The Official 2/26 Battalion Website

In affiliation with the 2/26 Battalion Family & Friends Association Inc.

"This website came to fruition in an attempt to tell the true story the 2/26th Infantry Battalion, (the only Infantry Battalion raised in Queensland; part of the 27th Brigade, 8th Division) played during the Malay Campaign of World War II.... "The 8th Division constituted 14% of the British force but it took 73% of the battle deaths."

Japanese Hell Ships - 1942

... in relation to Australian POW's

Between 1942 - 1944 the Japanese Imperial Army transported many Prisoners of War to different locations either for work parties or internment, by ship. The conditions the POW's endured was horrendous and these Naval vessels became known as "Japanese Hell Ships." The following pages details the movement of POW's at this time in relation to Australian POW's.

 

DATE

POW'S

DEATHS

DAYS

VOYAGE

SHIP

COMMENTS

15 May

1000

9

Singapore to Burma (A Force)

Celebes Maru

Australians under Lt, Col Ramsey.

2000

5

Singapore to Burma (A Force)

Toyohashi Maru

Australians under Maj. Kerr & Maj Green. Sunk 4-Jun-42.

16 May

500

9

Sumatra to Burma

England Maru

498 Brit. 2 Austs. under Maj Apthorpe

7 July

1494

10

Singapore to Sandakan (B Force)

Ume Maru

Australians under Lt. Col Walsh of 2/10 Bn

12 Aug

400

17

Singapore to Formosa

England Maru

Aust & Brit, Ttechnicialn, engineers, Officers including Gen. Percival

‑ Moved to Heito & Karenko

1100

41

Singapore to Takao & Pusan (Korea)

Fukkai Maru

Aust & Brit ‑arrived Takao 29 Aug 42

17 Aug

300

1

Mergul to Tavoy

Tatu Maru

Part of "Green Force"

8 Oct

1500

1

3

Java to Singapore (Williams Force)

Kenkon Maru

Col Williams & Lt. Col Black

14 Oct

1700

8

Singapore to Burma

Maebashi Maru

Aust, Dutch, Americans to Rangoon. About 150 sick Austs removed as harbour work party.

23 Oct

1000

1

Rangoon to Moulmein

Yamagata Maru

Aust,Dutch & American prisoners from Maebashi Maru.

24 Oct

500

100

4

Singapore to Burma

Shinyu Maru

Aust & Dutch ‑ carrying railway cross beams. Damaged by Dutch sub 25‑Oct‑42 ‑abandoned for a time. POWs rescued.

28 Nov

2213

10

9

Singapore to Nagasaki (C Force)

Kamakura Maru

Aust, Brit, Dutch & Americans. Aust's under Lt Col Roberts