Tag Archives: COFEPOW

“Act now to ensure children don’t lose memory of grandparents who were Far East Prisoners of War,” says national charity

“Within a generation, children will have forgotten about their grandparents’ suffering as far East Prisoners of War,” warns Paul Watson, chair of national charity COFEPOW (Children and Families of Far East Prisoners of War).

“As World War Two fades into history, young people are in danger of forgetting about the horrific suffering of many of their grandparents and great-grandparents as prisoners of war in the Far East,” he says.

Now, to mark the anniversary of 75 years since the Fall of Singapore in the Second World War, COFEPOW is launching an Education Programme to help ensure youngsters grow up knowing about the huge sacrifice many of their relatives made in the Far East.

Paul Watson says: “One of our functions at COFEPOW is to educate future generations so that our brave ancestors are never forgotten. As a result, we have created this exciting new initiative to help students understand what happened, whilst giving them the opportunity to experience different learning platforms to develop transferable skills for their future – skills such as confidence, teamwork, creativity, communication and working to deadlines.”

Working in teams, students will be tasked with preparing a television news report explaining that the war is over in the Far East and that all those held as prisoners will be released and sent home. In order to prepare their news report, students must find out as much as possible about the life of a Far East Prisoner of War.

Once complete, schools will need to send the filmed news reports on DVD to COFEPOW, who will judge all the entries and choose a winner. Students that take part will receive a Certificate of Achievement and the winning team will receive a special COFEPOW VJ Day 70th Anniversary Commemorative Medal for their school.

Paul Watson adds: “Members of COFEPOW are relatives of those who fought and were held captive in the Far East in World War Two. Whilst many of the prisoners are no longer with us, as relatives we saw first hand the lasting effects that the time in prison camps had on these men and women – both mentally and physically.

“We are all extremely proud of our loved ones for their war effort and we strive to ensure that what they went through will always be remembered and respected. By creating this competition, we feel we are helping the next generation to understand a little bit more about the Forgotten War.”

The programme was prepared in collaboration with Jayne Greene, who is experienced in producing education packages for schools and is a volunteer for COFEPOW.

The COFEPOW National Enterprise Competition for Primary Schools will run from 11th November 2017 (Remembrance Day) to 15th February 2018 (the anniversary of the Fall of Singapore).

If you are a teacher, school governor, or otherwise involved in delivering the national curriculum at primary school level, and would like to find out more about this new initiative, you are invited to attend the launch of the COFEPOW Education Programme at the National Memorial Arboretum on Wednesday 15th February 2017, commencing at 1pm.

To secure your place at the launch, please email COFEPOW Secretary Alan Wills at alanwills@blueyonder.co.uk. To find out more about the project and for schools to enter please visit the COFEPOW website https://www.cofepow.org.uk/schools-competition.

Preston man aims to reboot memory of POW grandfather

James Housden from Preston is running a half marathon to raise awareness of the plight of Far East prisoners of war in World War Two. Monday 15th August sees the anniversary of Victory in Japan (VJ Day) and is an important date to James as that was the day his grandfather became a free man again.

James Housden

James Housden is taking part in the Great North Run in September to raise money for national charity, COFEPOW, which manages the Far East Prisoners of War Memorial Building at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire and works to preserve the memory of the Far East Prisoners of War.

The charity is fundraising to replace the computer equipment at the FEPOW Memorial Building. The Memorial Building has many computer generated displays to enhance the visitor experience, but most of the equipment is now 11 years old and desperately needs replacing.

James is the son of COFEPOW trustee Paul Housden and last year completed the Coast-to-Coast cycle ride with his Dad to raise money to help COFEPOW commemorate the 70th Anniversary of VJ Day, when Japan finally surrendered, brining an end to the Second World War.

More than 200,000 Allied civilians and service personnel were taken prisoner by the Japanese in February 1942. By VJ Day on 15 August 1945, some 50,000 of these people had died.

James said: “My Grandfather was one of the lucky ones who returned after being a prisoner of war. The story of all the captives is told at the National Memorial Arboretum and, by raising funds to help replace the outdated computer equipment at the Far East POW Memorial Building, I can help keep alive the memory of what my Granddad and his fellow captives went through. It is really important that future generations remember what happened during the Second World War.”

