Battle of the Java Sea WW2 - MY Dads Story

[freebeerfordworkers]

A fine tribute to your father and his comrades. I cannot vouch for it but a relative knew another Exeter survivor and PoW who became Mayor of his town - Altrincham in Cheshire. This would be in the 1970's and he refused to buy anything made by the Japanese for the rest of his life.

[WELLBRAN]

@freebeerfordworkers If you knew his surname I could find him on a crew list I have maybe give you some info on him. NOT buying japanese products is very difficult but when I worked for an electronics company I did notice that all Chinese did NOT buy Japanese products even though they bought other inferior brands,

[freebeerfordworkers]

@WELLBRAN The person who knew him was my brothers father in law so I do not see him too often but I will see what I can find out.

[polygamous1]

@freebeerfordworkers i had a video Hell in the pacific gave it to a mater wh's father in law was a japoanese prisoner he told me later the old man could only watch few minutes a time them go to the kitchen have a drink tears in his eyes then return to watch a bit more He never even got a ride in a japanese car let aone buy anything made in Japan today's japanese gerations is different But i respeced the old man for his princibles

[EIBBOR2654]

Your father was a hero and I'm sorry that he passed at a time when you needed him. I have read and seen everything I could on the history of WWII and on up to today. Anyone who puts on a uniform and serves is changed in some way and anyone that serves in combat are effected far more. But people like your father and others taught me that freedom is never free and comes at a high price. They were the ones that inspired me to enlist and serve. If it were not for us then who? Thank you for the video

[ronecross]

A very good presentation, mate. You have done your Dad proud, i believe. A minor point for the Australians; it wasn't only Perth and Houston.

I have a book on the story told from HMAS Perth's perspective. Truly, an incredible read and, as somebody who borrowed ir stated, worthy of a movie. The 'Atlantic star' medal indicates that your father served at the Battle of the river plate chasing Graf Spee.

HMS Ganges by itself merits a tale being told....

Respect, brother.

[greenheartjg54]

Fabulous. Really well done!

[WELLBRAN]

@greenheartjg54 Thankyou for the positive comment

[maryiamoocow]

this video is amazing. my grandfather served on the HMS Exeter and was also aboard when the ship sunk. He was captured and put into Fukuoka #2 p.o.w camp. he survived and later moved to australia to start our family... this is amazing to have even a slight idea of what he went through as he would not mention it. R.I.P grandad. he died in 2006 =(

[MrMike3865]

This video is a great tribute to your father, and all the men who died and who were sent to horrific captivity at the hands of the Japanese. I had a best friend in grade school who lived with this aunt and uncle. His uncle was a nice man, very quiet man, and later I found out from my friends aunt that he was a Bataan Death march suvivor and spent years in a Japanese POW camp. He lived with the memories of that experience the rest of his life. Great video, thumbs up.

[WELLBRAN]

@MrMike3865 Thankyou for the comments yes many POW's suffered in silence and their story never told.

[Lawson4125]

@WELLBRAN

Thank you for posting this video. It's indeed a tribute to the brave men and women who served in the Allied cause in World War II. My father served in the USN from about June, 1942 until the end of the Pacific War. He was affected by his experiences and lived with horrible memories for the rest of his life. Unfortunately, there was little counseling for the veterans and PTSD was not recognized.

[WELLBRAN]

@MrMike3865 thanks for your comment you have described the clip exactly as it was intended...it is for all of those victims of battle and captivity

[SharonMarieG]

Your dad is a hero as are all the men who lost their lives or were POWs. I wrote my college thesis on the USS Houston's part in this battle. I know the men suffered tremendously and were not treated as they should have been by their own countries when they were rescued. As a matter of fact, I know that in about 2002 the Americans finally received back pay owed from the time the Japanese held them as slave laborers.

[WELLBRAN]

@SharonMarieG Thankyou for the comments and you are right al servicemen that come home from a defeat are treated badly eg Vietnam ...gov'ts dupe the normal man and women who have to do the fighting and after are dispensable

[Fizzypop1211]

You very effectively make the simple yet deeply profound point that whilst wars have start and end dates, the legacy is measured in generations.

