The Japanese prisoner of war who became a bishop

The suffering of a prisoner of war, who went on to become Bishop of Sherwood, has been recalled for the 75th anniversary of VJ Day.

The Japanese surrender, on August 15, 1945, marked the end of the second world war.

It also brought to an end Richard Darby’s time in captivity in Japan, as told by Mike Kirton, chairman of Southwell and District Local History Society.

The Right Rev Richard (Dick) Darby was born in February 1919 to William and Miriam Darby, who were Salvation Army officers.

Aged ten months he accompanied his parents when they went as missionaries to China to help children affected by floods and famine in the region.

In 1939 he enrolled with the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps (HKVDC), rising to the rank of sergeant, in charge of one of their two Bren guns.

His older brother, William, joined the British army and his sister, Grace, became a nurse.

In his early days as a volunteer, life was similar to that of a UK territorial soldier, but in late 1941 all that was to change.

As the Japanese approached Hong Kong in late 1941, the HKVDC initially saw light action in the New Territories, but were more heavily engaged on Hong Kong Island during the battle of Wong Nai Chung Gap and Stanley.

Casualties were heavy with 289 listed as missing or killed in action, and most of the survivors were taken as prisoners of war on Christmas Day 1941 when Hong Kong fell ­— including Dick.

Having been taken prisoner, Dick was interned as a POW until the Japanese surrender in August 1945. He spent some time in the Hong Kong prisoner of war camp, where he worked as slave labour, extending the Kai Tak Airport runway.

Official records show that he also spent time in the Tokyo camp, before being transferred as slave labour to work in a coal mine at the Sendai camp in Japan.

It was from Sendai that he was liberated and repatriated to the UK in 1945.

Life at Sendai was hard, and many prisoners died of malnutrition due to the meagre rice rations.

Dick had been brought up on rice and his body was able to cope with it. Nevertheless, his weight plummeted to just over six stones.

Work in the mine was punishing with each team being tasked with hewing 20 tons of coal per shift. Some days they worked 20 hours to achieve their quota.

The guards often dealt out harsh punishment to add to their misery.

As Hong Kong fell, his sister was captured and interned in the Stanley Internment Camp and remained there for the duration. His brother survived the war with the British Army.

Captivity confirmed to Dick his long-term desire to become a priest, and in 1946 he was accepted by the church and enrolled for a BA course at St John’s College, Durham.

He married Betty in 1949, whom he had met through the church, and who still lives in Southwell.

Dick was appointed a deacon in 1950 and ordained a priest in 1951. Following further periods at Leyton, Harlow, Colchester, Waltham Abbey and Battle, he was installed as a Bishop Suffragan of Sherwood in 1975.

One of the reasons for his appointment was his experience of working in a coal mine.

He served as a bishop in this diocese until his retirement in 1989, when he became an assistant bishop in the diocese of Lincoln.

Bishop Richard died in 1993 and is remembered for his interest in vintage vehicles, his friendliness and good humour.