Guard sends card to prisoner

Kyt · Feb 17, 2009

BBC NEWS | England | Wiltshire | Guard sends card to WWII prisoner

Spot the mistake

A World War II veteran from Wiltshire who was held captive by the Japanese regularly receives greeting cards from his former prison camp guard.

John Baxter, 89, from Trowbridge, has just received a card from Hyato Hirano ahead of his 90th on Thursday.

Mr Baxter says he had exchanged Christmas and birthday cards with the 91-year-old since the end of the war.

Grandfather-of-two Mr Baxter was held by the Japanese firstly on Java, and then transferred to mainland Japan.

He remained incarcerated until VJ Day - 15 August 1946 - and was repatriated via Nagasaki where he witnessed the after effects of the atom bomb.

Mr Baxter weighed just over seven-and-a-half stone (47.6kg) and was treated for tuberculosis when he was released, and spent his captive years working in Japanese coal mines in Kyushu.

Both Mr Baxter and Mr Hirano had been electricians which is why they became friends.

Speaking from Japan, Mr Hirano said: "We weren't exactly close friends but we somehow kept in touch by sending letters to one another."

The greeting in Mr Baxter's 90th birthday card reads: "Many happy returns. I am currently spending my days in and out of hospital, but I am well otherwise. I wish you the best of health."
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David Layne · Feb 17, 2009

VJ Day - 15 August 1946

Ferhilt · Feb 17, 2009

Yep, you wish they would check their facts and figures first before publishing a nice story like that. If it was something bad they would spend their time on it. *gotta love the media*

Kyt · Feb 18, 2009

The have fixed the date now. I sent them an email (and I'm sure many other readers did too) pointing out the mistake.

spidge · Feb 18, 2009

You really think they would check dates or should know about something so important.

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