We hold a computerised database of the 25,000 original names. An additional 6000 FEPOW (unlisted) who died before cessation of hostilities on 2nd September 1945 have been added. It was further extended to record names of FEPOW who survived the camps but have died in freedom.
The database is not available for public access but is searchable by the archivist on request.
Among the Armed Forces listed in the books are British Air, Sea and Land Forces and Regiments.
Also included are:
Merchant Navy
Overseas Volunteer Forces
Commonwealth Forces
Indian Army
Dutch Military
We also hold some records on civilians and some civilian internees; unfortunately little detailed information has survived for the civilians mentioned.
Details of Service Personnel generally include the following:
Service Number
Rank
Surname
Initials (some Forenames appear in full)
Regiment &/or Unit
Some details are missing for some names.
Only a few Camps are mentioned in the database.
Names that are already entered, can have the details corrected if they are incorrect.
Viewing / searching the Books
The Books can be seen in the cabinet when visiting – a page is always open.
NB. To view/search a specific name an appointment has to be made before visiting to avoid disappointment.
Visits at other times can be arranged by contacting the Parish Office or the Archivist. Suitable arrangements can then be made for your visit, and additional information given.
Adding names to the Books
To be added to the Books, names must fit at least one of the criteria, below:
The person who died was held captive in the Japanese POW/ Internment Camps (there were over 600) or Prison-‘Hellships’ during WWII.
The person survived captivity and the hostilities as FEPOW/Internee, and died in freedom post-war from 2nd September 1945.
The intention of this criteria is specific; however, it is apparent that some of the names are now known to have been Killed in Action. We aim to abide by the original criteria of FEPOW or Internee for inclusion. This criteria applies equally to Civilian Internees including children and those born in internment. To ensure a correct entry we need as much detail as possible. Ideally, Service Number; Rank; Surname, Forenames or Initials and Regiment. For civilians we require places of employment. Local Defence Forces details may also be helpful as well as Camp names and approximate dates of imprisonment/ internment if known.
Original entries:
We cannot alter the handwritten Books on display. However, as these names have been transferred to an electronic database, amendments can be made to incomplete records there.
Sources:
The original list was compiled in the 1950s, but no information about where the names were obtained from survives, but relatives, casualty lists, and any organisation that held relevant details were approached before inception of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The information we hold is entirely dependent on information provided (by relatives, friends, ex-comrades or veterans newsletters which may not always be correct. We do not have the resources to substantiate names submitted for inclusion, but we will assist where we can from the knowledge and published books we have acquired..
Please note: We are not, and have never been part of any military or governmental organisation. Neither do we receive information from any official source.
Lest we Forget
May their honoured memory live on in our hearts
Donations
The Far Eastern Prisoners of War (FEPOW) Memorial Church was paid for largely by public subscription through appeals, parish fund raising and relatives’ donations.
A formal fee for checking/entering names is not demanded for this facility. To help maintain the work of this important Memorial Church all donations to the church are welcome. If the donor is a UK taxpayer the donation can be gift-aided: HMRC requires a special gift aid envelope to be used. This is available on request.
Donations can be made by
Cheque - made payable to: Wymondham Roman Catholic Church
Online - by Dona at https://donate.mydona.com/wymondham-rc-church
Guided Visits
Visitors are most welcome. The FEPOW Memorial Shrine is a side-Chapel within the church to the memory of FEPOW. It houses a cabinet displaying three Books of Remembrance with names of FEPOW who died in Japanese captivity. A second cabinet houses some New Books of Remembrance. These augment FEPOW who died but were not listed in the original Books, and one volume contains the names of FEPOW Survivors who have died since their release from captivity. There are also other FEPOW artefacts.
Special Entry Certificate
A copy page of a FEPOW’s Entry in the Book of Remembrance is now available on request for a fee of £20 .
Please contact the Archivist via the email below, to obtain a copy.
Useful Links
There are many sources of help & information available. Here are a few
Web links to other useful FEPOW Resources
JAVA Club - http://www.thejavafepowclub42.org/
NFFWRA National Fellowship of FEPOW Remembrance Association - https://nationalfepowfellowship.org.uk/
CoFEPOW –Children of FEPOW - https://www.cofepow.org.uk/
Taiwan POW Memorial Association - http://www.powtaiwan.org/
For Overseas Volunteer Forces
MVG Malayan Volunteers Group https://www.malayanvolunteersgroup.org.uk/
FEPOW Community https://www.fepow-community.org.uk
There are many more…
Contacts
Archivist
Peter Wiseman
Tel: 01953 604144
Email: phandtmwiseman@gmail.com