I am glad you had 18 years of experiences and memories. But 78 years wouldn't have been enough, because you realise that the entire time he would have been damaged by the war time experiences, mentally if not physically. I hope that doesn't sound disrespectful.

Your "Samuel Pepys" moment elevates you tube. This is real, not trivial. Thanks for sharing.

[WELLBRAN]

@Fizzypop1211 thanks for your comments and encouragement I was not offended on your thoughts you are correct, My Father had both physical and mental problems BUT I have seen many men such as He in old age did manage to mellow and recover mentally but his physical ill health took him away early, He was told to stop work in 1963 by his Doctor, this I think was a bad blow for him also, many thanks for viewing this.

[PipeDD714]

VERY sobering and VERY moving. We Americans whose fathers served in World War II consider them The Greatest Generation but need to remember our British cousins of similar vintage deserve similar laurels - perhaps even more because of the months they stood alone against the Nazis. I have to wonder whether your dad was onboard HMS Exeter when she participated in trapping the Graf Spee and whether his too early death was due to proximity of his POW camp to the Nagasaki atomic detonation.

[WELLBRAN]

@PipeDD714 Question on Graf Spee is NO

And the 2nd Question on Nagasaki is.YES

As for laurels for British Combat troops the history books usually show that USA won the war on their own on both fronts, thus many americans do not recognise anyone else. muys also remember the poeple that fought BEHIND enemy lines as underrground movements or special agents etc which was the secret war.

[ManilaJohn01]

I much prefer strictly military videos. That said, this is the best video I've ever seen on YouTube. It's a profound way of remembering those who sacrificed so much in the "darker days" of the Second World War and a LASTING compliment to a father. WELL DONE, WELLBRAN.

[WELLBRAN]

@ManilaJohn01 Thank you for the nice comment the video is trying to show the ordinary guys story and what it means to families not a story you see in the military books. also the futility of war and how the "ordinary" guys are forgotten after a war. When a war movie was on TV or a national day of commenoration Dad would disappear in his car all day....thats how he felt about it.

[ManilaJohn01]

@WELLBRAN IMHO, you did a superlative job of doing so. At least in the U.S, our people have a bad habit of not always remembering those who sacrificed in a lost battle or campaign, while emphasising the victories. In a sense, your video remembers (I think) not just your father, but all the good men like him who held the line while the Allies mobilized their resources for the eventual victory. Perhaps I could say this better, but I trust that you understand what I mean....

Many thanks again.

[WELLBRAN]

@ManilaJohn01 I know exactly what you mean also pick up any war reference book (navy especially) and they never talk too much about a loss in a battle only the victories as in this case the timline is thus : Pearl Harbor, battle of the coral sea, Midway did you know that the survivors of the Prince of wales never got a campaign medal? a disgrace as for WW1 well we won't even start on that another bigger disgrace eg Galipoli the list is endless.

[mu5ic1]

my old neigbour lost her husband in this battle. I think he was on the HMS de Ruyter, very sad.

[kingbleah]

we need more stuff like this for future generations to see real life stories.

excellent stuff

my father was a pow at singapore

[WELLBRAN]

@kingbleah Thankyou for viweing and comments

[kursk1111111111]

OMG so poor guys, come on you was stranger than Japanes, ok maby you haden't got planes but sorry you hd got 5 crusiers and japan 4. Sorry by my english.

PS. Did your da was on the exeter in 1939? You know history about Graf Spee.

[mapperjay]

Awesome job and an amazing story. I'm glad you shared it.

[WELLBRAN]

@mapperjay Thankyou for the comment

[WeePollokBoy]

My father was there too on the Exeter. We should never forget them and what they did. He was only 25 when he was taken prisoner and like your father survived the bomb at Nagasaki. he lived until he was 88 years old. Great video , well done.

[grimlygrim]

amazing ,truly .What a tragic yet heroic tale if it wasn nt for brave to the core people like your dad......well i dread to think.Good god i was only replying to your comments on red rum and i end up nearly in tears

[WELLBRAN]

no problem friend

[BigTed5]

On this 68th Anniversery of the Battle of the Sunda Strait, your father and all of the crews of the Houston and Perth are remembered and appreciated.  God Bless.

