On This Day in FEPOW History – 9 March 1942
On this day, 9 March 1942, the Allied forces in Java surrendered to the Japanese, sealing the fate of thousands of British, Dutch, Australian, and American troops. Among them were around 6,000 British soldiers who were taken as Far East Prisoners of War (FEPOWs).
For these men, captivity marked the beginning of a brutal and unforgiving struggle for survival. They were herded into makeshift camps, often with little to no shelter, food, or medical care. Disease ran rampant—dysentery, malaria, and beriberi claimed countless lives, made worse by the relentless forced labour imposed by their captors.
Many of the captured soldiers were transported to other parts of the Japanese-occupied territories, crammed into suffocating cargo holds on what became known as “hellships.” These transport ships, often unmarked, were frequent targets of Allied submarines and aircraft, leading to devastating losses of FEPOW lives.
For those sent to labour camps, the suffering was unimaginable. Many were forced to work on the notorious Burma-Thailand Railway, the Sumatra Railway, or in Japanese coal mines and factories. Conditions were so severe that the survival rate in some camps was less than 50%.
The British Regiments in Java
Several British regiments were stationed in Java at the time of its surrender:
• 77th (Welsh) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery – Arrived in Java in early February 1942, tasked with defending the naval base at Surabaya. After fierce fighting, they surrendered on 12 March 1942. Survivors endured over three years of captivity under brutal conditions.
• 6th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery – Elements of this regiment, including the 12th and 15th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Batteries, were diverted to Java after the fall of Singapore. Lacking their heavy equipment, they were deployed as infantry to defend airfields before surrendering. Many later perished as FEPOWs.
• ‘B’ Squadron, 3rd The King’s Own Hussars – Originally en route to Singapore, this armoured unit was redirected to Java. Equipped with Vickers Mark VI light tanks, they fought against Japanese forces but were ultimately ordered to surrender. 54 members died in captivity.
• 16th Anti-Aircraft Brigade – Commanded by Brigadier H.D.W. Sitwell, this brigade included the 21st and 48th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiments. Many units, lacking their guns, were repurposed as infantry to defend key strategic points before their eventual capture.
The Legacy of Java’s Fall
The fall of Java was a critical moment in the war, not just for strategic reasons but for the human cost that followed. Thousands of men were condemned to years of unimaginable suffering as FEPOWs, and many never returned home.
Today, we remember those who were taken prisoner, those who perished, and those who carried the scars of captivity for the rest of their lives.
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