Glenmore POW: Thomas Kieran Walsh (1917-1977), Part II

Last week we highlighted the early life and Glenmore kin of Thomas Kieran Walsh (1917-1977) a native of Ballinlammy, Glenmore. See our post of 11 November 2024. Today, we are going to feature Tom’s war years as a POW of the Japanese for 3.5 years. Most of the information regarding Tom’s service was graciously provided by Tom’s nephew Leo Walsh. Leo has written a wonderful tribute to his Uncle Tom, entitled Rough Justice (Dec. 2023).

Enlistment

When Tom arrived in London in 1936 the country was still in the depths of the depression which made jobs scarce. Additionally, King George V. died early in the year and his eldest son caused a constitutional crisis when he abdicated the throne in December 1936. Just two months earlier, on 13 October 1936, Tom enlisted as a labourer with the Royal Engineers. He passed his physical although he was 6 feet tall and only weighed 136 pounds (Walsh, p. 24). We were not able to find much information regarding Tom’s maternal grandfather, John Dooley (c.1839 -1889), and his military service. Thus, it is not known if Tom’s enlistment was influenced by a grandfather he never met.

Less than a year later Tom was a certified Search |Light Operator for the 54^th Field Company. In early 1938 Tom was ordered to British Malaya (Walsh, p. 24). Tom arrived on St. Patrick’s Day 1938 and found the heat very oppressive. He was sent by train to Penang on the northwest coast (Walsh, p. 26-27). Tom marvelled at the lush green of the countryside, pineapple fields  and what he would later learn were rice paddy fields (Walsh, p. 27)

The Fall of Singapore 1942

Although WWII was raging in Europe, Tom was engaged in a peacetime active duty while enjoying the colonial life. The military and civilians of Malay and Singapore knew that the Japanese were interested in Singapore, but they wrongly believed that the British army’s strength discouraged an attack (Walsh, p. 29).

On the 7th of December 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The following day the Japanese attacked Malay. Tom was still in Penang, and his regiment were ordered to prepare to evacuate 600 miles south to defend Singapore. Preparations included destroying anything the enemy might find useful. Civilians also headed to Singapore believing it a safer place. At this early stage the Japanese were not taking prisoners instead executing anyone in their path (Walsh p. 30).

The battle for Singapore commenced 8 February 1942 and the city fell on 15 February. During the battle for Singapore war atrocities were committed such as the wanton execution of wounded British soldiers and the medical personnel at the Alexandra Medical Hospital (Walsh, p. 31). With the surrender of Singapore, 35,000 British soldiers became POW’s and in total 80,000 military and civilians including women and children were taken prisoner (Walsh, p. 35).

Life as a POW

Tom like the other 35,000 POW’s faced barbaric treatment. They were subjected to long periods without food or water, standing in the hot sun awaiting roll calls and orders. Eventually he was marched to a squalid River Valley Camp. On this march they were greeted by the impaled heads of the civilian Chinese victims of the Japanese army (Walsh, p. 36). Tom remained in the filthy River Valley Camp until December 1942.

Tom’s days were tedious and consisted of: tenko (roll call); work; rice; work; tenko; and sleep. Other than beating the prisoners the guards tended to ignore them. With up to 5,000 prisoners and one water tap prisoners used all their spare time queuing for water (Walsh, p. 38).

Changi Camp

In December 1942, Tom was transferred to Changi Camp which was on the mainland to work to repair bomb damaged towns. Discipline was much more severe. Before Tom arrived a POW tried to escape. He was summarily executed along with a few others who did not attempt to escape. All 20,000 POW’s at the camp were ordered into a square that could accommodate 1,000 men. Although only provided a small cup of water a day the British Officer in charge refused to sign a pledge against escaping. After several days POW’s were falling from dysentery and malaria.  The Japanese Commander threatened to place 2,000 healthy POW’s in with the sick POW’s. Under duress the commanding British officer finally signed the pledge, and this led to harsher treatment by the Japanese guards (Walsh, p. 40).

