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Not resting with
the erection of a church, Fr. Cowin also began the monumental work of bringing
together the names of those POWs from whatever country, who died there, into
Memorial Books. He used every means available then to painstakingly collect over
25,000 names. Frank Hardy, a fellow FEPOW, handwrote, over a three year
period, the names which were collected into three large volumes and enshrined
within the church. These unique Books of Remembrance, written on cream goatskin
parchment and bound in deep blue goatskin leather, lie in the Memorial Cabinet.
Until 1995 the pages were turned every day, but in order to preserve them, they
are now protected from light deterioration by an embroidered cover which
complements the biblical texts of the triptych above it.
Over the years
volunteers have used whatever sources have become available to gradually add
other names. Between 2000 and 2005 these have been recorded onto a computer
database to allow easy updating and reprinting of recent entries. It also
provides a valuable research tool. In September 2005, the count stood at 33,222,
including 2,312 survivors who died after the end of the war. These figures do not include
those killed in action, who for these purposes are not classified as FEPOWs.
Those who
died...
| British Army |
13,846 |
Royal Air Force |
2,119 |
| Royal Navy |
280 |
Royal Marines |
47 |
| Fleet Air Arm |
12 |
Merchant Navy |
5 |
| Australian Forces |
3,292 |
Aus. Army Nursing Service |
35 |
| Indian Forces |
181 |
Canadian Forces |
14 |
| New Zealand Forces |
10 |
South African Forces |
1 |
| Dutch & Indonesian |
10,334 |
American Forces |
10 |
| Volunteer Forces |
292 |
Civilians |
432 |
Several nations are
under-represented; please see POW Groups in the FEPOW Story for further
information.
If you would like to make a donation towards the maintenance
and updating of the books and church please send your cheque (UK
Bank only please), made payable to The FEPOW Memorial Church,
and address it to
FEPOW Memorial Church
1, Norwich Road,
Wymondham,
Norfolk, NR18 0QE
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