The "Death Camp"

Hospital.

The worst of the sick were sent to camp 2 and in most cases they never left. Without medicines there wasn't much the doctors could do to save them. To make matters worse, the Japanese policy was to put the sick on half rations because they couldn't work. They tried their best to ease their suffering.

It was found that maggots prepared in chilies were a very good protein source and many sick recovered because of this. Also maggots were used to eat out the rotting flesh of tropical ulcers. Malaria patients just had to sweat it out as there was no quinine available. After the capitulation it was discovered that there were plenty of the badly needed medicines stored in a warehouse in Pakanbaru, but these were never supplied by the Japanese.

There was no cure for beriberi either and all that could be done to ease their suffering was, to drain the bloated bodies of fluid.
The hygienic conditions in the hospital was terrible. Most dysentery patients were lying in there own filth as there were too many of them for the carers to look after. The stench was indescribable.

One carer, called Oom Carel (uncle Carel) because of his age, was officially appointed by the Japanese to look after the dead. But he also made life easier for the living patients by telling them stories and reading from the bible.

  Bodies being prepared for burial

Every morning he went to the death house, a screened off area without a roof, where the dead from that night were waiting for him. He washed the bodies and rolled them in a tikar (bamboo mat), He then lead the burial party to the cemetery for burial. He used to walk in front carrying a wooden cross and during the burial said a few words. Afterwards he put some flowers he had picked on the grave.

Burial party

Map of camp 2

  Click on the map for details