|
D/MX53865
Leading Sick Berth Attendant
Thomas Hodgson
1913/07/14 - Born Leigh, Lancashire
Son of Edward and Martha (nee Disley) Hodgson
Brother to Willie and Irene
Royal Navy
Service
Stationed Hong Kong
Japanese PoW
1941/12/25 - Captured Hong Kong
Shamshuipo Camp
PoW No. 5436
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1942/09/27 - Sailed from Hong Kong for Shanghai in the Lisbon Maru with 1816 prisoners on board.
Thomas was aboard the Lisbon Maru as part of the Medical Detachment. On the third day at sea Diptheria broke out so he was kept very busy.
1942/10/01 - A noise like air rushing out of a tyre woke the sleeping PoWs and they realised a torpedo had just missed the ship. A few minutes later there was a loud explosion and the ships engines stopped.
The submarine, USS Grouper SS-214 had attacked and hit the Lisbon Maru, 6 miles from Tung Fusham Island, off the China coast, 29°57'N, 122°56'N..
At 7.30pm the Japanese destroyer ‘Kure’ and the Toyokuni Maru took off all the Japanese except a machine gun crew who had their gun trained on the Battened down hold so the PoWs could not escape.
1942/10/02 - The Lisbon Maru sunk
Chinese fishing boats picked up survivors and landed them at Woosung, Nr. Shanghai. They were later transported to Japan.
1942/10/11 - Transported to Osaka 1B Camp
Thomas was admitted into Kokura Army Hospital due to a bacterial infection.
1942/11/25 - Discharged from the hospital
1945/09/08 - Liberated
Repatriation
USS Admiral Hughes
1945/09/24 - Depart Manila
1945/10/09 - British disembarked Victoria, Canada.
British then entrained to the East Coast to be transported in Queen Elizabeth to Southampton.
|
Pacific Star
|
War Medal
|
1939-1945 Star
|
|
|
|
Far East Medals
Information
Ursula Jones - Daughter
Battle for Hong Kong
Lisbon Maru
Repatriation
Books by Tony Banham:-
‘Not the Slightest Chance - The Defence of Hong Kong’
‘We Shall Suffer There - Hong Kong Defenders Imprisoned’
‘The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru’
KEW Files:- WO 392/24, WO 361/1963, WO 361/1744, WO 361/1744/2,
|
