The Ient Family: Family History

Java - Capture & Imprisonment

Wilfred Batty POW - by his son, Adrian Batty

This stage of Wilf's war takes place in: Batavia (now Jakarta, Indonesia), on the island of Java - formally in the Dutch East Indies.

My father rarely spoke of his experiences as a Japanese POW. The following information has been gleaned from snippets he gave, from other POWs ‘Chick’ Henderson, George Spink, and Terence Kelly, and from the history of the 605 Squadron. I am also very grateful to Vic Ient, the son of a fellow FEPOW for his research at the International War Museum.  

Along with his RAF comrades, Wilf was imprisoned at Boei Glodok, Batavia, 23 March 1942. Boei Glodok was a Dutch prison for 400 long-term Javanese criminals who were herded into one corner. Cells for 10 criminals were filled with 30 - 40 POWs. Each cell had one hole for a toilet, not very pleasant when many POWs were soon to suffer from dysentery and were infested with bedbugs, the bites of which could lead to ulceration.

A fellow POW, George Spink, informed me that the POWs had been a full day without food or drink and then found out their officers were sitting on a lot of tinned fruit. Wilf led a protest against the officers. George said Batty (that’s what they called him) stuck up for himself.

The Daily Mail (pre-Hull Daily Mail), Friday 10 April 1942, reported under the heading 'AIRMEN MAY BE PRISONERS':  'Reported missing and believed prisoner of war is L/A/C Wilfred Batty RAF of 52 Grange Street, Hull. As a boy he attended Brunswick Avenue School and later worked for a Hull cycle firm' – with a photograph of Wilf and A/C Foster, who was also reported missing.  

Wilf had a regular routine of being woken early, breakfast being a pint of steamed rice and a cup of hot water, midday meal 3/4 pint of steamed rice plus green vegetable water and evening meal a pint of steamed rice and the vegetables used at lunch! Barely enough to survive on.

One of the first jobs the POWs were given was to be marched to the airfield to fill in the bomb craters in the runways created by the Japanese bombing and the RAF to prevent the Japs using it. Wilf said he then spent the next 6 months cutting grass around the airfield with small scythes.

Wilf was to find himself in trouble with the Japanese on several occasions, not helped by the total unpredictability of the Japs. One day, Wilf noticed a native in the long grass at the edge of the airfield trying to attract his attention. Wilf discovered he was selling Nestle condensed milk stolen from the stores. Wilf was caught by the Japs, marched to a hut and had his hands tied behind his back and was forced to kneel down. A Japanese officer then stood above him and rested his Samurai sword on his neck! An RAF Officer (American or Canadian) thought to be 'Red' Campbell successfully pleaded for his life. Wilf and his comrades were then marched out and stood in line, expecting the worst. However, the Japanese officer then made the native walk along the line of POWs and  give a tin of condensed milk to each POW. 

Life was difficult in Boei Glodok. Due to the lack of food, POWs soon started to suffer from several diseases and illnesses, including dysentery and malnutrition, with several dying from their conditions. Some, who could not face the hardships, gave up, laid down and died. After 6 months many of the POWs were required to move.

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