Hutt Airman Honoured

Hutt News, Volume 20, Issue 20, 16 October 1946, Page 7

Hutt Airman Honoured

FLYING CROSS AWARDED SERVICES IN FAR EAST The Distinguished Flying Cross has been awarded to Flight-Lieuten-ant Ivor Julian, of Lower Hutt. Flight-Lieutenant Julian, after participating in operations from Britain, was in command of a squadron in the Far East. Escaping from Singapore, they went to Java, where they lost connection with the outside world. An attempted escape failed, and the airmen went up into the hills trying to find a way out. This was found to be impossible, owing to the fact that the whole of the surrounding islands had been taken by the enemy. Eventually they were surrounded by Japanese and taken prisoner. The prisoners were taken to Singapore, then to Japan, and finally to Manchuria. Reported Dead Flight-Lieutenant Julian, who tor two years was reported dead, spent 31 years in Japanese prison camps. The end of the war found him in Mukden, in Manchuria. "That was a happy day, a day of which we had talked and dreamed for years," said the young airman. The Japanese treated their prisoners very badly, and the Allied servicemen who were unfortunate enough to fall into their hands suffered great hardships and privations. When Flight-Lieutenant Julian was released last year he weighed only 7.10. The award 'of the Distinguished Flying Cross came as a surprise to the airman, who modestly disclaimed doing anything more than his duty. He said that he had heard before he was taken prisoner that he had been recommended for a decoration for operations in Java, but could not say for which particular operations. "It was all so long ago!" he added.