Ken Heyes

Messages:

INTRODUCTION
These pages are dedicated to my father Ken Heyes, his good friend, Ernie Badham and all the other brave soldiers who spent so many years in the hell-holes that were the Japanese P.O.W camps during World War II. My Dad is not with us to tell his own story although he did keep a diary of those times which is now in the Canberra War Memorial. I have used the story that Ernie wrote about his experiences in these camps as it also includes mention of my dad and is a wonderful, moving tribute to all those brave men.

Dad also did many drawings in the long nights after they finished 12 to 14 hours working on the rail and I have included some of them throughout these pages and at the end of Ernie's story. Click here if you would like to have a quick look.

I was prompted to publish their story by a news article that once again the soldiers who were prisoners of the Japanese in World War II, have had their claim for compensation rejected by the Japanese government. I challenge anyone to read the following and not believe that these brave men deserve the highest compensation for the inhumane way they were treated. My mother does not have her husband by her side in her old age, my sister and I do not have our father and our children never had a chance to know their grandfather because of the treatment he received in the P.O.W camps, which ultimately resulted in his death some thirty-five years later.

Soon there will be none of these brave men left to seek compensation, only their loved ones who are still suffering from their absence. For my dad and his mates - Lest we Forget!!

Footnote: 23 May, 2001 - Congratulations to the Australian Government, who in their budget last night, announced a $25 000 payout for Japanese POW's or their surviving spouses. Great to see they haven't been forgotten by our government at least!!

I often have people asking questions about the POW camps and unfortunately don't have anyone who can answer them. Now however, many thanks to Wayne Joseph and his dad James who will be glad to answer any questions about the War days. Their email is: wjoseph@hwy.com.au if anyone would like to contact them. Thanks again for the offer Wayne.

I have now commenced trying to decipher my Dad's Diary that he kept from the time he was captured until his release. I'll add a link to it here once I've done it.

Pages by Glenda Crew, 6 January, 1999
Story © copyright S. Badham
Drawings © copyright M. Heyes