James Nellist was a Gunner in the 965 Defence Battery, Royal Artillery, during the Second World War in the Defence of Hong Kong which began on 8 December 1941 with the Japanese Declaration of War (both on Hong Kong and at Pearl Harbour).
The 965 Defence Battery was equipped with 18-pdr field guns and 2-pdr anti-tank guns and was in constant mobile use throughout the conflict, which ended on Christmas Day with the order to surrender Hong Kong after overwhelming Japanese forces.
His Regimental Number was 1438807. After the surrender he became a Japanese Prisoner of War at Sham Shui Po Camp in Hong Kong.
In September 1942 he was transferred to the ship 'The Lisbon Maru' which was bound for Japan, but it was sunk by an American submarine not realising that the armed Japanese freighter was carrying British POWs. It is probable he was drowned in the hold which was battened down or was shot in the water by the Japanese.
He is commemorated at Sai Wan Memorial. Column 5.
Further Details about the ship:
https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?32094 The LISBON MARU was a Japanese transport vessel of 7,053-tons, carrying 1,816 British and Canadian prisoners of war from the Shamshuipo Pow camp at Hong Kong to Japan. It was torpedoed by the US submarine Grouper about six miles off Tung Tusham Island on the Chinese coast.
The prisoners were contained in three holds which soon became foul with the stench of sweat, excreta and vomit. Many lost consciousness through thirst, lack of fresh air and extreme heat. Men were reduced to licking the condensation from the sides of the ships hull. A bucket of liquid was lowered by the guards and thirsty men rushed to grab it, only to find it was filled with urine. On top deck were some 778 Japanese military men on their way home to Japan. At 7 o´clock in the morning, the torpedo struck, severely damaging the ship but causing no casualties among the prisoners. Soon a Japanese ship, the freighter Toyukuni Maru came alongside and took on board all the Japanese soldiers but none of the Allied prisoners. The LISBON MARU was then taken in tow heading for Shanghai, but some hours later the ship, now low in the water, began to sink by the stern. Prisoners in Number 3 hold (comprising of members of the Royal Artillery) were unfortunately below the waterline and now beyond rescue. Some prisoners in the other two holds managed to break free but were shot down as they emerged. Another four Japanese ships appeared on the scene and some escaped prisoners, swimming in the water, managed to reach the dangling ropes and started to climb aboard only to be kicked back into the water when within a few inches from the deck.
On October 1st 1942, when six miles from Tung Fusham Island, China, at 0704, US submarine USS GROUPER (Rob R. McGregor SS-214) fires three unreliable Mark 14 torpedoes at LISBON MARU at 3200 yards. Unbeknown to her commander McGregor, LISBON MARU is carrying hundreds of Allied POWs. All torpedoes fail, but a fourth torpedo hits LISBON MARU's stern, bringing her to a stop. At 0845, GROUPER fires a fifth torpedo that also misses. In the mean time, patrol boats and aircraft attack GROUPER and McGregor decides to depart the area. Japanese troops are taken off by a destroyer and cargo ship TOYOKUNI MARU. The Japanese make arrangements for LISBON MARU to be towed to shallow waters. Meanwhile, for 26 hours, the POWs are left battened down in the holds. The next day, October 2nd, LISBON MARU begins to settle by the stern and the POWs break out of the holds. Japanese fire at the escaping prisoners and those swimming in the water. Other POWs are picked up by Chinese junks and sampans and taken to nearby islands. LISBON MARU sinks with loss of 826 POWs and three Japanese army soldiers. Six or seven POWs manage to escape, assisted by the Chinese. The rest are recaptured by the Japanese. Read more at wrecksite:
https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?32094 Other references:
List of people in Royal Artillery including James Nellist:
http://www.hongkongwardiary.com/searchgarrison/royalartillery.html Details of 965 Defence battery deployments:
https://battleforhongkong.blogspot.com/2020/02/965-defence-battery-royal-artillery-in.html Detailed eye witness account of sinking:
https://www.ient.uk/index.php?page=the-sinking-of-the-lisbon-maru 