This article contains accounts of those people who were Japanese Prisoners-of-War (POW) and were awarded the George Cross for their conduct. All of these George Cross awards, except the award made to Captain Durrani, were made posthumously.
MATEEN AHMED ANSARI
Mateen Ahmed Ansari was a Captain in the 5th Battalion, 7th Rajput Regiment, Indian Army, and a member of the British Army Aid Group.
Captain Ansari became a Japanese Prisoner of War when Japan invaded Hong Kong in December 1941.
For a time he was treated reasonably well, but as he was closely related to a ruler of a great Indian State his captors tried to persuade him to renounce his allegiance to the British and help to spread subversion amongst the Indian ranks in the prison camps. When they found these approaches were useless he was thrown into Stanley Jail in May 1942, where he suffered starvation and brutal ill-treatment. On being returned to the prisoner of war camp he still proclaimed his loyalty to the British and in May 1943 he was again thrown into Stanley Jail where he was starved and tortured for 5 months. He was finally sentenced to death with over 30 other British, Indian and Chinese prisoners and executed by beheading during the period of 20-29 October 1943. Throughout his long ordeal Captain Ansari’s loyalty, courage and endurance never wavered and his example helped many others to remain loyal.
Captain Ansari is buried in Stanley Military Cemetery, Hong Kong, reference 1.E.Coll. grave 1.
The award of the George Cross to Captain Ansari was published in the London Gazette on 18 April 1946:
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the GEORGE CROSS, in recognition of most conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner, to the undermentioned:
Colonel (temporary) Lanceray Arthur NEWNHAM, MC, The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge’s Own)
London Gazette 18 April 1946.
Captain (acting) Douglas FORD, The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) (Edinburgh 7)
Captain (acting) Mateen Ahmed ANSARI, 7th Rajput Regiment, Indian Army.
MAHMOOD KHAN DURRANI
Mahmood Khan Durrani was born on 1 July 1914. He was a Captain, later a Lieutenant Colonel, in the 1st Bahawalpur Infantry, Indian State Forces.
During the retreat in Malaya in 1942 captain Durrani was cut off with a small party and succeeded in remaining free in hiding for 3 months, when he was betrayed to the Indian Nationalist Army and was sent to a Japanese Prisoner of War camp. He refused to become a member of the Japanese-sponsored Indian Nationalist Army and took active steps to thwart Japanese efforts to infiltrate members of that organisation into India. In fact he conceived the idea of founding a school to send Muslim agents into India to oppose the ideas the Japanese were trying to put across.
To start with his efforts were successful, but in May 1944 the Japanese arrested him and he was subjected to every form of torture in an effort to find out his accomplices in the scheme. As this produced no result he was handed over to the Indian Nationalist Army where he was again tortured and even condemned to death, but he still refused to give any information. The end of the war brought his liberation, but his health was affected for many years.
Captain’s Durrani’s award of the George Cross was published in the London Gazette on 23 May 1946:
With a small party he was cut off during the withdrawal in Malaya. They succeeded in remaining free in hiding for three months until betrayal, when they were arrested and confined. Refusing to join the I.N.A this officer devoted himself to rendering valuable service.
He then conceived and put into execution, a plan for thwarting the Japanese plans for infiltrating agents into India. After many delays and set backs due to falling under suspicion he ultimately achieved much of his objective.
Presumably as a result of the suspicion that he had been responsible for the failure of their plans, he was arrested by the Japanese. For ten days he was subjected to third degree methods including starvation, deprivation of sleep and physical torture such as the application of burning cigarettes to his legs.
Subsequently he was given a mock trial and condemned to death but the execution was postponed in order that information should be extracted. He was then tortured by various particularly brutal methods continuously for several days. The exact time is uncertain as there were periods of unconsciousness, but it was certainly lasted for some days. No information whatever was obtained from him. Thereafter he was kept in solitary confinement for several months, with occasional interrogations and was given little medical treatment and just enough food to sustain life.
When finally liberated he was found to be permanently affected in health and still bears the marks of physical torture. He will never be the same again. Throughout he was fully aware of the possible consequences of his actions and, when discovered, he preferred to undergo protracted and cruel torture rather than confess his plans and save himself, because he still hoped that he might achieve his purpose. To confess would have endangered others’ lives and might have influenced the enemy to change their plans.
His outstanding example of deliberate cold-blooded bravery is most fully deserving of the highest award.
After World War Two Durrani resumed his military career in the Pakistan Army, retiring in 1971. Colonel Durrani became the one of the first George Cross Committee members of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association.
A poet and noted writer, he died in 1995 aged 81 years’ old. His autobiography “The Sixth Column” was published in the UK during 1955.
