I Think we Were Among the First POWs to be Taken

Heroes Remember

I Think we Were Among the First POWs to be Taken

Battles in the other ships that were she was loaded with, she had about four crews on her then, four merchant ship crews and we sailed up into the, by the end of that month we got up into the Indian ocean where it was warm and calm and they transferred us to a supply ship in rubber rafts just at dusk at night. And when we come up to the supply ship, we climbed up the rope ladder and the German up on top he spoke just like an American. Of course, he was a merchant seaman I guess and knew the languages. So on the supply ship they put us in the foredeck of the ship and all this time we slept in hammocks in the foredeck of the ship and we just laid around the Indian ocean for about two months. And then we took off for Japan. I didn’t know where we were going but that’s where we were going, Japan. And we were allowed on deck but they had machine guns on us you know over us all the time and we . . . when we went through the East Indies they put us down below. They wouldn’t let us on the deck going through the East Indies like Sumatra and them places. Then they put us below when we went into Yokohama harbour and then they transferred us to another supply ship and it was another supply ship that was at the dock. It had been at the dock for quite a while and we were on that one for about two or three weeks before the Japs decided to take us. I think we were one of the first POWs to be taken into the Japanese, into Yokohama. And, they drove us through to the camp in trucks and we got into the camp, Kawasaki #1, Tokyo area.

Mr. Yeadon describes the sea voyage to Yokohama and being sent to Kawasaki #1 POW camp.

Francis Edison Yeadon

Francis Edison Yeadon was born in Spryfield, Nova Scotia, on September 24, 1924. He was the youngest in a family of eight. After leaving school at the age of 16, he joined the Merchant Navy in Halifax. Mr. Yeadon completed one successful North Atlantic convoy, before being captured at sea while transporting a shipload of arms to India. He remained aboard the German “raider” for several months, finally being turned over to the Japanese at Yokohama. Included is a good account of the American bombing(s) which led to Japan’s capitulation. Mr. Yeadon remained in the merchant marine after the war, due, as he says, to the lack of educational opportunities offered to Veterans of the Armed Forces.

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 3:06
Person Interviewed:: Francis Edison Yeadon
War, Conflict or Mission:: Second World War
Location/Theatre:: Japan
Battle/Campaign:: North Atlantic
Branch:: Merchant Navy
Occupation:: Seaman

Related Videos

It cut our Aerial, Then Machine-gunned the Decks

Mr. Yeadon describes being attacked ten days east of Brazil on a voyage to India, having to abandon ship, and being rescued and held captive by a German “raider.”

They Kicked me, and Booted me With Rifle Butts

Mr. Yeadon briefly describes his early work on the docks, being severely beaten for stealing a pair of work gloves and being redeployed to the kitchen staff after a serious illness.

They Used our Fuel for the Japanese to Have a hot Bath

Mr. Yeadon discusses the inadequate food, heat and clothing in the camp.

So Many Prisoners Died of Malnutrition

Mr. Yeadon mourns the loss of a friend who died of malnutrition and describes a later pilgrimage to Yokohama cemetery.

The Houses Were Going up Like Small Tornadoes

Mr. Yeadon describes the impact of American bombing raids on Yokohama and Tokyo.

“Send all Prisoners of war to the Beach”

Mr. Yeadon describes being liberated from Japan by the American Navy, and shipping home.

We Never got any Privileges

Mr. Yeadon compares the treatment of the Canadian Armed Forces vs. the Merchant Navy with respect to post-war benefits, particularly since merchant service had begun, in many cases, long before active military service.

Date modified:: 2024-12-30