If you would like to sponsor James, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/james-housden2 and to find out more about the Far East Prisoners of War visit www.cofepow.org.uk.

70th Anniversary of VJ Day sees charity membership swell

An increasing number of relatives of Far East Prisoners of War have been joining national charity COFEPOW (Children and Families of Far East Prisoners of War), as the country prepares to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of VJ Day.

COFEPOW was set up to ensure that World War Two Far East Prisoners of War are never forgotten and the charity has seen a 10% increase in new members over the past few weeks as more relatives of those incarcerated in the Far East during the Second World War join to honour their relatives’ heroic past.

New member Tracey Marinelli from Derby says that she joined COFEPOW to be part of the VJ Day commemorations.

Tracey Marinelli joined COFEPOW to take part in the VJ Day commemorations

She said: “My Grandfather, Flight Sergeant John Price, was a prisoner of war in the Far East and was one of the lucky ones who made it home after the war. He kept a diary throughout his time in the Far East, written on cigarette packets and scraps of paper, but back in England he never talked about being a POW. I think it is so important that we remember.”

Says Paul Watson from COFEPOW, the 70th anniversary of VJ Day is a very important one. “Sadly many of the prisoners of war who returned from the Far East are no longer with us and so younger people often do not know about this important chapter in our history. The suffering of many was immense and our new members will be joining others who want to ensure that the suffering they went through is not forgotten.”

Following the fall of Singapore to the Japanese on 15th February 1942, almost 200,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers became prisoners of war in the Far East. Thousands of these left Singapore on prison ships – “hell ships” – to be used as forced labour in other parts of Asia. Nearly 10,000 of these men died building the Burma-Thailand railway with many more dying as a result of starvation, barbaric treatment and tropical diseases.

There will be events across the UK to commemorate Victory over Japan Day 2015 this Saturday, including in Horse Guards Parade in Central London and a Service of Remembrance at Lichfield Cathedral, with an Address by Terry Waite CBE.

For more information about COFEPOW visit www.cofepow.org.uk.

Book launch to raise funds for COFEPOW

A new book about the experiences of a Far East Prisoner of War is being launched in London on Tuesday 28 July, with 30% of the proceeds going to national charity COFEPOW.

The launch of Benedict’s Brother and the Benedict’s Appeal takes place on Tuesday 28 July in London, in conjunction with COFEPOW, at Foyles bookshop and the Victory Services Club. The charity’s supporters and all those interested are invited to go along.

The acclaimed “Book of the Year” novel by Tricia Walker is based on the story of her great uncle who was a Far East Prisoner of War and Tricia has kindly agreed to donate 30% of the book and film proceeds to COFEPOW (Children and Families of Far East Prisoners of War).

COFEPOW is a national charity dedicated to to keeping alive the memory of Far East Prisoners of War and raising awareness of the suffering they endured.

The event takes place from 9.30am to 1.30pm at Foyles on Charing Cross Road, and then from 3.30pm to 5.30pm at the Victory Services Club on Seymour Street.

Father and son’s cycling challenge raises over £1,000 for charity

Paul and James Housden in Bridlington at the end of their Coast to Coast cycling challenge

A father and son from Preston have raised over £1, 000 for national charity COFEPOW by successfully completing a cross country cycling challenge.

Paul Housden and his son James cycled across Lancashire and Yorkshire from Morecambe to Bridlington to raise funds for national charity COFEPOW, which is dedicated to keeping alive the memory of prisoners of war held in the Far East in World War Two.

As well as raising funds for the charity, Paul and James wanted to highlight the suffering of the Far East prisoners of war, as this year sees the 70th anniversary year of Victory in Japan (VJ) Day. More than 200,000 Allied civilians and service personnel were taken prisoner by the Japanese and by VJ Day, on 15 August 1945, some 50,000 of these people had died.

Paul says: “We’re very pleased to have successfully completed the Coast to Coast cycle ride. Day one was very challenging as it poured down for 55 miles across the Pennines, but day two was much better with a nice breeze from behind and only a couple of showers.

“I came off my bike once and finished up with some cuts and bruises, but I survived. I thought about what happened to my Dad in the war and that stopped me feeling too sorry for myself.”