Tom shared a 1 man cell with 5 or 6 others. He worked on the docks unloading ships which provided opportunities to acquire food and medicines. His worst job was burying the Chinese civilians that were bound in barbed wire, shot and dumped on the beach. The only day of rest was Sunday. It was at Changi that Tom first heard rumours that the Japanese were building a railway from Burma to Thailand (Walsh, p. 41).

Building the Burma to Thailand Railway

Tom was selected to join the Kanu Camp to build the railway. His transportation to the Camp was a closed railway car that was packed with POW’s only allowing them to stand. There was no water, food or sanitation. The following day they were provided with a small bowl of rice, a cup of water and the dead POW’s were dumped out of the car. Tom lost track of how long he was in the railway car (Walsh, p. 43). After arriving at the new railway Tom was marched 60 miles north to “Hell Fire Pass” a massive rock face along the river (Walsh, p. 44).

Camp Kanu was a living hell for Tom. Guards beat prisoners with wire whips or canes, not just to discipline, but also to push them to exhaustion and death. Not only did the POWs work long days, they were forced to work in the dark. The lanterns used attracted insects that spread malaria among the POW’s.

Guards were free to act in any way they wished with POW’s being beaten to death for being too slow or not bowing low enough etc. Often the heads of the victims would be impaled on poles in the camp to serve as a warning to others. Food was minimal and contaminated. The POW’s before setting off for work would gather firewood and whatever food they could find in the jungle near the camp like bananas and yams (Walsh, p. 50).

POW’s starved to death and died from cholera, dysentery, malaria and infections. Malaria and dysentery were Tom’s constant companions, but he avoided cholera because he was vaccinated for it when he enlisted. Tom’s uniform had fallen apart and he wore a “Jap Happy” loin cloth. In some ways Tom felt cleaner because there were less places for the lice to hide. He was also barefoot and knew that cuts from the sharp rock fragments could cut his feet and lead to an infection and death (Walsh, p. 51). At one point Tom collapsed from malaria and the guards didn’t even waste a bullet. They walked off and left him. A native came out of the jungle and nursed him for a few days. Her act of kindness restored his faith in humanity (Walsh, p. 52). At Hell Fire Pass over 700 POW’s died (Walsh, p. 54).

Camp Hintok

Tom walked a couple of miles and rejoined his crew. In September 1943 he was moved to Hintok where he remained until the Death Railway was completed in October 1943. He was unofficially promoted to Lance Corporal. This camp had a large fence around it, not to keep the POW’s in but to keep tigers out of the camp. “Tom had survived and beaten the odds despite slaving through mud and virgin jungle across deep gorges and mountainous country, sweltering heat and cold weather, torrential rains, paltry nutrition, and no shoes or access to medical supplies” (Walsh, p. 53).

Camp Tarsao

In January 1944 Tom was transferred to a hospital camp 15 kilometres south. He remained there until June 1944. While he was there in February 1944 Tom was officially declared missing by the army and his father William Walsh (1892-1971) was formally notified by the British Army. In the report that Tom made after the War (Medical Report of Repatriated POWs) he was in a bad way when he got to Camp Tarsao with an abscess on his right buttock (Walsh, p. 57).  Over 806 POW’s are buried in 3 cemeteries of the camp (Walsh, p. 58). Infections without medicines and sanitary conditions were a death sentence, yet somehow Tom survived.

The Last Two Camps

In June 1944, Tom was moved to a relatively new camp called Tamuang, a former tobacco plantation. To reach it Tom travelled on the railway he helped to build with misgivings. He knew that it was weak in spots due to poor construction. Compared to previous camps Tamuang was well laid out and clean. The Japanese army was in retreat and a lot of wounded Japanese soldiers were abandoned there for the POW’s to take care of them (Walsh, p. 59).

In December 1944, Tom was assigned to a labour group that carried war supplies and rations to nearby Japanese troops. Tom would carry on his back sacks of rice weighing 120 pounds. He carried the sack for over a mile and pass it to the next man. Beatings were common and Allied aircraft bombed the area leading to more injuries and deaths (Walsh, p. 61).

