Fonteijn

Born in Yogyakarta, Guus Fonteijn was a prisoner-of-war during World War II, after which he migrated to Australia

1923-01-22

2012

Guus

Male

Indonesia

Gus Fonteyn

Yogyakarta

Sydney

Australia

Guus Fonteijn (Gus Fonteyn) was born in Yogyakarta, Indonesia on 22 January 1923 to Dutch Jews, Isaak and Rose Fonteijn. The Fonteijn family owned and operated an international jewellery and silverware business in both Holland and Indonesia. Although previously settled in Indonesia, the family had returned to Holland in 1932. During the late 1930s as antisemitism grew in Europe, they were forced to make plans to escape. Gus fled first, traveling with his aunt and uncle by ship from Rotterdam in 1939, whilst his parents and sister, Lini, escaped via train to Amsterdam before arriving on a passenger vessel to Indonesia.

Although the family were able to escape the war in Europe, they could not evade the war in the Pacific. At age 17, Gus was conscripted into the Royal Dutch Navy. During this time he witnessed the increased military action in the Pacific including the invasion of Java. On 15 March 1942, Gus was imprisoned in the school of Yogya by the Japanese as a Prisoner of War. In the early periods of confinement, he writes he was permitted food from home and that there were no Japanese guards. He was also allowed limited contact with visitors. This changed however on 15 April, stating; “all physical contact with the outside world has officially been broken off”.

Between July 1942 and December 1942, Gus is transported to various camps including Rangoon. During this period his diary entries summarises the living conditions and number of deaths within his locations. This included the recording of 175 deaths from illness in one month. He also writes of the continued Allied bombardments near his camps; “Yesterday, we also had an awful bombardment by the allies… The bombs buzzed over us and fell down in the neighbourhood. I must admit honestly that I stood there while my legs were trembling.”

On 21 December 1942, Gus and all of the healthy prisoners were transported from Rangoon to the Prison of Moulmein and, by Christmas, they were on the border between Thailand and Burma. Approximately 400 men were forced to walk to the work camp at the railroad. After only six days working in Burma, Gus writes of his gruelling work schedule; a quick breakfast at 7.30am and starting jobs before the 8.30 roll call then marching half an hour to the work site to work all day. He expresses his frustrations and thoughts in his diary; “I can only say that this is the most horrible place that I have ever had to be a prisoner of war of the Japs. All the former duties that I had to do for this scum are nothing compared to this… The labour contains shovelling, sometimes very, heavy boulders. The food we get is not half from what we would need…” (30 December 1942). Although experiencing terrible conditions, Gus and some fellow prisoners were still able to celebrate Pesach. Although food was scarce, he states “Today, we ate so much that night that, at some point, we had forgotten that we were captives in the jungle of Burma.” (17 April 1943)

Throughout much of 1943, Gus worked on the Burma railway, reworking many sections destroyed by Allied bombing. By October 1943, it was completed and the prisoners were beginning to be redeployed for work elsewhere. In March 1944, he was transferred to Canbury [Kancaraburi]. Up to September 1944, he suffered from multiple instances of hospitalisation due to malaria. At the end of the year, he writes of his wish of an end to the conflict; “Around this time last year, I didn’t see the end of this war coming soon. I’m much more optimistic about it this year. Although I cannot say anything with certainty, I hope with all I have in me that I can write: Christmas 1945 in peace and happiness.” (24 December 1944)

In 1945, Gus is continuously moved, transported to Tamaun [Tha Muang], Bangpong [Bang Pong], Non Pladok and Ubol [Ubon Ratchathani] near Mun River. From there he travelled 92 kilometres by car, constructing a new camp for thousands of prisoners of war. However, by July 1945 rumours began to circulate that the end of the war was drawing near. On 18 August, 1945 Gus writes that at 16:00 it was announced by the Japanese translator that peace had been declared. On the days following, he writes of his disbelief; “So many changes. Suddenly, time flies so fast… the Japanese camp commanding officer Shitah announced that the war in Asia is over. One understands what that means to us P.O.W. Three and a half years of slavery, being trapped and yelled at… And all of a sudden it’s over.” (21 August 1945) By his last diary entry in October 1945, he is still eagerly awaiting discharge from the camp.

Immediately after the war, Gus was transported to Perth to receive treatment for a detached retina, an injury from one of his many beatings as a POW. He briefly returned to Holland and was honourably discharged from the Dutch Royal Navy in 1946. However with little opportunities in Holland, Gus migrated back to Australia, changing his name to Gus Fonteyn, and eventually settling in Sydney. He worked as a sale representative for Reppin Coffee and met his wife, Renata Gildener, in 1961. They had two sons; Simon and David. He later established Fonteijn & Co Real Estate on Oxford Street which operated for over 40 years. Gus passed away, aged 91.

Isaak, Rose and Lini Fonteijn were also placed in internment camps in Indonesia during the war. Lini and her mother were separated from Isaak, living firstly in Ambarawa camp. Lini describes conditions as desperate, with many inmates dying from starvation. The family were transported to a second camp, Brokenswield, where conditions worsened. They survived incarceration and after the war returned to operating the jewellery business. Many of the family continued to struggle after the war, especially with the mental effects from incarceration. In 1957, the Fonteijn’s suffered the loss of Rose in part due to her internment experiences during the war. Lini moved to the United States after the war, married Brad Bennett and had four children. Source: Sydney Jewish Museum