DCM Documentation

Sergeant Routledge was taken prisoner of war at Hong Kong in December 1941, and displayed unusual devotion to duty and conspicuous bravery while on special service during his period of captivity in the hands of the Japanese. From the middle of October 1942, contact had been established and communications exchanged between officers of Shamshuipo Camp and British intelligence officers at Waichow, through the medium of Chungking agents. About the middle of May 1943, when the method of sending and receiving messages was through the medium of Chinese drivers of the ration lorries, it became necessary to replace the contact who had been dropped from the ration party, and consequently was no longer in a position to continue the service. Sergeant Routledge, who was a member of this ration party, without hesitation volunteered to fill the vacancy. He showed considerable initiative and intelligence in performing the extremely difficult and hazardous duty of passing the messages under the eye of the Japanese guards, when the slightest slip would have resulted in exposure leading to severe punishment even to the loss of life. He performed this service competently until the channel of communications was closed about the middle of June. This work was of the utmost value to the camp, ensuring as it did the vital supply of medicine for the many sick in hospital, and providing important information to the outside which was urgently required. On 1 July he was sent for by the Japanese military authorities, and suspecting the reason, showed great initiative and presence of mind by giving the alarm to his fellow workers en route. He was removed from the camp and taken to the Gendarmerie Headquarters and charged with communicating with the enemy. He was brutally beaten and suffered a variety of tortures, including the Japanese "water torture", to endeavour to compel him to disclose the names of the officers directing these operations. In spite of incredible suffering he resolutely refused to divulge any information and showed great courage and fortitude in enduring these repeated tortures for several hours before finally being removed to Stanley Prison to wait court martial for espionage. The court sat on 1 December, and after the statements were read the prosecutor demanded the death penalty but the court awarded a sentence of fifteen years imprisonment. He was confined to Stanley Prison until 22 June 1945, when he was removed to a military prison in Canton. He was returned to Hong Kong on 21 August and set free. During his imprisonment he came into contact with Major Boxer, the Lincolnshire Regiment, a fellow prisoner, whose statement is attached hereto. The resolute courage of this Non-Commissioned Officer in spite of indescribable suffering and his devotion to duty provide an example in the highest tradition of the service. The statement by Major C.R. Boxer, made at Hong Kong on 24 August 1945, was addressed to Lieutenant-Colonel J.H. Price, MC, Commanding Officer, Royal Rifles of Canada, and read as follows: I request that you should bring to the notice of the competent superior authority the behaviour of Number P.7541 Sergeant R.J. Routledge, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, during his imprisonment in the Japanese military prisons at Hong Kong and Canton from 1 July 1943 to 21 August 1945, which, in my considered opinion merits official recognition and reward. I can personally vouch for the period from 21 October 1943 to 21 August 1945, since I was closely associated with him during that time, and as regards the preceding four months, my observations are based on what was told me by Colonel Newnham, late GSO 1 China Command, Captain D. Ford, 2nd Royal Scots, and Flight Lieutenant Gray, Royal Air Force, before their trial and execution in December 1943.

Sergeant Routledge was subjected to very severe beating and physical torture (including the `notorious Japanese form of "water torture") on July 1st, 1943, with the object of forcing him to give away the names and details of the personnel involved with him in the secret liaison maintained between the Prisoner of War camps at Hong Kong and the British military intelligence authorities at Waichow and which were in fact known by him in considerable detail although he had only been employed in the work for two months. Despite the severity of the ordeal, he resolutely declined to mention any officers' names, although particularly pressed regrading your own name and those of Brigadier Home, Captain Crewe, Royal Army Service Corps, and Captain Bush, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. This conduct saved their lives or health of officers who would otherwise have been involved and inevitably tortured and subjected to trial by court-martial for espionage.

During the period of our incarceration, particularly the first six months, when the whole party was fed on totally inadequate rations and subjected to severe disciplinary punishment with the object of undermining our health and morale, Sergeant Routledge remained unfailingly cheerful and resolute, giving an outstanding example of fortitude under exceptionally difficult conditions. He was at all times ready and willing to help the physically weaker members of the party and his careful and conscientious nursing of Sergeant Hardy, Royal Air Force, during the latter's critical illness in the winter of 1944-45 was largely instrumental in saving his life according to the testimony of Doctor Selwyn-Clarke who was a prisoner at this period.

Throughout the two years of his imprisonment he displayed qualities of initiative, courage and resource, which in my opinion merit official recognition and reward, whether in the form of promotion to Warrant Officer or commissioned rank, or in whatever manner considered suitable by superior authority. If further details are required I can supply them at any time.