herakles
01-10-2008, 21:33
This Japanese transport vessel of 7,053-tons, carrying 1,816 British and Canadian prisoners of war from the Shamshuipo POW camp at Hong Kong to Japan, was torpedoed by the US submarine Grouper about six miles off Tung Tusham Island on the Chinese coast.
The prisoners were contained in three holds which soon became foul with the stench of sweat, excreta and vomit. Many lost consciousness through thirst, lack of fresh air and extreme heat. Men were reduced to licking the condensation from the sides of the ships hull. A bucket of liquid was lowered by the guards and thirsty men rushed to grab it, only to find it was filled with urine. On top deck were some 778 Japanese military men on their way home to Japan. At 7 o'clock in the morning, the torpedo struck, severely damaging the ship but causing no casualties among the prisoners. Soon a Japanese ship, the freighter Toyukuni Maru came alongside and took on board all the Japanese soldiers but none of the Allied prisoners.
The Lisbon Maru was then taken in tow heading for Shanghai, but some hours later the ship, now low in the water, began to sink by the stern. Prisoners in Number 3 hold were unfortunately below the waterline and now beyond rescue. Some prisoners in the other two holds managed to break free but were shot down as they emerged. Another four Japanese ships appeared on the scene and some escaped prisoners, swimming in the water, managed to reach the dangling ropes and started to climb aboard only to be kicked back into the water when within a few inches from the deck.
Eventually, most of the surviving prisoners were taken on board the four ships and taken to Shanghai where thirty-five sick and wounded were unloaded. A few however, managed to swim away from the Lisbon Maru and were rescued by Chinese fishermen and taken to a group of small islands near by (Sing Pan islands). At Shanghai, a roll call accounted for 970 men, a total of 846 had perished, 154 were from the Middlesex regiment. Of the 970 survivors, some 244 died during their first winter in the Japanese camps. The 'Lisbon Maru' was not marked in any way to indicate that she was carrying prisoners of war but as she was armed and carried Japanese troops the ship was a legitimate target. (Among the 1,780 graves in the Sai Wan Bay cemetery are the graves of those who lost their lives in this tragedy)
The prisoners were contained in three holds which soon became foul with the stench of sweat, excreta and vomit. Many lost consciousness through thirst, lack of fresh air and extreme heat. Men were reduced to licking the condensation from the sides of the ships hull. A bucket of liquid was lowered by the guards and thirsty men rushed to grab it, only to find it was filled with urine. On top deck were some 778 Japanese military men on their way home to Japan. At 7 o'clock in the morning, the torpedo struck, severely damaging the ship but causing no casualties among the prisoners. Soon a Japanese ship, the freighter Toyukuni Maru came alongside and took on board all the Japanese soldiers but none of the Allied prisoners.
The Lisbon Maru was then taken in tow heading for Shanghai, but some hours later the ship, now low in the water, began to sink by the stern. Prisoners in Number 3 hold were unfortunately below the waterline and now beyond rescue. Some prisoners in the other two holds managed to break free but were shot down as they emerged. Another four Japanese ships appeared on the scene and some escaped prisoners, swimming in the water, managed to reach the dangling ropes and started to climb aboard only to be kicked back into the water when within a few inches from the deck.
Eventually, most of the surviving prisoners were taken on board the four ships and taken to Shanghai where thirty-five sick and wounded were unloaded. A few however, managed to swim away from the Lisbon Maru and were rescued by Chinese fishermen and taken to a group of small islands near by (Sing Pan islands). At Shanghai, a roll call accounted for 970 men, a total of 846 had perished, 154 were from the Middlesex regiment. Of the 970 survivors, some 244 died during their first winter in the Japanese camps. The 'Lisbon Maru' was not marked in any way to indicate that she was carrying prisoners of war but as she was armed and carried Japanese troops the ship was a legitimate target. (Among the 1,780 graves in the Sai Wan Bay cemetery are the graves of those who lost their lives in this tragedy)