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1944 (2 Oct.) type 1 mimeographed card sent from Bobby Parkinson to his father in Stanley Camp, bears Katayama seal and with pencil "Received 11-10-44" on the reverse. Fine and scarce. Tett fig. 4-6-18. Yang JWC3. Photo HK$6,000-8,000
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1945 (15 Jan.) 2s. card to Capt. Mathers from his mother in Stanley Camp bearing Military Internment Camp censor handstamp with a good strike of the rare Watanabe seal with pencil "Recd 17/2/45"; fine. Tett fig. 4-6-20. Photo HK$3,000-4,000
For other Mathers correspondence, see lots 2055, 2077 and 2144
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1945 (17 Aug.) type 3 card to G.A. Laurence, Stanley Camp with long message. Sent by a friend after the end of the occupation, this is without censor marks. Tett fig. 4-6-22 HK$1,800-2,200
| Mail Between Camps - Camp 'A' | |
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1943 (5 June) type 1 card from J. Randle to his wife in Stanley, good strikes of large Niimori and Maejima seals. Fine and scarce mail from Bowen Road Hospital. Tett fig. 4-6-11. Photo HK$2,500-3,000
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1944 (11 June) 2s. stationery card uprated 1s. to A. Haine at Camp A from Violet Brown in Stanley bearing P.O.W. Camp censor handstamp in violet with Kawauchi seal and Military Internment Camp censor handstamp in black (cancelling the adhesive) with large Takamatsu seal and "BR" in red crayon; some of the message has been censored and includes "Have had no word from you for several months ...". Scarce and unusual. Tett fig. 4-6-15. Photo HK$2,000-3,000
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1944 (June) (c.) type 2 card from J. Henson to the Pengellys at Stanley with Kawauchi seal. The message of 34 words is in response to the news of the death of his wife (who died on 16 April 1944); small piece of corner missing and a little soiled. With photos of the grave in Stanley. Tett fig. 4-6-17. Photo HK$1,800-2,200
| Mail Between Camps - Tweed Bay Hospital | |
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1944 (25 Apr.) 2s. card uprated 1s. from Marjorie Riddle to Major Hodkinson bearing Military Internment Camp handstamp in blue with Takamatsu seal and boxed censored handstamp in dark blue with Matsuda seal, sent to "N" section of Shamshuipo Camp. Fine and very scarce. Tett fig. 4-6-14. Photo HK$2,500-3,500
This was sent from a nurse working in Tweed Bay Hospital which was within Stanley Camp
| Other Items | |
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Gunner L. Rees, Royal Artillery: A group of items with 1943, two censored letters returned to Mrs Rees, both marked "it is regretted that/this item could not be/delivered because the/addressee is reported/presumed deceased", two letters from the War Office stating that Gunner Rees was believed killed whilst a prisoner of war whilst being transported on the 'Lisbon Maru' and a printed letter of condolence from the King HK$3,000-4,000
| Post Liberation | |
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1945 (15 Sept.) stampless South China Morning Post envelope giving notice of an extraordinary general meeting and bearing a good strike of the undated "hong kong/1945/post paid" handstamp; fine and unusual. Tett fig. 4-12-2. Photo HK$1,500-2,000
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1945 (Sept.) (c.) undated brown paper envelope to Mrs Jean Sayers at Stanley Internment Camp bearing a superb strike of "hong kong/1945/postage paid" handstamp. Tett fig. 4-12-3. Photo HK$1,500-2,000
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1945 (Sept.) two covers marked "Liberated U.K. P.W.", one on A.C.F. envelope to Canada bearing a fine strike of "passed free/of postage" and sent through the Australian Base P.O., the second is an air letter sent from Percy Rhoden Hale to his wife in London written "At Sea" on the 'Empress of Australia' which was to be posted in Colombo (he had been away for 14 years). Tett figs. 4-12-38, 48 HK$2,500-3,000
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The Exchange Ships: A collection of postcards with 'Tatuta Maru', 'Kamakura Maru', 'Conte Verde', 'Asama Maru', 'El Nil', 'Narkunda', 'City of Paris', 'City of Canterbury', 'Aramis' and 'Gripsholm; also the repatriation ships, 'Highland Monach', 'Maunganui', 'Empress of Australia' and the hospital ship 'Oxfordshire'. Good to fine HK$2,000-2,500
| DUTCH EAST INDIES | After the fall of Singapore on 15th February 1942, the Japanese turned their attention to the Dutch East Indies to secure the oil, minerals and the abundant produce of the islands. Java was surrendered in mid- March 1942, rapidly followed by the other islands. 80,000 allied soldiers were captured, mostly Dutch East Indies forces but including British, Australian and American. Many of these men were used to repair war damage in the DEI but many were transferred overseas; to Burma and Thailand, to build the infamous railway; Borneo and Japan to labour to support the Japanese war effort.
