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Group VI
Early March 1943, we were told to move again some of us by barge but nearly 5000 men British and Dutch had to walk. In small groups, the straggling band of sick and tired POWs covered the 30km that separated the old camp from the new one at Hindato. Hin Daad, another small village on the other side of the river, consisted of only six or seven houses For some of the prisoners it was only an overnight stop on their way to camps further along the line: Brankassi, Takanon and Tomajan, which were part of the same Number Six Group as Hindato.
The work here was the same as before Clearing jungle to build hut first for the Japanese then for the prisoners. All available hands to begin work on a new section of the railway track as soon as possible.
We could get tobacco, a product of the country, but cigarette- paper was impossible to obtain in the jungle. For the POWs who had books, especially those printed on fine paper, their barter value became so high, that many an owner was tempted to either smoke the pages himself or to exchange them for food or fruit. The conflict between spiritual and physical survival was summed up very well by a Protestant Minister, who advised his flock: “I don’t care if you smoke your Bible, provided you read it first.”
Despite all of our precautions, early in May 1943, the first cases of cholera appeared in Nike POW Camp.
October 17, 1943 was a great day, not only for the Japanese but also for the prisoners and other workers on the railway.
On that day we were told, the two parts of the track, one from Burma and the other from Thailand had met in Konkuita. A holiday was declared for October 25 and on that day a gaily festooned train arrived at the camp, which unloaded extra rations for the Japanese troops and even some for the prisoners.
From Neilīs Story
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Hindat
Also Named:
Japanese
VI Group
