John William Thomas Bell (1880 - aft. 1944)

Born 24 Jan 1880 in Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia

Husband of Ethel Harriett Victoria (Williams) Bell — married 26 Apr 1903 (to 1944) in Queensland, Australia

Died after 18 Feb 1944 after age 64 in Kavieng, New Ireland, Papua New Guinea

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Biography

John was born in 1880, killed 17 March 1944 [18 February 1944] at Kavieng wharf aged 64. Owner of Soubu/Penipol plantation. Husband of Ethel Harriett Victoria and father of Les, Lincoln, Stan and Don

John was born in 1880 at Port Douglas, Queensland.

He married Ethel Harriet Victoria Williams on 26 Apr 1903 in Queensland. They had at least 4 sons, all born in North Queensland.

Some time in the mid 1930's he and his family moved to the Mandated Territory of New Guinea where he was the owner of Soubu/Penipal plantation on New Ireland. His four adult sons also settled in New Guinea.^[1]

When the Japanese invaded New Ireland on 23 Jan 1942 he may have been one of the civilians who attempted to cross to New Britain in small craft ahead of the landing, but in any case he was captured and returned to Kavieng and interned as a civilian prisoner.

Conditions were harsh, particularly for all prisoners, European, Chinese and mixed race alike and got steadily worse as Japanese reverses cut off supplies.

Along with up to 35 others, he was executed by the Japanese at Kavieng Wharf in 1944 by strangulation, with the bodied dumped at sea. Accounts vary, as the Japanese tried to cover up the event, but it occurred some time from 18 Feb 1944 (when the Japanese fabricated their loss on a ship which was sunk) and 17 Mar 1944.

After the war, evidence of the cover-up emerged. Rear Admiral Tamura Ryukichi who gave the order was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging by the Allies. Five other Japanese were convicted with sentences of from 4 to 15 years imprisonment.^[2]

Of his 4 adult sons, one died in the sinking of the Montevideo Maru, two were Coastwatchers, one of whom was killed in action and the other enlisted as a soldier.

Sources

1. ↑ http://www.jje.info/lostlives/exhib/potp/rollofhonour.html
2. ↑ General and civil staff correspondence files and Army personnel files - National Archives of Australia - [Massacre of approximately 23 Australian internees at Kavieng] War crimes - Rear Admiral TAMURA, Ryokichi and others [1cm] - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=393662

au QLD BDM (Australian, Queensland Births Deaths Marriages)

• People of the Plague - Roll of Honour - http://www.jje.info/lostlives/exhib/potp/rollofhonour.html
• Birth - Queensland BDM Birth index - John Bell; Event date: 24/01/1880; Event type: Birth registration; Registration details: 1880/C/861; Mother: Mary Ellen O'Reilley; Father/parent: George Bell

• Marriage - Queensland BDM Marriage index - Ethel Harriett Williams; Event date: 26/04/1903; Event type: Marriage registration; Registration details: 1903/C/947; Spouse: John William Bell

• Rabaul and Montevideo Maru Memorial - http://www.memorial.org.au/Electronic/CivilianList.htm