More than 100,000 civilians came under Japanese control and they were gradually interned in makeshift camps - basically areas within towns cordoned off with barbed wire, called Protection Camps.
The smallest camp, Pangkalpinang in Sumatra, held approximately four people. The largest, Tjihapit I in Java, held around 14,000. In some areas, mainly Java and Sumatra, the men were separated from the women and children and, from about 1944 onwards, boys over ten years of age (the age differed over time and place) were transferred from the women's camps to the men's camps. In Java there were special camps for boys, the sick, and old men. In other areas, particularly China and Hong Kong, men, women and children shared the camp accommodation. Some internees remained in the same camp throughout internment, others, particularly those in Java and Sumatra, were moved from camp to camp several times.
In the D.E.I. there was the largest group of women with 29,000 predominantly Dutch women and their 33,000 children who were captured and interned in camps in Java and Sumatra. A number of British women and children, along with Australian nurses and other nationalities were also captured in the Dutch East Indies after their ships were attacked during their belated evacuation attempts from Singapore.
Java | |
P.O.W. - Incoming Mail | |
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From Australia: 1944 (7 Feb.) Prisoner of War Post envelope to Roy Bulcock, Camp Djawa X, bearing Sydney machine postmark, Australian censor seal at left with the diamond handstamp "382", boxed Censored handstamp in rose-red with Ujiie seal, boxed HQ handstamp with the prisoner number and manuscript "Bat" in pencil. Tett fig. 2-3-38. Photo HK$800-1,000
Roy Bulcock has written two books relating to his experiences as a P.O.W. Or Death But Once (1947) and No Wider Land (1971)
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From Holland: 1943-44, a group of envelopes to F. Meyneken in Java Camp "A" with 1943 (8 July) Red Cross, Geneva envelope; 1943 (3 Aug.) from Dordrecht with German censor seal and unboxed HQ handstamp; 1943 (27 Sept.) from Rotterdam with German censor tape; 1943 (10 Nov.) envelope from Rotterdam bearing circular Red Cross Tokyo handstamp; and 1944 (1 Jan.) envelope from Dordrecht with unidentified censor tape at left. Each cover with the appropriate boxed Censored handstamp in shades of red with seals of Suzuki or Umegaki, the HQ camp handstamps with the prisoner number and various notations giving the dates of despatch and receipt. Tett figs. 2-3-35 to 37.
(5 covers). Photo HK$3,000-4,000
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–– 1944 (23 Feb.) post card from the Hague to C.W. van der Poel bearing circular German censor handstamp in red, boxed Censored handstamp in dull red with Suzuki seal, handstruck "I" and boxed Camp 1 with the prisoner number; light creasing at top. A scarce card. Tett fig. 2-3-33. Photo HK$1,000-1,500
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From D.E.I.: 1943 (8 Apr.) Dai Nippon 3 1/2c. stationery card with small Dutch text, cancelled Jakarta and addressed to L. Logemann in Tangsi, Java, bearing boxed Censored handstamp in red, "I 18662" and "Tawanan Militer" in red crayon, handstruck unframed Transferred to Japan but with "Changi" in blue crayon alongside. A scarce card. Tett fig. 2-3-17. JACA 13NS 1. Photo HK$1,500-2,500
For an example of the reply card, please see lot 2365
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–– 1943-44, a group of 3 1/2c. Dai Nippon stationery cards with three examples of the scarce card with small Dutch characters (JSCA 13NS 1), on written in English and bears handstruck small boxed "2" in rose-red, the first two are uncensored, one with small Zumi seal (passed); the final cards are all marked "Tawanan militer" on Java cards (JSCA 2 JS 3 and 5) bearing a good array of handstamp including Approved, Prisoner of War Post, small boxed Censored handstamps, one with Zumi seal and one with Transferred
