War Crimes Testimony
Several 2/26th Battalion members gave evidence during the War Crime Trials. One of these was Sgt. Frank Derrington, who was part of 'A' Force. His son Neil has kindly allowed us to post his testimony on the site.
I, Frank William DERRINGTON
of 25 Cambridge Street, ROCKHAMPTONin the State of Queensland
and formerly QX 12197, S/Sgt F. W. DERRINGTON of 2/26 Bn. A.I.F
being duly sworn make oath and state as follows
1. From February One Thousand nine hundred and fortyfive until July One
Thousand nine hundred and fortyfive, I was a Prisoner of War at
KASHU MOUNTAIN CAMP, PHETBURI, SIAM, in which camp were
approximately one thousand five hundred Officer and other Rank
Prisoner of War of English, Australian, American and Dutch
nationalities. In July one thousand nine hundred and fortyfive
I was transferred to another camp called NACONNAYOK near
PACHINIBURI.
2. At KASHU MOUNTAIN CAMP we were employed as labourers on the
construction of an Aerodrome also in a stone quarry and digging a
bund around the camp perimeter. I was usually in charge of a party
and mainly employed on the bund, although I worked on several
occasions on the Aerodrome.
3. I remember the Camp Commandant who held the rank of Lieutenant
Colonel and was commonly known as 'PADDLE FEET' This Officer
although not actually participating in the assault and beatings
against the Prisoners was nevertheless a witness to the
bashings by his subordinates on numerous occasions. His
attitude was definitely an encouragement to his staff to carry out
further atrocities. Numerous complaints were made to himby
our Medical Officers and senior N.C.O's regarding the beatings and
general ill treatment of the Prisoners, but nothing was ever done to
restrain his subordinates.
4.
I remember an incident when a member of the Argyle and Sutherland
Highland Regt was caught attempting to obtain some food from Siamese
personnel who lived near the camp. 'PADDLE FEET' ordered him to be
shot as an example to the others, however the Camp Administration
was successful in pleading for the life of this man, but 'PADDLE
FEET' insisted on the offender being punished by a severe whipping
at the hands of the R.S.M. of the Argyle and Sutherland Highland
Regt. This was duly carried out in front of all Prisoners and
Japanese personnel in the camp.
5.
The other members of the Camp Staff known to me were Lieutenant
MURAOKA commonly known as 'BOOTS', a Korean Corporal known as 'THE
SNAKE' and another Korean guard known as 'THE COBBLER'. These
men were generally the ones who carried out the bashings and
assaults. 'BOOTS' was mainly responsible for forcing the
Medically Unfit Prisoners to go to work. On his frequent
visits to the Hospital he selected the men who he thought were fit
enough and despite the protests of our Medical Officers they were
made to go out to work.
6.
On numerous occasions whilst working with a party of men on the Bund
and also in camp, I have been bashed by 'BOOTS', 'THE SNAKE' and
'THE COBBLER'. Being a N.C.O. in charge of a party it was
necessary to appeal on many occasions for clemency on behalf of men
in the party. This usually resulted in receiving a bashing
myself in addition to the unwarranted punishment being inflicted on
one or more of the party.
7.
Owing to the general state of health of the Prisoners of War in this
camp I am positive that the abovementioned Japanese Staff by their
ill treatment were responsible for the deaths of the majority who
died there and also for the general poor state of health of those
who survived the ordeal.
8.
I also witnessed the torture and ill treatment of a number of
Siamese civilians. This occurred just prior to the Japanese
capitulation and after a few of the Prisoners had escaped.
These Siamese civilians were kept locked up in the camp, and each
day one or two were brought out and tied on a form. Water was
then poured into their mouths until their stomachs were distended
and could hold no more, they were then further assaulted by the
guards jumping on their stomachs or beating it with a heavy bamboo
rod. It is thought this torture was inflicted in order to get
information regarding the escape of Prisoners, however after about a
fortnight the Siamese were removed from camp and we did not see them
again.
9.
The description of 'THE COBBLER' is as follows:A Korean about 5
feet 6 inches in height pock marked, clean shaven and approximately
40 years of age.
10. The photograph now produced and shown to me
and marked with the letters ATM is and contains a true and correct
likeness of the person referred to in this my affidavit as a
Japanese Lieutenant Colonel known to Prisoners of War as 'PADDLE
FEET'
11. The photograph now produced and shown to me and marked
with the letters BTM is and contains a true and correct likeness of
the person referred to in this my affidavit as a Korean guard known
to Prisoners of War as 'THE SNAKE'
12. The photograph now
produced and shown to me and marked with the letter CTM also is and
contains a true and correct likeness of 'THE SNAKE'
13. The
photograph now produced and shown to me and marked with the letters
DTM is and contains a true and correct likeness of the person
referred to in this my affidavit as a Japanese Lieutenant named
MURAOKA and known to Prisoners of War as 'BOOTS'
14. The
photograph now produced and shown to me and marked with the letters
ETM also is and contains a true and correct likeness of 'BOOTS'
I swear that the contents of this my affidavit are to the best of my
knowledge and belief true and correct in every particular.
Signed
and sworn by the
within named deponent
F. W. DERRINGTON
at Rockhampton on the
19th March 1948.
Before me as a Justice of the Peace
S. K. FAULKNER J.P.
A Justice of the Peace