[WELLBRAN]

thankyou for the comments

[WELLBRAN]

@BigTed5 Thanks for the comments

[RADDA77]

What a hero your dad and all the people of the ABDA force were they had no air support where as the Japanese did and that meant the Japanese could fire on the ABDA force with more accuracy. They were hung out to dry in my opinon told not to stop no matter what and when all those ships were sunk no one went to save them. I am doing my family tree and found a relative on the Perth sadly he went down with the ship like so many others. Thank you for posting this video and sharing your dads story.

[WELLBRAN]

If you made it accurate you would shock many people, of the cruelty violence and Death of the battle AND aftermath, and you forgot one thing...MGM is owned by...SONY

[2510smo]

My Dad just turned 91 this year and was on the Perth, he's now one of only a handful of survivors left. I enjoyed watching this video - thankyou. I'm very lucky I still have my father - I'm 38.

[WELLBRAN]

@2510smo thankyou for your comment god bless your Dad He must be a tough man.

[MovieChica17]

This is amazing

[WELLBRAN]

@MovieChica17 Thankyou for ytour comment

[colindominy]

Well done, WELLBRAN. As a military historian with a passionate interest in WW2 & especially the Pacific Campaign, I can relate to your sensitivities. We Aussies lost our beloved cruiser HMAS Perth in this battle. All of ABDA Fleet put up an awfully brave fight of it until overwhelmed & mercilessly sunk. The formation-history of ABDA is sad, tragic. Far too little, far too late. The Allied Chiefs also FAILED to figure out that abundant MODERN air-support was also needed in ABDA at this time.

[WELLBRAN]

Thankyou for your comments and I share your views on this event in history.

[ToneUK1]

nice one wellbran.

my great uncle was on the exeter when sunk. Spent his captivity in fukoaka camp no 26. was your father there?

[gosuc]

Very impressive video from a greatful son.

Although from the "other" side, its message is respected from all of us.

Fred,

(once German Airforce at Freising, Bavaria)

[WELLBRAN]

@gosuc Thanks for your comment

[cod4JAY]

oh, that sucks...

:(

[BrabazonBW]

My Dad was on Exeter too and like yours joined after the River Plate action. He spent 4 1/2 yrs as a Japanese prisoner of war. They must have known each other

[WELLBRAN]

@BrabazonBW Maybe they had crossed paths somewhere along the way...during dark days

[beardysgirl]

Im going to collect our child from school now,with tears tripping me. Thanks for your dads story

[CDTOMUSIC1]

their is a popular rumour on the web that says the ROTHSCHILD financed these PATRIOTS to fight each other, both sides, allied and Axis, this must be a lie, i just dont know, pls teach

[WELLBRAN]

I do not think rothchild had any influence over the Japanese or any of the allies, I would have thought he was too clever with money to throw it away on war.

[granskare]

Was your dad with HMS Exeter, one of the 3 cruisers which damaged the German ship Graf Spee?

[WELLBRAN]

Yes that is the same ship but he was not on it at that time, he joined after the refit from that battle.

[WELLBRAN]

I think you are trying to say they died needlessly? which is correct.

[carsieplg]

yes they died needlessly but they did there jobs in the war my grandfather lost 415 of his friends in one day people he had spent over 5 years with the ship he served on he watched her being built and was with the ship when she went down but my granda always said war is war you just have to do your best and pray you get through his ship was the HMS Penelope he died in 1992 and it hurt big time but he was always proud of what he done in life your dad was a strong brave man i have total respect

[CerebralJam]

I am in awe of this video, very beautifully put together. Your father suffered a great deal during this time. I am very sorry about your loss. My father died in 1977, I was 16, very much like you. When he died mum told me, life expectancy of naval men was short lived due to the war. I would have liked many more years with him and to have known more about this part of his life.

In 1942, he was serving on HMS Emerald and Daedalus and others... I've yet to find out where this took him.