to Malaya with D.E.I. and Malaya censors. An interesting and valuable group. Tett figs. 2-3-9 to 11, 22, 40 to 42. (8 cards) HK$3,000-5,000
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Within D.E.I.: 1945 two similar P.O.W. reply sections to A.P.J Tausent Djawa Camp WN, both bear small boxed censored handstamp with Watanabe seal; vertical folds. Scarce cards. (2 cards). Photo HK$800-1,000
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From New Zealand: 1942-45, a group of covers to Pilot Officer W.P. Wellington from his wife, with 1942 (16 Oct.) bearing Dunedin despatch c.d.s., New Zealand censor tape at right with "65" handstamp, unframed Prisoner of War Post handstamp in rose-red and boxed Censored handstamp with two strikes of Suzuki seal and typed reference numbers. 1942 (21 Dec.) envelope bearing Dunedin slogan postmark, New Zealand censor tape at left with "66" handstamp, large boxed Censored handstamp in red with Umegaki seal, handstamped characters of Java Headquarters with the prisoner number. 1944 (19 Nov.) 1/- Prisoner of War Post air mail letter sheet overprinted "sixpence (H&G 5) cancelled by Dunedin slogan postmark, boxed Censored handstamp in blue with indistinct seal and Java P.O.W. district 1 handstamp in purple. 1945 (8 June) Prisoner of War Post air mail card uprated 6d. cancelled by Dunedin slogan, with N.Z. censor handstamp, addressed to camp 2 and arrived after the end of the war. An interesting and varied group; scarce from New Zealand. Tett fig. 2-3-6, 24, 46. (4 covers). Photo HK$4,000-5,000
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From U.K.: 1942 (6 Aug.) "Prisoner of War Post" envelope to L.A.C. Jackson, "Last Heard of Java" bearing York machine postmark, British censor seal "1,659", boxed Transferred to Japan with "Bat.3942", marked "Zentsugi" in pencil with "No63" in red crayon. The reverse with "Received 8/5/44, Sent 6/8/42". A much travelled cover. Tett fig. 2-3-20. Photo HK$800-1,000
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–– 1943 (28 May) "Prisoner of War Post" envelope to I.B. Collins at Java, bearing manuscript "Bat 25660" and handstruck transfer which has been altered to read Transferred to Malaya, the reverse bears the small boxed censored handstamp (fig. 2-12-127) with Miura seal. Also 1944 (11 Feb.) post card to A.C. Percival, Java Camp Z, bearing London machine postmark, British censor handstamp "P.W.3266" in red, boxed Censored handstamp with Miura seal and boxed Transferred to Malaya (creased). Good covers to prisoners transferred back to Malaya. Tett figs. 2-3-21, 23. (2 covers). Photo HK$1,000-1,500
The Transferred to Malaya handstamp included Singapore and Sumatra (which was under Malayan juristriction)
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–– 1943-44 a group of covers to British prisoners with 1943 (22 Apr.) envelope to Clifford Beales bearing British censor seal "571", large boxed Censored handstamp in red with Suzuki seal and small boxed Java HQ handstamp with prisoner's number (ex Crabb); 1943 (18 May) envelope to 2nd Lieut. W.W. Hodgkinson, Java, with Derby machine postmark, British censor seal "1583", large boxed Censored handstamp with Suzuki seal, boxed Java district 1 handstamp and Java III handstamp, both with prisoner's number; 1943 (14 June) 2 1/2d. stationery envelope to G.E. Thomas cancelled by Neath machine postmark, British censor seal "4027", large boxed Censored handstamp in red with Suzuki seal, boxed Java III crossed through with boxed HQ handstamps; 1944 (8 Feb.) envelope to E.R. McDaniel with Kensington machine postmark, British censor seal "4181", boxed Censored handstamp in red and Permission in violet with Tanaka seal and boxed HQ handstamp with number, pencil "R 9/10/44"; 1944 (17 Mar.) post card to Frederick Tulley with Stratford machine postmark, British censor handstamp "P.W.4768", boxed Censored with Ujiie seal and Permission with Tanaka seal, both in red, boxed camp III handstamp with number; 1944 (8 Oct.) 3d. Prisoner of War Post air mail card to Frank Graham, X Camp, despatch c.d.s., British censor handstamp "P.W.2709", boxed Censored handstamp in red with Suzuki seal and boxed camp I handstamp with number. A good group. Tett figs. 2-3-25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31. (6 covers). Photo HK$3,000-3,500
