes; 6 PW 2 Aust 2 Dutch and 2 Indonesians executed on 19 Jun 45

At surrender only 139 Survivors out of 540 Allied prisoners in October 1942 (Gull force survivors) – 20 Garrison Unit responsible for custody and administration of PW at Tantoui. Williams had to sift through 139 questionnaires of the survives – few who knew Japanese language or real surnames of the guards (these had already been transported to Morotai AGH and repatriated)

• Trial Ambon 2 Jan – 18 Jan 46, Morotai 25 Jan - 15 Feb 46 ?

In March 1944 4 RAAF airmen (S/Leader Scott, F/Sgts King, Wallace and Wright ) from crashed bomber were captured and brought to PW compound Ambon from an outlying island. Katayama and Takahashi received orders from their senior staff officer to execute the 4 airmen. Uemura, platoon commander of the Compound Guards, was ordered by Katayama to prepare for the execution. The airmen were taken by truck to the execution place on Ambon and were beheaded by Katayama, Takahashi and another.

Uemura had sent guards and the burial party to the execution site, and was present at the execution. He did not actually execute a prisoner.

Katayama on oath said he had reason to believe that the airmen had been legally tried by temporary court martial. There was evidence in fact, that there had been no court martial held. 

Katayama - father was a missionary - an earnest Christian - attended church in Ambon during the war - contributed his own money to the church. Family almost wiped out in Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima - young wife and child dependent on him.  JAG recommends that the sentence should not be confirmed.

Murder of 4 Aust PWs (Pte Wadham, Morrison, Simpson and Cpl Solomon at or near Paso Ambon on or about 26 April 1946 for stealing food from Jap store - 20th Garrison Shiramizu Unit

Early in 1945 successful bombing of supply dump at Ambon and blockade of the Islands by the Allies, the food position had become very precarious and order issued from highest Japanese command that persons found guilty of stealing food were to be sentenced to death.

Just prior to 26th April 1945 the PWs were caught stealing food from the Japanese store and were arrested. There was no dispute that the PWs had stolen food. Japanese HQ replied ordering the execution of the PWs.

• Pte Schaefer Aust PW escaped Tantoey Camp on 26/3/45 and recaptured 10/4/45 – beheaded on or about 30 April 45. Schaefer and another PW had succeeded in stealing food from the Japanese store and escaped from the compound but Schaefer was within a few days recaptured.

The Shirozu unit was responsible for guarding and administration of PW in Tantoey Camp.

Miyazaki was 2 i/c Shirozu unit - Schaefer was interrogated regarding the route taken during his freedom. Questioned immediately after his recapture and "admitted the crime." These interrogations were the only form of inquiry.

It was not legal for local Japanese Commander to execute a PW for an alleged offence without a trial before a court martial.

Miyazaki reported to his HQ on the incident and rxed orders that Schaefer was to be executed. It was handed over to Honji  with instructions that orders had been received that the PW was to be executed for stealing food and escaping. The PW was taken out of the camp to a place of execution and beheaded by Kurokawa under the orders and in the presence of Honji.

Murders of Flight Sergeants Frank Hutton and Arnold Lockyer, at Tomohon; at Tomohon, the Celebes – Kempei Tai; Around 27 Jul 45 aircraft crashed near Tomoho. Morimoto ordered on of PW to chloroform one of the airmen (one airman chloroform didnt take effect and was strangled).

Lockyer, Hutton and Orgill were members of the crew of a B24 which failed to return from an op over Northern Celebes on 27 Jul 1945.

murder of PW Sig. Williams committed in Dutch New Guinea between 10 and 20 Mar 45

Murder of APW Pte Boyce at or near Galala Ambon – arrested for stealing food – solitary confinement, very thin. Broke out and picked up in latrines

Murder of PW near or at Galala Ambon on or about 24 Jul 45 murdered VX25109 Pte Boyce W.F. of 2/21 Aust Inf Batallion

Stole at most half a bag of rice, 5 or 6 tins of food, and a watch and some cigarettes

While in solitary confinement he was ill-treated, very thin, suffering from bad tropical ulcers and was considered by Japanese as not normal.

On 23 July 1945 Boyce broke out and was picked up in latrines within the camp after he went missing,

Murder RAAF airman Flt/Sgt J. Orgill on Tomohon July/Aug 1945

Murders of Flying Officer K. Packham, Sergeant Robert Jones and Warrant Officer D. Benson at Kakaskasen, Northern Celebes, on or about 5 March 1945 (beheaded by sword)

Benson and Jones comprised the crew of a Beaufighter engaged in photographic and armed reconnaisance over portion of Northern Celebes, Departed from Morotai on 30 Dec 44.

Packham was one of the crew of a Beaufighter engaged in a bombing mission on Tomohon on 1 Feb 1945. Accompanying aircraft reported that it had been seen to crash.

Torture of PW Edmond Stevenson RAAF at Kase Halmahera Island in Jan 45 – electric current through his body - 29th Garrison Unit.

The accused was in charge of the camp where Stevenson was the only PW. while at a lake filling containers to carry water back to the camp, a quarrel ensued between a Japanese soldier prisoner and the PW. They were both taken to the Orderly Room and the accused heard evidence respecting the quarrel and sentenced both me to receive as minor punishment an electric shock from a hand battery attached to a telephone set. The arms of the PW were made wet with water and the wires from the battery were attached to his wrists. THe PW rxed an electric shock for about 30 seconds. Not an unusual form of punishment in the Japanese Army.