Jacquelyn Frith-Crofts
British Far East Prisoners of War on the Moluccan Island of Ambon, and related Japanese War Crimes 1942-1949: One Thousand Men of Liang.
Biography
I am a postgraduate archaeologist and author, previously specialising in medieval monastic metallurgy and material finds analysis and have worked for c.20 years for English Heritage, Archaeology Dept. and the National Trust. My current work has studied British far east prisoners of war since 2010, including two research trips to SE Asia and Indonesia. I run a research group for those interested in the Suez Maru atrocity, and campaign with the support of my MP, on behalf of Suez Maru families.
The Suez Maru is the subject of my first book, Unwritten Letters to Spring Street, published in 2020, and am involved in two other book projects alongside my PhD.
Research Interests
My PhD study looks at a specific group of 1000 PoWs, sent to Ambon Island, in the Moluccas in spring 1943 to build an airstrips for a Japanese invasion of Australia, and the outcomes for these PoWs, alongside International War Crimes Tribunals in the Far East which ceased September 1949.