The story
The Japanese ship, Suez Maru, carrying troops as well as 200 Japanese, 422 British, and 127 Dutch sick and wounded, was torpedoed by submarine USS Bonefish in the Java sea. Many were trapped in the holds and drowned, but others take to the water. A Japanese minesweeper in escort picked up nearly 300 of its own nationals but left between 200 and 250 Allied prisoners threshing in the sea. The minesweeper then began shooting the defenceless swimmers. Of the 549 British and Dutch prisoners, there was only one survivor, Kenneth Thomas, who was picked up twenty-four hours later by an Australian ship.
There's more to discover
You have arrived at just one small part of Back to Normandy — a personal project dedicated to preserving stories, images, music and memories of the Second World War.
Every record is a doorway to a larger story. Explore Back to Normandy to discover more, or visit Fred Vogels' personal website to learn about the person and the projects behind it.