Remains of Taipei prison walls
Encyclopedia
The remains of Taipei prison walls (台北監獄) are located in Zhongzheng District, Taipei
, Taiwan
at the end of Aiguo Road and Jinshan South Road adjacent to the current Taipei operations center for Chunghwa Telecom
. Approximately 100 meters of wall exist on both sides of the Chunghwa Telecom
property. The walls were built during the Japanese Rule of Taiwan
.
The Taipei Prison was based on a radial floor plan, a standard prison design of the nineteenth century. Although only the north face and portions of the south face survive, one may still perceive the heavy atmosphere of the punishments meted out here. The prison walls were made with stones from the Old Taipei City Wall, built by the Qing Dynasty
at the end of the nineteenth century. The stones were carved completely by hand from the quartzose sandstone quarries in the Dazhi and Neihu
areas of Taipei
.
. On May 29, 1945, 14 of these allied airmen were given a 'mock trial' and sentenced to death. The execution took place inside the prison courtyard only 58 days before the end of World War II
. When the war ended, the rest of the men were released and returned home.
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
at the end of Aiguo Road and Jinshan South Road adjacent to the current Taipei operations center for Chunghwa Telecom
Chunghwa Telecom
Chunghwa Telecom is the largest telecommunications company in Taiwan. It has its headquarters in Zhongzheng District, Taipei on the remains of the old Taipei Prison.- History :...
. Approximately 100 meters of wall exist on both sides of the Chunghwa Telecom
Chunghwa Telecom
Chunghwa Telecom is the largest telecommunications company in Taiwan. It has its headquarters in Zhongzheng District, Taipei on the remains of the old Taipei Prison.- History :...
property. The walls were built during the Japanese Rule of Taiwan
Taiwan under Japanese rule
Between 1895 and 1945, Taiwan was a dependency of the Empire of Japan. The expansion into Taiwan was a part of Imperial Japan's general policy of southward expansion during the late 19th century....
.
Background
In response to continuous anti-Japanese uprisings throughout the early period of Japanese rule (1895-1945), the Japanese colonial government built large-scale prisons in Taipei and Tainan to hold political prisoners. The Taipei Prison serves as a tangible witness to modern Taiwanese prison history.The Taipei Prison was based on a radial floor plan, a standard prison design of the nineteenth century. Although only the north face and portions of the south face survive, one may still perceive the heavy atmosphere of the punishments meted out here. The prison walls were made with stones from the Old Taipei City Wall, built by the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
at the end of the nineteenth century. The stones were carved completely by hand from the quartzose sandstone quarries in the Dazhi and Neihu
Neihu
Neihu District is one of Taipei City's twelve districts. Neihu means "inner lake." The older name originates from the Ketagalan word Tayour , meaning woman's head ornament....
areas of Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
.
World War II Allied Prisoners
During the period of 1944–1945, Allied airmen who had been shot down or crashed while on patrols over Taiwan were held in the Taipei Prison by the Japanese ArmyImperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
. On May 29, 1945, 14 of these allied airmen were given a 'mock trial' and sentenced to death. The execution took place inside the prison courtyard only 58 days before the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. When the war ended, the rest of the men were released and returned home.
| Name | Rank/Unit | Home |
|---|---|---|
| J.C. Buchanan | ARM 3c USN | Guntersville, Alabama |
| Delbert H. Carter | AOM 3c USN | Eureka, California |
| Donald K. Hathaway | AMM 3c USN | Jackson Heights, New York |
| John R. Parker | AMM 3c USN | Dunedin, Florida |
| Wayne W. Wilson | ARM 3c USN | |
| Harry H. Aldro | PO 2c USN | San Francisco, California |
| James R. Langiotti | PO 1c USN | Orlando, Florida |
| Freddy McCreary | ARM 1c USN | Barber Hill, Kentucky |
| Charles E. McVay | PO 2c USN | Pine Bluff, Arkansas |
| Ralph R. Hartley | Lieutenant USAAC | Bridgewater, Maines |
| Bobby L. Lawrance | Sgt USAAC | Winston Salem, North Carolina |
| Merlin W. Riggs | Sgt USAAC | Three Rivers, Michigan |
| Harwood S. Sharp | Lieutenant (JG) USAAC | Oakland, California |
| Harry U. Spivey | Sgt USAAC | Atlanta, Georgia |
See also
- Aerial Battle of Taiwan-OkinawaAerial Battle of Taiwan-OkinawaThe Aerial Battle of the Taiwan Seas took place between October 12 and 16, 1944, off the eastern coast of the island of Taiwan, and was fought by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service and the approaching Task Force 38 of the United States Third Fleet and was one of a series of Air raids on Japan...
- Taiwan under Japanese ruleTaiwan under Japanese ruleBetween 1895 and 1945, Taiwan was a dependency of the Empire of Japan. The expansion into Taiwan was a part of Imperial Japan's general policy of southward expansion during the late 19th century....
- Raid on TaipeiRaid on TaipeiTaipei Air Raid , which took place on May 31, 1945, was the largest Allied air raid on the city of Taipei, known back then as Taihoku. Despite efforts by Allied strategy planners to minimize civilian casualties, many residents were killed in the raid and tens of thousands wounded or...