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–– 1945 (15 June) 1 1/2d. Prisoner of War Post air mail card to Robert Brown from his girlfriend, cancelled by London victory slogan postmark and bearing British censor handstamp "P.W.9295" in red, a good strike of the boxed "returned in undelivered mails/from territory formally occupied/by japanese forces", with rose-red crayon marks for return to the sender. A scarce card. Tett fig. 2-3-45. Photo HK$1,200-1,800
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–– 1945 (24 July) 1 1/2d. Prisoner of War Post air mail card to Arthur Austin, cancelled by Colwyn Bay machine postmark, with British censor handstamp "P.W.3413" in red and unframed "returned from abroad/service suspended". Fine and a scarce marking. Photo HK$1,800-2,200
| Java - P.O.W. - Outgoing Mail | |
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To Singapore: 1943 P.O.W. card from Vincent Slavin from Java Camp X (Batavia) to a friend in Shonan City (Singapore) and redirected on arrival, bearing Yamamoto seal, Syonan c.d.s. (26.7) and manuscript "and 27/7/03". The message includes, "This is the third card I have written and the absence of your reply makes me uncomfortable." A very scarce destination. Tett fig. 2-4-12. Photo HK$2,000-2,500
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To U.K.: 1943 P.O.W. card from Tom Orton, Camp Y to his wife in Birmingham bearing unidentified seal, a light strike of British censor handstamp "P.W.337" and manuscript "Recd 31/12/43"; vertical folding crease and soiled. Scarce mail from Y Camp Tett fig.
2-4-14. Photo HK$1,000-1,500
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To U.S.A: 1945 (2 Aug.) P.O.W. card from Lowell Swartz from Camp W.M.-1 to his mother in New York, without Japanese censor, bearing "s.e.asia" c.d.s. (30.9) c.d.s. (after the end of the war), three different New York backstamp and "Not in Directory/Boulevard Station/cannot be found". Fine. Tett fig. 2-4-24. Photo HK$2,000-2,500
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Within D.E.I.: 1942-44, a selection of cards which includes 1942 (19 Mar.) Netherlands Indies 3 1/2c. stationery card from Eskadron Cavalry Camp to Jakarta, a very early date (about three weeks after the fall of Java) before a proper mail service had been set up and is without censor handstamp; 1942 (Sept. - Oct.) "ned. indies" and "dai nippon" 3 1/2c. stationery cards from Kesilir Camp to Malang and Lawang bearing censor handstamps; Prisoner of War cards from Camp B2 (Tjilatjap) to Batavia bearing handstruck Response must be in the Indonesian language in rose-red; card from Camp D (Malang) to East Java and redirected bearing Pasoeroean c.d.s. (3.2); 1943 two cards from Camp Z to Soerabaia, one bearing boxed Headquarters Police Station handstamp (secret police); 1944 card from Camp W.N. from a stateless German to Bandoeng; 1945 card from Java C.P. to Java W.N. Several with vertical folding folds, a good group. Tett figs. 2-5-3, 4, 6, 9, 16, 19, 23, 2-3-43. (10 cards) HK$4,000-5,000
| Java - Civilian Incoming Mail | |
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1942 (3 July) Netherlands Indies 3 1/2c. post card cancelled by Buitenzorg c.d.s., addressed to R. Avean, Tjimahi Camp. There was much difficulty in tracing the internee and the card bears handstruck "A" which has been crossed through, manuscript "B" in blue crayon with handstruck "niet in b" in purple, "I" in red crayon, handstruck "IV Concentratiikamd./nbekend" in blue (unknown), manuscript inscription for return has been crossed through an manuscript character added in pencil. Fine and a most interesting card. Tett fig. 2-5-17. Photo HK$1,000-1,500
