EXECUTED BY JAPANESE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25560, 13 June 1944, Page 4

EXECUTED BY JAPANESE

PRISONERS ON PACIFIC ISLAND NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS’ FATE The death has now been confirmed of Private John Hugh Nichol, elder son of Mr and Mrs William Nichol, of Te Puke, Bay of Plenty, and formerly of Otago and Southland. Private Nichol was born at Gore in 1915 and educated at the Waimumu primary school, Southland, the Toko primary school.

and the Stratford District High School, Taranaki. He was engaged in farming pursuits and was president of the Te Puke Young Farmers’ Club when he left on military service overseas on May 16, 1941. When he was stationed at Fiji ho was one of 22 men selected for special military duties on the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. While on Nonouti lie was captured by the Japanese on September 6, 1942, and was held prisoner on Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, till October 15, 1942. On that date an Allied cruiser and aircraft bombarded Tarawa Atoll, and in revenge for the damage done, and to prevent escape to the Allies, 17 New Zealanders and five civilians were executed by the Japanese. Of the original party of 22 on this service, only three managed to avoid falling into Japanese hands. The remaining two prisoners of war have sent radio messages from Japan.