From: The Australian Merchant Navy | British Fleets Many other ships of British merchant fleets were part of the Allies' Pacific and Indian Oceans war effort. While the major part of this site relates to Australian coastal and adjacent Asian and Pacific waters, and while it is ot possible to tell the full story of the British fleets on the wider oceans, one event, of a tragic, horrendous nature must not go without mention. Merchant seamen and many others know it as the "Behar Massacre". The 111 souls aboard the P & O Hain Lines' Behar (85 crew, 17 Artillery/DEMS gnners and Asdic operators and 9 passengers including two women) were to experience from 9 March 1944, en route from New Zealand and Melbourne to Bombay, an unimaginable ordeal. An account of the events is summarised here, but to learn more, click on Narratives. On the morning of 9 March, the Japanese heavy cruiser Tone intercepted and opened fire on Behar in the vicinity of the Cocos Islands. The victim was quickly ablaze and sinking, with three of its complement lost by the time four lfeboats were launched, the remaining crew and passengers being taken on board Tone. That night, on Tone's deck, the calculated murder of 72 of them took place - 53 crew, 15 gunners and 4 passengers (though the women were spared) - by felling and beheading. Those remaining were landed at Tandjong Priok, to see the war out as prisoners of war, with all the privations that meant.The War Crimes trials brought some justice, but the Behar Massacre became yet another example of the many dangers, and horrors, faced by merchant mariners.
This was a despicable and murderous act. It is interesting to contrast the treatment of seafarers by the u-boat commanders and those of the Japanese Navy. Military and civillian seafarers although at war had another enemy and that was the sea. U-boat commanders on the whole were not attempting to target those who had made for the lifeboats, their goal was the sinking of Allied tonnage. When it came to total and brutal warfare the Japanese were experts at it. Not good enough to sink a ship or down an aircraft but they had to kill the occupants so they would not live to fight again. Spidge the link to the Narrative dosent work. Regards Hugh
Link fixed. I'm not really surprised at the treatment by the Japanese of the crews considering how callous they were with their own crews when one of their own ships was sunk.
A recent addition to the Narratives on Ron Wylie's Australian Merchant Navy site: The Australian Merchant Navy | Behar Massacre written by Billy McGee. Regards Hugh
Anniversary - Lest We Forget Tomorrow evening 18th March on the 64th anniversary, spare a thought for those survivors of the ss BEHAR who were taken aboard the Japanese heavy cruiser TONE after the sinking of their ship (9th March 1944). On the evening of 18th March, 72 survivors were randomly picked out, punched and kicked to the ground and then ruthlessly beheaded. "When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today" Lest We Forget. Regards Hugh
Well spotted, Hugh, and well done for bringing it to our attention. A quiet thought for these people so they're never forgotten. Should we perhaps set up an anniversary notice akin to the birthday notice on the Portal? If members can submit dates for rememberance, they can be approved by the Mods?
Andy, I am sure it would be a good idea, not sure how easy this would be to implement. Maybe someone from the mod clan could advise. Regards Hugh
The Spidgeman came round to our place last night for dinner and we mentioned the Behar massacre. Of course, we couldn't remember the name of the ship but we remembered the people!