Paul Watson from COFEPOW says: “We are delighted that Paul and James got from Morecambe to Bridlington by bike and we can’t thank them enough for raising funds for COFEPOW. The money collected will go towards building a memorial garden for Far East prisoners of war at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. We would also like to thank all those who donated and supported them.”

Paul Housden adds: “My Father was a POW in the Far East and it is hard to imagine just how much he and thousands of others suffered. COFEPOW exists to ensure this important part of history is kept alive. What we went through on the cycle ride was a small effort compared to what my Father and many others like him went through in World War Two.”

The 70th anniversary of VJ Day takes place on 15 August 2015 and there will be a number of events taking place around the country to commemorate this important occasion.

There is still time to sponsor Paul and James by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/Paul-Housden and to find out more about Far East Prisoners of War visit www.cofepow.org.uk.

Father and Son cycle across England to commemorate Victory in Japan Day

A father and son cycling duo from Lostock Hall, Preston are cycling across England to raise awareness of the plight of World War Two prisoners of war.

Paul and James Housden cycling for COFEPOW

Paul and James Housden are cycling for COFEPOW

Paul Housden and son James are cycling across Lancashire and Yorkshire from Morecambe to Bridlington to raise funds for national charity, COFEPOW, which is dedicated to keeping alive the memory of prisoners of war held in the Far East in World War Two.

More than 200,000 allied civilians and service personnel were taken prisoner by the Japanese in February 1942. By Victory in Japan Day some 50,000 of these people had died.

Says Paul: “My father was a POW in the Far East and it is so hard to conceive what he and thousands of others went through. COFEPOW exists to ensure this important part of history is kept alive.”

Son James is keen to help raise funds for COFEPOW as away of recognising his grandfather’s contribution: “Having listened to dad talk about some of the things granddad and his fellow captives went through, it’s very important that the coming generations have knowledge of what happened to the forgotten army.”

The ride, which will take two full days of cycling across the Lancashire and Yorkshire dales and moors, and says Paul: “We will face a total climb of 4,222 ft and some 141 miles, but compared to what my Father went through, it is a small effort to pay tribute to him and his fellow POWs.”

If you would like to sponsor Paul and James, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/Paul-Housden and to find out more about Far East Prisoners of War visit www.cofepow.org.uk.

Charity call for wartime artefacts

COFEPOW member Patrick Toosey with a Samurai sword brought back by his father.

COFEPOW, a national charity dedicated to keeping alive the memory of prisoners of war held in the Far East in World War Two, is asking people to hunt out any mementoes or artefacts passed down by parents and grandparents from their time in captivity.

2015 sees the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Japan and COFEPOW, a charity set up to perpetuate the memory of Far East Prisoners of War and raise awareness of the suffering they endured, is keen to track down any artefacts such as letters, photographs or diaries brought back from the Far East by prisoners of war.

COFEPOW (Children and Families of Far East Prisoners of War) was founded by Carol Cooper, the daughter of a prisoner of war who discovered her father’s wartime diary advertised for sale and decided to set up a charity to keep alive the memories of Far East prisoners of war (FEPOWs).

Seventy years on from VJ Day, the charity wants to make sure as much precious material as possible is recorded to commemorate this important anniversary, to help recognise the enormous contribution made by individual FEPOWs. So, COFEPOW is now looking for local people who might have almost forgotten artefacts hidden away.

Says Keith Andrews of COFEPOW: “Many of us have artefacts and mementoes stored away that were passed down by our parents and grandparents from their time in the Far East. We want to find more of these valuable artefacts to record them for future generations, and that is why we asking local people to help.”

COFEPOW member Patrick Toosey from the Wirral is backing the initiative: “When my father, Brigadier Toosey, returned from the Far East he brought back a Samurai sword from one of his Japanese captors. When I was a child, my father didn’t mention the war and what he went through, but this sword is now a permanent reminder to me of his suffering.”

Keith added: “The artefacts people have are often not valuable in financial terms, but they do mean a great deal to the families of prisoners of war. Anyone interested in letting us know what they have will be helping us preserve this valuable archive material for the future.”

If you would like to help or to find out more, please visit http://cofepow.org.uk/pages/appeal_keeping_memories_alive.htm

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