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1943 (Mar. - June) three Dai Nippon 3 1/2c. stationery cards to E. Raalten in Soemowono, cancelled by Klaten c.d.s. bearing a good strike of the boxed Oengaran Chief of Police Station handstamp in purple (white card stock), the others with the boxed Censored
Post Office handstamp in purple with Mosu and Suriya seals respectively. A good group. Tett figs. 2-5-11 to 13. (3 cards) HK$1,500-2,000
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1943 a group of post cards related to Kesilir including a good strike of horizontal Censored handstamp in red on two cards, one with Fukushima seal in blue and boxed Oengaran Chief of Police Station handstamp addressed to Ambaraua, the other with the censor seal in violet addressed to Malang; cards to Malang and Soerabaia bearing the horizontal Censored handstamp in rose-red with Shiochi seal; two later cards to Soerabaia, one with large boxed Censored handstamp in purple with Fukushima seal the other with the smaller boxed Censored (Soerabaia type) with unidentified mark. A good group. Tett figs. 2-5-5, 7. 40, 43. (6 cards). Photo HK$2,000-2,500
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1943-44, a selection of stationery cards with Dai Nippon 3 1/2c. card from Bandoeng to Tangsi B camp, the card with small boxed "2" in red in the top right corner; a card from Semarang to Ngawi bearing Censored Post Office handstamp in rose-red and the boxed Madioen Provincial Police Department in red; card from Koedoes to Jakarta bearing Censored Post Office handstamp in black and a fair strike of Koedoes Office Chief with Kesumo seal; white stock card from Soerabaia to Bentjoeloek bearing Censored Post Office handstamp in violet, card from Jakarta to the prison in Sluisweg 2; card used locally in Soerabaia including Soerabaia Police Special Branch handstamp. Condition is a little mixed in places, a good and varied lot. Tett figs. 2-5-14 to 16, 18. (6 cards). Photo HK$2,000-2,500
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1944-45 two cards to W. Meurs locally used in Bandoeng to Soekamiskin, the first is a 3 1/2c. bearing a good Uchipu seal, the second is a 1945 3 1/2c. card (JSCA 3 JS 1) bearing a fair strike of boxed Soekamiskin Prison handstamp in rose-carmine. Tett figs. 2-5-20, 21. (2 cards) HK$1,200-1,800
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1945 (24 July) 5c. on military card to Toean Andre in Soekamiskin Prison, Bandung, cancelled by Madium c.d.s. bearing a fine strike of boxed Soekamiskin Prison handstamp. Fine. JSCA 3 JS 4. Photo HK$800-1,000
For an incoming card to Camp Tjihapit, please see lot 2314; from Soerabaia, please see lot 2375. For mail from Palembang Camp, see lot 2204 and for mail from Pakan Baroe Camp, see lots 2201-2202
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From India: 1943 (9 Apr.) opened-out, unsealed envelope from Bangalore to Olive Glaser in Bandoeng, bearing Indian censor "DHC/34" in blue, large boxed Censored handstamp in rose-red with seals of Suzuki, Umegaki and Wakari, boxed Java II handstamp in purple, "2" in red crayon and the prisoner number, the reverse with Bangalore despatch c.d.s. and part Indian censor handstamp "DHC/37". With the original letter which has had the date censored (pointless as the envelope is dated)
and there are various pencil notes on the reverse. Very scarce mail from India. Tett fig.
2-5-22. Photo HK$800-1,000
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From Japan: 1943-44, two type 1 cards, the first typed from Harima sub Osaka Camp to his wife in Soerabaia and readdressed to a civilian internee camp in Java, bears Tomita seal; the second card from Hakodate 3 (the printing is in a different fount) with a handwritten message from J. Koolhaas Revers to his wife in Riouwstraat Women's Camp in Bandoeng, bears Hakodate Prisoner of War Camp Censor handstamp in purple with Koyama seal, also boxed Java II handstamp in purple with Suzuki seal and the prisoner number; light soiling. A good pair of covers. Tett fig. 2-5-30. (2 cards). Photo HK$1,500-2,000
For mail from Fukuoka, see lot 2312 and from Zentsuji, see lots 2375.