[WELLBRAN]

Thanks for the comment

[KlaasFI]

Well done. My grandfather was in the Battle of the Java Sea, as a Dutch engineer.

[WELLBRAN]

Sorry about the memories of your Dad, I can assure you my dad was not a hero just an ordinary guy, you would pass in the street

[iroscoe]

Thanks for posting this a moving tribute,respect to you and your father .

[peedeebee15]

I feel so sad after seeing this video and reading the comments. My father served on HMS EXeter at the Battle of the River Plate and was seriously wounded there. Athough he continued to serve throughout the rest of the war, he ultimately died from his war service when I was aged 14. As Wellbran said, "Just when I needed him". I also have a pal whose father died on HMS Exeter in the Java Sea. Where was our 'counselling' in those days? The attitude was 'So what, he died in a good cause'.

[WELLBRAN]

your Dad was a special man, those 2 crews in 2 campaigns were outstanding, Exeter was always in the thick of things...some say "jinxed"

[lordleather]

god bless your dad.......my dad was pow japan......cruel people in war time..they took him away..not in death..in his mind

[WELLBRAN]

You truely know what happened to these men, and Japan disputes there were any POW Camps in Japan today, especially Nagasaki, your Dad is special, as all of these men are.

[bearsagainstevil]

my father cheated his age to join the merchant navy he was 14 , served all over the place and he would have taken part in the invasion of japan .he was training in a assault ship when they dropped the bombs that ended the war .

without those bombs I doubt one pow would have survived and we would have lost millions in the invasion .

very sorry about your father looked a fine man best wishes

[WELLBRAN]

But the UK nor Japan do not acknowledge that my father and others were ever effected by the bomb, Japan even denies that were POW camps there.

I cannot get any records on my Fathers health after the war, even though he attended RN hospitals regularly. For "check ups"

[gg32068]

The ordinary sailors were the real heroes, the guys you never hear about. What a huge loss for you that you lost him so early in life - I can tell that you are very proud of him, and with good reason. My uncle was on the USS PRinceton CVL-23, sunk during the Battle for Leyte Gulf, Oct 1944. He passed away last year, and he still hated the Japs. Many of his shipmates/friends were lost during the sinking. Truly touching memorial to your father - thank you for sharing it.

Gary Grimme

[WELLBRAN]

I do not want any Japanese to post on this Video, Japanese can always message me on my page, and I will answer, but not here, thankyou, sorry but thats just the way it has to be.

[golf7272]

This is a great tribute to your father. I am sure that he is "Very - Very" proud of the man that you became!

Thank you for sharing the story of your father.

[johnypebs]

Wellbran,

I read the account on the MHS Ganges forum of your dad's brave acts in Makassar, removing the firing pins from Japanese AA guns he was unloading at the docks as a pow. We know what would have happened if he'd been rumbled, so I'd just like to add that your dad really was a hero.

[WELLBRAN]

If the A bomb had been dropped on its intended target ie the docks at Nagasaki I also would not have existed, the target of the city was chosen because of the weather.

[callmetimtim]

3 months until they transported him to australia where he rejoined american troops. My point is that without that one-day grace (courtesy of your father) period, my grandpa, my father, myself, and my daughter would not have existed beyond that fateful march, 1942. His bravery and honor will not be forgotten as with all men of valor, the veterans of WWII.

[WELLBRAN]

Thankyou very much for this, a pleasure to know you. There was a Naval man who also was hidden by natives around Java. He might have been from RAN Perth but not sure.

[callmetimtim]

I am glad you shared this. There are 3 generations of my family (my daughter included) that owe our lives to your father. My Grandpa on my father's side was stationed in Java before Pearl Harbor. At the end of the Battle of Java, a plane left at a last chance for retreat. The plane was shot down, leaving only 2 survivors (my grandpa and his best friend) Due to injuries fomr the crash, his friend was eaten by a shark before making it to land. My grandpa went underground with the natives for

[hujjesb]

Thanks for that vid,.your dad was a fine man ,and you are a good son,.am proud of you both,.my old pal died last year he was in jap pow camp in singapore for 3 yrs he ended up only 7st ,.he often told me about the cruelty of the japs,.he hated them even up till he died ,.cheers,.

