Looking Back
Heroes Remember
Looking Back
Transcript
Description
Mr. Forsyth speaks to his attitude toward the Japanese people today, and how his experience effected him in later life.
Thomas Smith Forsyth
Mr. Forsyth was born on a farm just outside of Pipestone, Manitoba, on April 26, 1910. He worked on the farm and attended school until grade 11, joining the army the following year when war was declared. After being accepted into the Winnipeg Grenadiers, Mr. Forsyth was briefly stationed in Jamaica guarding German POWs before being posted to Hong Kong. Captured in the Battle of Hong Kong, Mr. Forsyth was interned as a POW in North Point and Sham Shui Po prison camps, before being sent to Niigata Camp 5B in Japan as a slave labourer. After years of heavy labour, physical abuse, and terrible living conditions, Mr. Forsyth was liberated from 5B when Japan surrendered. He returned to his family in Manitoba soon thereafter.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Duration:
- 02:26
- Person Interviewed:
- Thomas Smith Forsyth
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- Second World War
- Location/Theatre:
- Japan
- Branch:
- Army
- Units/Ship:
- Winnipeg Grenadiers
- Occupation:
- Garrison Military Police
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One Volunteer Worth Twenty Conscripts
Mr. Forsyth recalls a Veteran who had been wounded at Vimy in the First World War, signing up for the Second World War and passing the registration medical at roughly the same time as himself.
Outnumbered and Out Armed
Mr. Forsyth recalls the day Japan attacked Hong Kong: being vastly outnumbered and having faulty munitions.
Under Attack
Mr. Forsyth remembers the time from which the Japanese overran the mainland colony and reached the island, until shortly before surrendering to the Japanese.
Surrender
Mr. Forsyth recalls stacking their rifles in surrender, and the fate of one soldier who didn’t fall in fast enough.
Scant Rations and Hard Labour
Mr. Forsyth recalls the labour they were expected to perform while on meagre rations at Sham Shui Po POW camp, and the disease and ailments which resulted.
They Found The Egg
Mr. Forsyth recalls being beaten for stealing food.
Oath to Not Attempt Escape
Mr. Forsyth remembers an electric fence being installed after four Winnipeg Grenadiers attempted to escape, and all other POW’s being made to sign an oath to not attempt escape.
Remembering the Kamloops Kid
Mr. Forsyth remembers an interpreter nicknamed ‘Kamloops Kid’ and an incident of him beating a POW captain for pointing out poor conditions to a visiting Red Cross observer.
Dying for a Red Cross Parcel
Mr. Forsyth recalls an incident of two POWs being fatally beaten and abused for attempting to steal Red Cross packages which the Japanese had been taking for themselves.
Company Soup
Mr. Forsyth recalls some of the more questionable food he ate while at 5B - cat, dog, and insects included.
On the Wings of a Mother’s Prayers
Mr. Forsyth remembers how the POW’s kept their morale up.
Dying for a Drink
Mr. Forsyth remembers four men being accidentally poisoned when trying to steal what they thought was alcohol.
Liberated
Mr. Forsyth remembers food and clothing being dropped by American planes shortly after the war ended.
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