For mail from Taiwan, see lot 2392
| Java - Civilian Incoming Mail - Red Cross Message | |
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1942 (11 Jan.) message to Jacobus Caspers from his relations in Holland. The message was written in Dutch and a translation on flimsy paper has been affixed over the top, with Red Cross Geneva handstamp and boxed Censored handstamp in red, with boxed
Java III handstamp. The reply on the reverse is dated 1942 (28 June), again in Dutch with the English translation fixed over the top with boxed Censored handstamp, Red Cross Tokyo handstamp in blue, Geneva Red Cross and datestamp "MAR 27 1944". Also with a Dutch envelope to the Red Cross in Geneva, typical of the type used. Scarce. Tett fig. 2-5-23. Photo HK$1,200-1,500
| Java - Civilian Intercamp Mail | |
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1943-45, a group of Dai Nippon 3 1/2c. stationery cards with two cards from Struiswijk to Kamp Kramat and to Perlindoengan bearing good strikes of Struiswijk Prison handstamps with Yajima or Iwasaki seals; card to Kediri (not cancelled) bearing a good strike of Kedri District Police Department handstamp in rose-red; 1943 (3 Dec.) card from Jakarta to Adek Camp bearing Jakarta Police Censored handstamp, Jakarta Post Office Censored handstamp and Adek Prison handstamp with Got censor, all in red; 1943 (31 Dec.)
card from Benteng to Lampersari bearing Post Office Censored handstamp and 1945
(23 June) card used locally in Bandoeng bearing a fair strike of Banteu Prison handstamp in rose-red. Some folding creases but with some good handstamps. Tett figs. 2-5-38, 39, 47, 49, 63. (6 cards). Photo HK$1,800-2,200
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1944-45, a group of P.O.W. cards with examples from camps CQ (Bandoeng) (5), CP (Semerang) and CR (Batavia) (2), with various markings for the camps of the recipients including boxed Java II (3), unframed Java I and other camp designations; three with vertical folds. Tett figs. 2-5-50 to 54, 56, 58, 60. (8 covers). Photo HK$2,500-3,000
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1944 Prisoner of War reply card, used examples of both the sender and reply sections, the first from Java CP to Malang bearing small boxed Censored handstamp in rose-red with faint Hasegawa seal, boxed Java II camp with prisoner number; the second from Jakarta to Java CQ bears boxed Censored handstamp with Tachi seal and manuscript "F5" in blue crayon. These reply cards are very scarce. Tett fig. 2-5-61, 62. Photo HK$1,000-1,500
For mail from Sumatra to Karees Camp (Java III), see lots 2219, 2220
| Java - Civilian Mail to Overseas P.O.Ws | |
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To Japan: 1944 3 1/2c. Dai Nippon stationery card from Jakarta uprated 7c., cancelled by pen stroke, to A. Hoff in Fukuoka 14 Camp with "tawanan militer" and "14" in red crayon plus circular Reception dated handstamp for 1945 (29 Mar.) and Fukuoka POW Camp Censored handstamp in blue with Fujii seal. Also 1943 (17 Dec.) Netherlands 5c. stationery card to Jan Schut, uncancelled with a fine strike of circular German censor in red, sent to Fukuoka "2" camp and bearing Fukuoka POW Camp Censored handstamp in blue with Fujii seal; received on 8th April 1945. A good pair of cards. (2 cards) HK$1,500-2,000
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To Taiwan: 1943 (26 Apr.) 3 1/2c. Dai Nippon stationery card to J. van Beck cancelled by Batavia slogan cancellation, marked "tawanan militer" in red crayon with crayon characters for Taipei External and No.4 Holland; received 1944 (13 Jan.). Rare mail to Taiwan. Photo HK$1,500-2,000
For another card to Taiwan, please see lot 2378
| Sumatra | |
P.O.W. Incoming Mail | |
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Atjeh Party: 1944 (22 Feb.) "Prisoners of War Post" envelope to J.A. Speyer, Dutch Prisoner of War bearing Bangor c.d.s., British censor seal at left "3352" with "Medan" in blue crayon and "Atjeh" in red crayon (repeated on the reverse) with small Censored handstamp with Asanuma seal; vertical fold and soiled. Scarce mail to this camp. Tett fig. 2-6-3. Photo HK$1,000-1,500
For incoming mail, see lot 2216
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Medan Camp: 1943 (24 Mar.) "Prisoner of War Post" envelope bearing Canada 3c. tied by Vancouver machine postmark, to Harold Poole, bearing small boxed Censored handstamp with Asanuma seal and pencil "Medan NC"; the reverse bearing Canadian censor tape "DB/608"; corner missing and a little soiled, part of the address has been censored (his unit). Scarce mail from Canada. Tett fig. 1-5-28. Photo HK$800-1,000
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–– 1943 (7 June) Prisoner of War post envelope to J. Parsons bearing Glatton, Huntingdon c.d.s., British censor tape "3470", "J.V.E." in pencil (Johore Volunteer Engineers) and "P.O.W. Medan/NC" (not Changi) with small boxed Censored handstamp and Asanuma seal; some soiling. Tett fig. 2-6-2. Photo HK$800-1,000
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Pakan Baroe Camp: 1943 (2 July) Australian Red Cross envelope to C.S. Shaw, bearing Melbourne machine postmark, Australian censor tape with diamond "411" handstamp, small boxed Censored handstamp with Asanuma seal and pencil "Pakan Baroe". Scarce. Tett fig. 2-6-7. Photo HK$1,000-1,500
Ma 1 is an abbreviation for Malaya Camp 1, which covered the area of Pakan Baroe. Pakan Baroe Camp was for those men working on the Sumatran Railway.
