Reginald John Reed POW Card.jpg | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Reginald John Reed POW Card.jpg

Reginald John Reed POW Card.jpg
Submitted by eurasian_david
Authors: 
National Archives Kew
Tags: 
Japanese Index Cards of Allied POWs
Date picture taken (may be approximate): 
Wednesday, September 5, 1945
Connections: 
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Comments

Submitted by angie-r on Sat, 2021-10-16 10:36.

David, this is amazing that you were able to find an image of Reggie's POW card.  This confirms that he was sent to the Sendai camp in Japan as mentioned by Ash Choi in his comments earlier.  I couldn't figure out Reggie's date of capture from the card above and  hope you can shed light on this.  It was interesting that Club Lusitano was given as the destination of report. Thanks again for your help and information.

Submitted by eurasian_david on Sat, 2021-10-16 11:31.

You're welcome angie. Date of Capture: 16.12.25

is the same as 25th December 1941

The 16 is the 16th year of the Showa era in the Japanese calendar. Showa 16 = 1941

Here is a conversion calendar

I haven't found documentation he was at Sendai. I don't think he was. The card said he was transferred to the POW camp 7th January 1942. I can't read the name of the camp but would guess it to be Sham Shui Po. There were 6 transportations of POWs from HK to Japan by ship, starting from the bamboo pier at Sham Shui Po, the earliest being September 1942.

 

The only Reeds imprisoned at Sendai POW camp were:

Thomas George Reed

Albert William Reed

Frederick Walter Reed

Vernon C. Reed

Robert Perry Reed

Raymond Reed

...which I don't think are your Reeds

Submitted by angie-r on Sat, 2021-10-16 12:30.

Thanks for the update and explanation of the Japanese dates. I thought the question of why Robert and Reggie were released on different dates was finally answered, the reason being they were not together at Sham Shui Po. Now from your findings, it seems Reggie was not at Sendai after all, but at Sham Shui Po where I originally thought he was. I am still hoping to get the actual date when he was released.  In the article his relative wrote about the Reed brothers during the war, he had Robert being released in December 1945 and Reggie released on January 31, 1946, both from Sham Shui Po camp. If the surrender and British liberation occurred in August 1945, why did it take so long for the POWs to be released?