https://medium.com/war-is-boring/the-greatest-escape-of-world-war-ii-was-japanese-73ea9195e470
Quote from: DicedT on August 13, 2014, 03:49:25 PM
https://medium.com/war-is-boring/the-greatest-escape-of-world-war-ii-was-japanese-73ea9195e470
Great article, Michael, and no....I had never heard of this.
I hadn't heard of it either, but apparently the information is on the level. The incident is mentioned in the National Archives of Australia (http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/fact-sheets/fs198.aspx).
Thanks for the link, DicedT. I learned something today.
This was new to me as well. Thanks for sharing DicedT.
Did not know that. Thanks, Diced!
Quote from: Steelgrave on August 13, 2014, 04:03:53 PM
Quote from: DicedT on August 13, 2014, 03:49:25 PM
https://medium.com/war-is-boring/the-greatest-escape-of-world-war-ii-was-japanese-73ea9195e470
Great article, Michael, and no....I had never heard of this.
+1
Quote from: Martok on August 13, 2014, 04:25:19 PM
This was new to me as well. Thanks for sharing DicedT.
+2
News to me too. With no prospect of escape, what a pointless waste of energy. If they wanted so much to kill themselves for the shame of capture, they might as well have killed themselves in the prison camp with a little dignity.
What a senseless waste of human life! (to quote Monty Python) :uglystupid2:
What intrigued me was that the guards belonged to an Australian garrison battalion. I'm guessing 2,000 fanatical Japanese prisoners were guarded by World War I retreads.
Michael
You're right. But it was quite common for POW camp guards to be made up of older people, and the medically unfit - whilst the young and fit got sent to battle. Those who had been in WW1 would know how to use a rifle, and would be familiar with combat tactics, even if they weren't in a great condition for combat. The garrison battalion would in principle be ok for the job.
Amazing!
Thanks for posting that.
Good stuff, thx DicedT.