A short background of the railway which was built.
Dutch railway engineers had long investigated the possibilities of building a railway between the north and south coast of Sumatra to give access to the coal fields. These fields were reported to have very good coal readily available on the surface. The problem was the cost of the building of the railway through inhospitable jungle and for most part through swamps. Bridges to cross rivers, subjected to monsoon floods, had to be build. This would be through a country invested with malaria and other diseases. So the plans were shelved if not forgotten.
After the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies, these plans surfaced again and were considered feasible by the Japanese conquerors. After all they had the workers. Plenty of them at no cost. Initially volunteers were enrolled from the Indonesian population, under false promises of light work, good pay and plenty of food. These were called in Japanese "Romushas". The treatment of these romushas was terrible and soon there was a shortage of volunteers. This resulted in the introduction of forced labour. In 1944 the decision was made to use POW's, and on 19 May 1944 the first contingent of POWs from camps on Java arrived via Emma Haven near Padang. They were transported by trucks to Pakanbaroe. Their first task was to make camp 1 habitable. These were old barracks from an oil company, about a hundred meters from the Siak River. When it rained, and that happened frequently, most of the camp flooded and the prisoners had to wade through knee deep mud. Soon this camp was nicknamed "Mud Resort" and this name remained until the evacuation on 17 October 1945
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Palembang Camp: 1942-43, a group of "Prisoner of War Post" envelopes from U.K. with 1942 (5 Oct.) envelope to Robert McGee bearing Glasgow machine postmark, British censor seal "6327", "Not Thai" in blue crayon and "PAL" in pencil, Censored handstamp with Miura seal; 1943 (17 May) envelope bearing Cambridge machine postmark, censor seal "9301", "Pal" in pencil and, on the reverse, small boxed Censored handstamp
with Miura seal; 1943 envelope to Vincent Slavin; and 1943 (29 July) envelope to
G. O'Donovan bearing Worksop machine postmark, censor seal "1742", "Pal" in pencil and the small boxed censored handstamp with Miura seal. Good to fine. Tett figs. 2-6-1, 4 to 6. (4 covers) HK$2,000-2,500
For outgoing mail from Robert McGee, please see lot 2211
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Palembang Camp: 1943 (27 May) Australian Red Cross envelope to Jan Hoving, bears Melbourne machine postmark, Australian censor tape with diamond "398" handstamp, addressed to Java and bears small boxed Censored handstamp with Marai seal and a good strike of boxed Transferred to Malaya; fine. Photo HK$800-1,000
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–– 1944 (Apr. - Nov.) two 3d. Prisoner of War Post air mail cards to Alec Percival, the first, (3 Apr.) cancelled London postmark with British censor handstamp "P.W.8749", addressed to Java Camp Z but with boxed Transferred to Malaya and small boxed Censored handstamp with Miura seal, bears pencil "M"; the second dated (8 Nov.) with Ilford machine postmark, British censor "P.W.6926" handstamp, addressed to Malaya bears pencil "RAF", "M/A" (Malaya Administration) and "CH X Pal" (Changi,
ex Palembang) and Saji seal in violet. Good cards. Tett figs. 2-6-8, 9. (2 cards) HK$1,500-2,000
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–– 1945 (14 Apr.) German P.O.W. lettersheet cancelled by Eindhoven c.d.s. and addressed to J. Streuve, Java Camp; bears Dutch censor "1094", circular Egyptian censor and boxed Prisoner of War Post handstamp in red, Singapore and Siam have been crossed through and Palembang added; the ink has eaten in to the surface covering of the paper, nevertheless an interesting cover. Tett fig. 2-6-14. Photo HK$800-1,000
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