[WELLBRAN]

Thanks for your comments

[chan51944m]

Boy are you a great Son of a hero!

[WELLBRAN]

Thankyou for viewing and your comments, your welcome.

[javasrevenge]

Wellbran,

I feel so sympathetic.

My grandpa served on the java and

was killed by a bombardment at Den Helder (holland) The same cruiser java as in that battle.

I will upload my grandpa`s story in a short time.

Thanks for sharing.

[wolfhistory]

Very nice tribute made, to a man that deserved a tribute, may i say HMS EXETER has many battle honours and I have served HMS EXETER in the 1st gulf war,The name lives on for the time being, the battle honours of the modern Exeter in the Falklands and the gulf to which i served. This time Exeter does not die in honour but by mothball!! Bravo Zulu to all the men onboard the Exeter who served in the S.Pacific. Sorry of your loss but a moving dedication.

[WELLBRAN]

Thanks for commenting, nice to hear from an "Exeter" crew member, "Semper - Fidelis"!!

This June they actually found the Exeter rfor the first time in the Java Sea..the last of the fleet to be located..some 60 nautical miles from her last known surface position!

[opasgrandson]

My great uncle Frank was a Dutch soldier based at Fort Menari, guarding the north entrance to Surabaya harbour. Through his binoculars he watched the ABDA fleet sailing out to meet the Japanese. His father-in-law was aboard the flagship De Ruyter, and went down with her.

Like your father, Frank was sent as a POW to Japan (Yokkaichi and Toyama camps, in the Nagoya area). But first he spent time as a slave labourer on the Burma Railway.

[WELLBRAN]

Thanks for your comment and very interesting about your uncle, those days were very bad times.

[81964444]

Go fuck yourself asshole ,these gerat me died

defending thier homes from foreign invasion. Never didhonor thier sacrifice by saying they died for nothing. They died for me and you you bastard

[81964444]

(correction) These great men died defending thier homes from foreign invasion, Never dishonor thier sacrifice by saying they died for nothing. Have some respect.

[chadami99]

i was wondering if i could credit your video in a hyperlinked high school ww2 presentation.

[WELLBRAN]

Not sure, can I see the presentation, this is a very British clip, not sure if would fit into a US high school.

[bahoonies]

I've just watched your very moving tribute to your dad. You must be very proud of him. He may have been a quiet man but he must have been made of the sternest stuff to come through such a cauldron as he did. Thank you for sharing his story.

[WELLBRAN]

Thankyou, Battle of the Java Sea started this day 27th Feb 68yrs ago

[eisenstein77]

thanks, this is very interesting...

I'm a student of history from Poland

(my favourite part of history is II World War)

[WELLBRAN]

Thankyou for your comment, and good luck with your History Studies.

[horseframe]

Thanks for the video. My grandfather was on the Exter; he worked in the engines as Petty Officer Stoker. He was a P.O.W. after the sinking of the ship and he died as a prisoner in February 1945. The Battle of the Java Sea was a real tragedy.

[DangRockets]

My grandfather was too, both on the Exeter and a Chief Petty Officer Stoker.

He survived being an FEPOW in Nagasaki and only died a couple of years ago.

[Totalwarfan27]

Very nice vid...It gave me goosebumps

* Salute * to your Dad a War Veteran "T_T

[michaelaherndon]

My dad was on the USS Pope, which was escorting the Exeter that day. He too spent the rest of the war in prison camps, first at Macassar and then at Fukuoka #2 at Nagasaki. He was in a coal mine as when the atomic bomb destroyed Nagasaki. He died in 1962 when I was eleven, just when I needed him. I hope I can get a copy of your video. Your dad's story is my dad's story. By the way, he held no grudge against the Japanese. The war was just a sad episode in the history of humanity.

[7111nailuj]

I say keep hate in your lives. Trying to eliminate any emotion from your life is not only unhealthy but unnatural. The Japs that perpetrated the crimes that they did in WWII deserve to be despised and are by chinese, koreans, indonesians, etc. I know. I've spoken with many of them.