DOUGLAS FORD
Douglas Ford was born on 18 September 1918 at Galashiels in Scotland before residing in Edinburgh. Captain Ford was an officer in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots, and a member of the British Army Aid Group.
Captain Ford was taken prisoner at Hong Kong in December 1941 and whilst in captivity managed, with a number of other prisoners, to gain contact with British agents. They were arranging a scheme for a general break-out when, on 10 July 1943, Captain Ford and several others (also see Colonel Newnham and Flight Lieutenant Gray) were arrested by the Japanese. Captain Ford was interrogated, starved, tortured and finally sentenced to death in an endeavour to make him talk, but he refused to implicate his fellow prisoners.
On 18 December 1943 the group of now physically weak prisoners were taken from Stanley Prison to Big Wave Bay and executed by firing squad.
Captain Ford is buried in Stanley Military Cemetery, Hong Kong, grave reference 1.B.41.
The citation for his posthumous George Cross was published in the London Gazette on 18 April 1946:
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the GEORGE CROSS, in recognition of most conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner, to the undermentioned:
Colonel (temporary) Lanceray Arthur NEWNHAM, MC, The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge’s Own)
London Gazette 18 April 1946.
Captain (acting) Douglas FORD, The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) (Edinburgh 7)
Captain (acting) Mateen Ahmed ANSARI, 7th Rajput Regiment, Indian Army.
JOHN ALEXANDER FRASER
John Alexander Fraser was born in Edinburgh, Scotland during 1897. During the First World War he had served in The Royal Scots Fusiliers, and was awarded the Military Cross twice (MC and bar). He became an Assistant Attorney General (Colonial Service) in Hong Kong, serving with the British Army Aid Group.
When the Japanese invaded Hong Kong in December 1941 Mr. Fraser was interned in the Civil Internment Camp in Stanley. He immediately started to organise escape plans and a clandestine wireless service for his fellow prisoners. Eventually he was arrested and subjected to prolonged torture by the Japanese to make him disclose the names of those who were working with him. His fortitude was such that it was even committed upon by the Japanese guards. He steadfastly refused to utter one word, and, unable to break his spirit, the Japanese executed him on 29 October 1943.
Mr. Fraser is buried in Stanley Military Cemetery, Hong Kong, reference 1.C.Coll. grave 1-11.
The award of the George Cross to Mr. Fraser was published in the London Gazette on 25 October 1946:
Fraser was interned by the Japanese in the Civilian Internment Camp, Stanley, and immediately organised escape plans and clandestine wireless service. He was fully aware of the risks that he ran but engaged continuously in, most dangerous activities and was successful, not only in receiving news from outside, but also in getting important information out of the Camp. Eventually he was arrested and subjected to prolonged and severe torture by the Japanese who were determined to obtain information from him and to make him implicate the others who were working with him. Under this treatment he steadfastly refused to utter one word that could help the Japanese investigations or bring punishment to others. His fortitude under the most severe torture was such that it was commented upon by the Japanese prison guards. Unable to break his spirit the Japanese finally executed him. His devotion to duty, outstanding courage and endurance were the source of very real inspiration to others and there can be no doubt the lives of those whom the Japanese were trying to implicate were saved by his magnificent conduct.
London Gazette 25 October 1946.
HECTOR BERTRAM GRAY
Hector Bertram Gray was born in Gillingham, Kent, on 6 June 1911. He was a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force, and a member of the British Army Aid Group. Flight Lieutenant Gray was also the holder of the Air Force Medal (AFM).
Flight Lieutenant Gray was part of a group taken prisoner (also see Captain Ford and Colonel Newnham) in Hong Kong during December 1941. During his captivity he did all he could to sustain the morale of his fellow prisoners. He smuggled much needed drugs into the camp and distributed them to those who were seriously ill, and he also ran a news service on information he received from people outside the camp. He was tortured continually over a period of nearly 6 months to make him divulge the names of his informants, but he disclosed nothing.
On 18 December 1943 the group of now physically weak prisoners were taken from Stanley Prison to Big Wave Bay and executed by firing squad.
Flight Lieutenant Gray is buried in Stanley Military Cemetery, Hong Kong, grave reference 1.A.59.
The award of the George Cross to Flight Lieutenant Gray was published in the London Gazette on 18 April 1946:
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve a posthumous award of the GEORGE CROSS in recognition of most conspicuous gallantry in carryingout hazardous work in a very brave manner, to:
Flight Lieutenant Hector Bertram GRAY, AFM, Royal Air Force.
London Gazette 18 April 1946.
