Themes

The Navy at Home and Abroad

• Shore Establishments

• Humanitarian Relief

• Flying the Flag

• Letters Home

• Prisoners of War

  • JM D’Arcy-Levy

  • David Bain

  • Rupert Lonsdale

  • HMS Oswald

  • Mervyn Scott-Lindslay

  • Ken McDonald

  • Jim Fallace

  • R H Johnson

Learning

• How to: Understand a Uniform

R H Johnson

Article Highlights:

• Introduction

• The Korean War

• The crash

• Captured by the enemy

• Confusion at home

• Yong Song Camp - 'Pak's Palace'

• Chon Chin Camp

• Pichon-Li Camp

• Release and repatriation

Release and repatriation

On 16 October 1952 Johnson was moved again and sent south to Kaesong for repatriation on 19 August 1953.

Johnson writes about learning of the armistice:

'News of the signing of the armistice was given to us by a Korean farmer. When the Camp Commandant announced it to us, a dozen Chinese with cine cameras were present to record 'our joy at the triumph of the Peace Loving Peoples of the World over the Wall Street Warmongers'. They were disappointed, for we turned our backs on the cameras and showed no signs of enthusiasm.'

Johnson arrived home via Japan and Singapore after two and a half years in captivity. He received an Admiralty commendation for his resistance to interrogation.

Follow the link to see Johnson's service record.

Related External Links

• National Archives

• BBC Website - Peoples War

• Imperial War Museum - POWS

• BBC Home - The Korean War

Related Image Galleries

• POW Sketchbook