如水会
実務英語研究会 |
如水会
実務英語研究会 |
| December 17,1993 | |
|
Dear Yuichi: I finally got a letter off to you two days later I received another one.Now I am feeling better and have all of my Xmas chores behind me. Most of my correspondence has been answered.I still have about two more days of letter writing. I wanted to answer your letter as soon as possible as I will be leaving in about a week to spend Xmas with my son in South Texas and then I will be going on to the San Francisco area. I will be gone at least three weeks. I am looking forward to my trip to S.F. as I will be meeting with Tony Montanari, who make film documentaries, and is working on a project about the various women who broadcast as " Tokyo Rose" during the war.His particular interests is vindicating the women sentenced by the government. He has some film showing the release of POWs from some of camps. I am hoping he has something on Omori. I believe I told you about this in my last letter. The pictures you enclosed are most interesting as I recall several individuals. I have no idea when Picture #1 was taken. It seems like all of the individuals are perhaps British. The man standing on Bush's right is Chief Petty Officer Parker of the Royal Navy. His camp number was #5 and he assisted Captain James, the Out-side Work Officer in Omori. Two other faces are familiar, but I cannot identify them. The forth man to Bush's right and on the end is Tom Quilliam, CPO in Royal Navy. Parker died years ago and Tom is close to it. Tom has been on 100% disability since the war. Mather nor myself are in the photo. According to the interrogations reports of Col.Suzuki and of Private Kana, which I have in my files, Watanabe was assigned as interpreter and in charge of disciple at Omori in November, 1943. He left the camp on December 31, 1994, when he was transferred to a camp at Naoetsu(4B). I would guess the picture was taken in December of 1943 based on the facts that Watanabe was trying to show the image of a "good guy" during his first few months at Omori and that the individuals in the picture all seem to be British. The largest proportion of British was during 1943. These facts are based upon statements made by Captain James. I will try to make copies of the photo and send them to several British fellows for additional identifications. As I mentioned in my last letter, I do have a Xerox copy of the portion of Bush's "Clutch of Circumstances" dealing with Omori. I have a book dealer in Houston trying to find me a copy of the book for my collection. I doubt he will be able to locate one for sale. I am fairly sure the man just to the left of Bush is Major Frankcom(to the right in the photo). The man kneeling on the far left of the picture and in front of Quilliam could be Capt. Badger. Thepicture is too dark to be sure. I vaguely remember Lt.Nishiba. There is a very slight similarity with the man in my photo.I do not recall Capt.Kuramoto. I was particularly interested in picture #3 . I have always believed the wall around the camp was about ten feet high, although others said it was eight feet in height. Your pictures seems to verify my belief. Sometimes ago, I received a modern map of Tokyo and tried to locate where the camp had been. It was impossible. Your enlarged photos of the map have made the area much clearer to me. Even though I would not recognize anything, I would like to see the area. I will let Tom Wade know you are planning to be in London next summer. I feel sure he will be glad to see you. All of the men mentioned ( Badger,Frankcom,Bowen-Jones,Redford,Pennington) are dead. The only ones that I know of in the London are still alive are : Tom W. Middleton, Tom Wade,Robert Parvin, Others in various parts of England are; Ted Allo, Harry Berry, W.Besnard, Fred Boughey, Derek Clarke, Eric Dawson, Robert Gibbs,"Jigs" Leman,"Tiger"Lewis,Brian Pennington, Peter Paul, Lem Stevens,A.Tate,Alfie Tropp and Tom Quilliam. In Scotland are Tom Burke, Tommy Byrne, Peter Gillis and Thomas Quinn. Do any of these names sound familiar? I have visited most of them. Please let me know as soon as you determine when you will be England as there is always the possibility I can arrange to be there at the same time. As I explained in a previous letter, it is difficult for me to know when I can go to Europe due to my getting a flight on an Air Forece plane. Usulally,I know only a few weeks before a flight is available. I usually go in the early Spring (March-May) or Fall(September-November) when most of the tourists have gone and it is easier to get on an Air Force Flight. I will try again to get to Spain. I tried twice this year and had no luck in getting on a flight going that way,; but I did see Venice and Amsterdam. I wish you a happy holiday season and a good New Year. Sincerely, Bob |
|
如水会 実務英語研究会
|