LIONEL COLIN MATTHEWS
Lionel Colin Matthews was born in Stepney, South Australia, on 15 August 1912. He was a Captain in Australian Corps of Signals, Australian Military Forces.
Captain Matthews was captured by the Japanese when Singapore fell on 15 February 1942. After Signapore’s capture, the Japanese sent several thousand British and Australian POWs were sent to camps in Borneo, mainly in the Sandakan area on the eastern coast. Once here, they were forced to work on constructing airfields.
In October 1943 most of the officers were separated from their men and sent to Kuching. During his imprisonment, he was continually interrogated and tortured in an attempt to make him give information which would have implicated his comrades and been beneficial to the Japanese. Over a prolonged period, he refused to give them any help at all.
The conditions for the men left behind at Sandakan greatly worsened, and they were routinely beaten, starved and overworked by the Japanese.
In February 1945 the Japanese, anticipating Allied landings in Borneo, decided to force the remaining POWs, more than 1000, to take part in the “Death March to Ranau”. Only 260 POWs reached the destination of Ranau, 160 miles inland from Sandakan. Of these 260 POWs, only 6 (six) survived to see the end of the war. These 6 only survived due to escaping and living with the natives in the jungle.
Captain Matthews was executed by the Japanese at Kuching on 2nd March 1944 and even at the time of his execution defied the Japanese.
Captain Matthews is buried in Labuan War Cemetery, Malaysia, grave reference J.B.15.
The award of the George Cross to Captain Matthews was published in the London Gazette on 28 November 1947:
Captain Matthews was a prisoner of war held by the Japanese in Sandakan, Borneo between August 1942 and March 1944. During this period he directed personally an underground intelligence organisation and arranged through native contacts for the delivery into the camp of sorely needed medical supplies, food and money, factors which not only kept up the morale and courage of the prisoners but which undoubtedly saved the lives of many. He was instrumental in arranging a radio link with the outside world and was able to send weekly news bulletins to the civil internees on Berhala Island.
He was also responsible for arranging the delivery to a secret rendezvous of firearms for future use. Although a prisoner of war, Captain Matthews was appointed to command the North British Armed Constabulary and at great danger organised that body, together with the loyal native population in Sandakan into readiness for a rising against the Japanese. He gained contact with guerrilla forces in the Philippines and successfully organised escape parties. He continued these activities at the greatest peril to himself until arrested by the Kempei Tai. Captain Matthews, although subjected to brutal torture, beatings, and starvation, steadfastly refused to make admissions to implicate or endanger the lives of his associates. His conduct at all times was that of a very brave and courageous gentleman and he worthily upheld the highest traditions of an Australian officer.
London Gazette 28 November 1947,
LANCERAY ARTHUR NEWNHAM
Lanceray Arthur Newnham, born on 3 August 1889 in India (the son of Son of Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Tristram H. Newnham and Ekaterina Newnham) before moving to live in Cornwell. Colonel Newnham was an officer in the Middlesex Regiment.
While a prisoner of war in Japanese hands, Colonel Newnham tried to gain contact with British agents, and early in 1943 he succeeded in doing so. While correspondence was being exchanged and plans for a general break-out being arranged, the Japanese discovered the organisation and on 10 July 1943 Colonel Newnham and a number of others (see Captain Ford and Flight Lieutenant Gray) were arrested.
The group of three were taken to Stanley Prison and interrogated under torture. Colonel Newnham, together with the other two, refused to implicate anyone else. Colonel Newnham repeatedly insisted that he was entirely responsible for organising the attempted escape. Colonel Newnham was severely beaten up, starved, allowed no exercise and no communication with the outside world.
Finally all three members of the group were sentenced to death. For 18 days they lay in their cells with no medical attention, no hope of reprieve, and forbidden to write a note of farewell to relatives and friends. During this period, the Japanese had hoped that it would break their nerve, and that the group would divulge more information. They failed in this attempt.
On 18 December 1943 the group of now physically weak prisoners were taken to Big Wave Bay and executed by firing squad.
Colonel Newnham is buried in Stanley Military Cemetery, Hong Kong, grave reference 1.A.58.
The award of the Middlesex Regiment’s only George Cross was published in the London Gazette on 18 April 1946:
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the GEORGE CROSS, in recognition of most conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner, to the undermentioned:
Colonel (temporary) Lanceray Arthur NEWNHAM, MC, The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge’s Own)
London Gazette 18 April 1946.
Captain (acting) Douglas FORD, The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) (Edinburgh 7)
Captain (acting) Mateen Ahmed ANSARI, 7th Rajput Regiment, Indian Army.
Colonel Newnham’s George Cross and other medals, are on display in London’s Imperial War Museum.