[paulrandig]

Good argument, wrong conclusion. Hating someone as an individual might be excused and even natural. Hating someone only because he/she is part of a group is fatal and starts wars. And remember: Love and hate are the very same power directed in opposite directions. So if you "only" love and don't hate at all - don't worry that you could behave in an unnatural way. You won't lack anything in your life :-)

[WELLBRAN]

Thankyou for all of your comments

[oldsteinar]

Yes, the Brits and Scots I came in contact with were very brave. This is so well done. God bless. Keep hate out of your lives. God bless. Check out my video. cj

[WELLBRAN]

Thanks for your comments

[neil5568]

My Great Uncle was on board Exeter, John Ballentyne. He survived the sinking and subsequent imprisonment in a Japanese camp in Fukuoka, modern day Hakata. My father (his nephew) used to play with us a game called "Dirty Japanese Jumpin' Oot the Trees". (We're Scottish). In the wrestling match the emphasis was on the "dirty" Japanese. Surviving years of Japanese brutality (and they deserved the A-bomb) my great uncle lived to a ripe old age surrounded by many grandkids. Thank you Harry Truman.

[silentwolve]

amazing video.

[WELLBRAN]

Thankyou

[wuhwuh]

Remember the death of the British , Dutch, Australian and American Navies that tried to prevent the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies.After the war my dad got war-trauma in the vain attempt to regain the colony

He served for 4 years in Indonesia in an unjust war against the nationalists.

[WELLBRAN]

Thankyou for commenting

[BoomBoomStockings1]

I've read about this battle but this is a part of the story that really tells how devastating war is. Very, very thought provoking vid.

[WELLBRAN]

Thanks for feedback

[motonegros]

Such a great adventure, so long ago. Thank you for sharing.

[WELLBRAN]

You are very welcome

[madmax3006]

My sound card has taken a dive so I could hear any sound. Great video of your fathers life and of his service to his country. I din't even know of this battle or of the "forgotten fleet" until now. Is there any books on this at all? Thanx for posting. Your father was definitley a hero.

[WELLBRAN]

My Father was a quiet man and not a hero, just a survivor

[Shadowani]

Hey man sorry for your lose and everything. I didnt even know about this battle until now. I'm also wondering what class of British ship your father served on. You dont need to respond if it makes you unconfortable though. I'm just curious.

[WELLBRAN]

Thanks for your comment, HMS Exeter was a "York" class Heavy Cruiser. Not many people know of this sea battle, as it was in the very early period after Pearl Harbour, and as a total loss, it is kept quiet by subsequent Navy's. In short, a disgrace.

[superpump1]

Sorry about your loss.:(

Great movie. Thanks for sharing it.

Your father was a great man:)

[WELLBRAN]

Thankyou

[homerodding]

Very good account of your fathers life. Thank you for sharing it with me.

[WELLBRAN]

me3tv, thanks for viewing and comments, I will make a part 2 to this in the near future

[me3tv]

This is greatly appreciated. The Allied Fleets that stood up to the Japanese Fleets in early 1942 are little recognized. This is a welcomed addition to the scarce body of knowledge about these ships and men. I am posting this video to blogs for the USS Houston and the Chinagunboat (US Asiatic Fleet). The Exeter and her crew will be remembered by generations.

[cruiser2132]

I had a relative in USS Houston.Didn't survive the battle. Nice to see someone remembers.

[WELLBRAN]

Thankyou for your comment, and thankyou for remembering your relative

[cruiser2132]

Well, no, thank you for giving the forum. This is so much ancient history to most people now, those that recognize it. I appreciate reminders for why I served, and why it is important others do, too. There is a tremendous disconnect, now, between those who serve. And those who don't.

[WELLBRAN]

I will be making a sort of part 2 to this video in the future, thanks. Growing up with my Dad this event has never left my mind, no one now can hardly comprehend things that happened then.

[jasonzavarella]

thanx to all vets

[filmhandler]

thanks for sharing, your dad served his fellow people well, while I'm sorry for your loss, I'm sure you're proud of the legacy he left you.

Thanks for his service.

V