222744 Sgt. Godefridus Antonius Theodorus Govaars Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Infantry from:Bandoeng, Indonesia (d.21st Sep 1944) My children wanted to know our family WW2 wartime background. It was not till three years ago, at age 75, that I was able to address our wartime history, firstly my own three and half years in Japanese concentration camps on Java and my father's 2 and a half years in captivity in Java and Thailand.
My father was taken prisoner in Java, following capitulation of the KNIL (Royal Netherlands Indies Forces). After three months in camp on Java, he was transported to camps on the Thai-Burma rail project. In June 1944 he was transferred to Changi and subsequently was marched to the water front to board the Hellship "Hofuku Maru" with other British and Dutch POWs.
This ship headed for Borneo and then travelled to the Philippines. Some 50 POWs died enroute and the numbers were replenished with additional POWs to a total of 1287. The freighter experienced engine troubles, which forced the POWs to remain on board ship for two months under atrocious conditions. More POWs lost their lives and some 50 were sent ashore to the Bilibil Hospital. The number of POWs was increased again to 1282, prior to the ship's departure for Japan on 20 September 1944.
The following day approximately 10.30 am, the Hofuku Maru was torpedoed by US aircrafts operating from carriers nearby. The freighter took three torpedoes and sank within minutes. Most POWs too weak to move went down with the ship, locked in the holds. My father, as a medic, perished with them. The Hofuku Maru was not emblazoned with the Red Cross, to indicate prisoners were on board. Some prisoners made it to shore, only to be rounded up and sent to Japan by the next convoy.
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