Repatriation Memorial FEPOW

[Jim Brady]

I attended the unveiling ceremony this morning at the Pier Head Liverpool of the FEPOW memorial stone.It was a beautiful sunny morning not a cloud in the sky,yes a real nice day tobe standing right alongside the Mersey.The weather certainly brought the people out I'm glad to say it was very well attended.Thankfully a six page booklet was handed out giving the order of the service and I'm delighted to say on the front of the booklet is a photo,crowds at the Pier Head cheering the POW's off the Monowai.This ship as some of you already know is the ship which Lou Barron was repatriated on.The booklet will soon be on its way over to N.Z.to Lou.I did want to take a photo of the memorial but the order was given,we would like you just todo a walk past and nod your head in respect please dont stop and inspect or take photographs,this was due to the volume of people who attended.In any case lots of photo's were being taken and the FEPOW committee promised that lots of pictures will be posted on their site after today.Anybody who is interestedin seeing the photos can visit the site Researching FEPOW History Conference : Home

Regards.
Jim.B.

[Captain Kong]

I intended to go this morning but an unexpected family incident prevented me from doing so.
Next time there I will certainly visit it.
Thanks for the report.
Cheers
Brian.

[Lou Barron]

just read your thread on the memorail day in liverpool on the pier head oh boy i would have loved to have been there but never mind with the info that you give me is vey much appreciated i feel that im lucky to have you to give me all the news by the way i have had a email from a guy called marty size who wanted some info about his cousin tommy foy this guy is on the mn site regards lou

[Jim Brady]

Hi Lou,yes Tommy Foy,Bootle lad,being a FEPOW destoyed his life.He always hung around the Elm House Bootle Arms and Irish club area.He was well known and well respected by the dockers,they knew his history,he used to sell raffle tickets but there was'nt a raffle it was a couple of bob for himself but the dockers still used to buy them.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Phil Crawley]

Thanks for the report Jim, many years ago I bought a pair of really good shoes off Tommy Foy in the Elm House for £3, but being half cut I only looked at one shoe, after we sailed I found they were both left shoes, that's how I learned that left shoes came on one ship and right shoes on another ship, I saw him years later in the Irish Club and he was really messed up by then, sadly there were many more like him who never got over their time in the far east POW camps.
Thanks again.
Phil Crawley.

[Lou Barron]

hi jim a email i have just recently had from a guy marty size a cousin of tommys he siad they use to live in benedict st bootle he said that tommy had passed away awhile ago i knew tommy very well in our pow days and i think one of the reasons tommy behaved like he did when came home was because of the beatings he got of the japs i could go on about tommy but he was a good mate in the pow days

[Jim Brady]

The Memorial Service is now on line,many photo's.What maybe interesting to many of you the booklet which was given out, The Order Of The Service is also there.This gives the list of the 22 ships which sailed into Liverpool with the FEPOW's,some of you most probably sailed on some of them.To access the site go to Researching FEPOW History Conference:Home if that dose'nt get there my posting1# has the correct one.
Hi Lou,you will be very interested in this,I will be posting the original to you tomorrow.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Lou Barron]

thanks jim i only wish that i could buy you a pint or two maybe next year if all goes well

[Lou Barron]

back again jim just had a good look at the photos of the ceremony they are exellent by the looks the pier head is a hell a lot different to the old days my wife says that i should go over and have a look at the pier head i would like to and take my wife but she is not very mobile but one never knows