Tom was transferred to his last camp, Nakom Hyok, in April 1945. Tom and others were put to work digging trenches and tunnels into the hills surrounding the camp for storing supplies and aviation fuel for the Japanese defence (Walsh, p. 62).

End of the War

The end of the war came quickly after nuclear weapons were used on two Japanese cities in August 1945. After 3.5 years as a POW, Tom was 28.5 years old and free. The 15^th of August the Japanese Emperor announced the country was surrendering and it became official on 2 September 1945. Shortly thereafter Tom was on a ship heading back to England. He landed at Liverpool on 12 October 1945. Tom had a medical which noted he needed dental care. He was found not to need hospitalisation or specialist care. The Medical Officer noted that he was “somewhat subdued” (Walsh, p. 64).

Back to Ballinlammy, Glenmore

Tom was placed on leave until the end of November 1945. He went home to Glenmore to see his parents and family. Just the year before his family was told he was missing and presumed dead. One can only imagine their relief when he returned home. Tom decided to return to London and make it his home. He left the army and eventually in 1948 he landed a job at Ronson as a technical supervisor and remained with that company.

Civilian Life

While a POW Tom’s pay accumulated. He had over £400. In 1948 he met a  petite and beautiful woman named Daphne Jarvis ( c. 1922-2007). They married in 1953 and bought a house in Chessington, Surrey, on Hook Road (Walsh, p. 65). Tom never spoke about his experiences as a POW to anyone but Daphne. Daphne spoke about the scars Tom carried on his neck from beatings etc. Tom died at 59 years of age in 1977. He is buried in Glenmore. His beloved wife Daphne died in 2007 at the age of 85. What is interesting is the fact that even 32 years after the end of the war no mention of his military service or his internment as a Japanese POW was in his obituary in the Munster Express.

Obituary

Munster Express, Fri. 25 Feb. 1977, p. 12

Died in England—Mr. Thomas Kieran Walsh, Chessington, Surrey, Who has died in Epsom, do. was son of the late William and Mrs. Bridget Walsh, Ballinlammy, Glenmore, whence he emigrated forty years ago. He had been on the staff of Ronson Products Ltd., Leatherhead, Surrey, since 1948, and for the past 15 years had been Assistant Manager of the Engraving Department. His demise at the early age of 59 is deeply regretted. He spent his holidays in Ireland every year with his wife at the home of his brother in Ballinlammy.

He was husband of Mrs. Daphne Walsh, Chessington; brother of Jack Walsh, Ballyeden, Rosbercon; Patrick Walsh, Airmount Slieverue; Bill Walsh, Poleberry, Waterford; Joe Walsh, Ballinlammy, Glenmore and uncle of Kevin, Noel and Carmel Walsh, Ballyeden; Leo Walsh, Dublin; Patrick, Edward and Thomas Walsh, Airmount, Slieverue; Mrs. Breda Dalton, Birmingham Bill Walsh, Poleberry; Gerard, Brendan and Vera Walsh, Ballinlammy, and Bernadette Walsh, University College, Galway. He was also son-in-law of Mrs. Daisy Jarvis, London Road, Kingston-on-Thames, Surry. The remains left Dublin Airport on Tuesday of last week for Glenmore Parish Church, and interment took place in the adjoining cemetery on Wednesday morning after Requiem Mass. Rev. T. Heneberry, C.C., Glenmore, was celebrant and also officiated at the graveside, assisted by Very Rev. J. O’Shea, P.P., do. The large attendance included many relatives, friends and sympathisers from South Kilkenny and from Surrey.

Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.historygmail.com.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh

The featured photo above is Thomas Kieran Walsh from the front cover of Rough Justice. The photo of Thomas Kieran Walsh after his release and looking haunted is from page 74 of Rough Justice. The wedding photo of Thomas Kieran Walsh and Daphne Walsh née Jarvis is from page 68 of Rough Justice.