Ronald Shaw
Ronald Francis Shaw (28 November 1920 – 9 August 1945) was a Royal Air Force corporal who was captured by the Japanese during World War II, and was killed by the atomic bombing of Nagasaki while in Japanese captivity.[1]
Shaw was from Edmonton, London, and served as an engine fitter in the Royal Air Force. He initially served in Egypt before being transferred to the Far East. His plane took off from Java to fly to Sumatra, however it turned back[2] and then crashed roughly 16 miles south-east from Lahat,[3] where he was assisted by Chinese civilians.[3]
Shaw was later seen by the No. 84th Squadron R.A.F, who noted he was severely injured, and aboard a boat heading to either India or Colombo.[4] Shaw sent a note to the Officer-in-charge which stated "plane got out of control and crashed".[4] His boat did not reach the destination, and Shaw was declared missing in the Far East.[4]
Shaw was captured in 1942 in Jakarta and taken to Japan as a prisoner of war.[1]
In 1944 he was sent by sea on a Japanese hell ship, however the ship was sunk.[5] Shaw survived and was taken to Kyushu, and then in August 1945 worked in a Nagasaki shipyard.[5]
On 9 August 1945, the US atomic bombing of Nagasaki took place, and the bomb is believed to have exploded close to the area where Shaw was being held prisoner. He was killed when a wall fell on him.[6][7][8][9]
Shaw was the first prisoner of war to be listed at the Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims and the second non-Japanese (the first being a Chinese civilian).[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Rimmer, Alan (4 April 2012). Between Heaven and Hell. Lulu.com. ISBN 9781291209280 – via Google Books.
- ^ "NAA: A705, 163/118/314, Page 64". National Archives of Australia. 20 June 2023. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ a b "NAA: A705, 163/118/314, Page 8". National Archives of Australia. 20 June 2023. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ a b c "NAA: A705, 163/118/314, Page 47". National Archives of Australia. 20 June 2023. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ a b Yokohama, Richard Lloyd Parry in (20 June 2023). "Family hunt to honour only Briton killed by atom bomb". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ Alexander, Harriet; Ryall, Julian (11 August 2013). "British POWs who survived Nagasaki bomb sought for compensation offer". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ a b "Nagasaki memorial adds British POW as A-bomb victim". The Japan Times. 25 June 2005. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
- ^ "UK atom bomb victim is remembered". BBC. 16 May 2005.
- ^ CWGC entry
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- World War II prisoners of war held by Japan
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