Kokichi Nishimura
His memory of Captain Templeton
 During my second visit to Japan in August 2009 I reacquainted myself with Kokichi Nishimura, “The Bone Man of Kokoda”.
Nishimura was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 144th Regiment of the Japanese Imperial Army part of the Nankai Shitai or South Seas Detachment. Nishimura was from Kochi city, the same city as the Samurai warriors that deposed the Shogunate and restored the Emperors powers.
The men of Kochi are descended from the famous, noble and fierce samurai warriors. The city continued to produce Japans most feared, loyal and brave fighters and produced, Japan’s most famous Samurai warrior, Sakamoto Ryoma; he played a key role in bringing about the Meiji Restoration.
The Nankai Shitai held special status in the Army, being the only force to come directly under the control of Imperial Headquarters in Tokyo. With this special status came the extra responsibility of answering directly to the Emperor, and these responsibilities were not to be taken lightly.
Nishimura took his heritage and responsibility seriously but he could not help to think why Japan’s best and brightest were being recruited as foot soldiers. Why would they not, utilize his talents and others like him to design better machines, weapons and systems to serve the Emperor? Nishimura has a strong personality and normally would question such decisions he believed to be wrong or flawed. On this occasion he decided it was not a good idea to question his superiors in the Japanese Army and accepted his fate. He committed himself to the task ahead and concluded that he would continue to fight in the Japanese Army for as long as his superiors required.
Nishimura was part of the initial Japanese invasion force of PNG at Salamaua near Lae and was the only member of his platoon to survive the battles on the Kokoda Track. Nishimura was wounded multiple times and suffering from multiple tropical diseases including three different strains of Malaria, he continued to walk and fight every footstep of the track towards Port Moresby. Nishimura also survived on two separate occasions, sinking of the transport ships that he was on by allied torpedoes.
During his battles along the track and his subsequent evacuation from the Track he made a solemn promise to return to PNG and recover the remains of his missing comrades and return them to Japan. Nishimura kept his promise and left his family, business and life in Japan to return to PNG to search for his missing mates. His decision to return to PNG was even more remarkable given that he was now at retirement age. Nishimura spent the next 25 years in PNG searching for his mates and returning their remains to Japan. Nishimura just in the last three years returned to Tokyo, his age finally catching up with him. He now lives in Japan with his Daughter Sachiko.
It was during these visits with Nishimura that he brought up in conversation the name Captain Templeton. I was certainly aware of the ongoing mystery of Captain Templeton’s disappearance and Nishimura’s comments certainly grabbed my attention.
Nishimura has firsthand knowledge of Templeton’s capture, interrogation and subsequent execution. Nishimura spoke of the capture of Templeton at Oivi and his interrogation and execution by Lieutenant Colonel Tsukomoto. During these conversations Nishimura described the area that Templeton had been captured and a map of the burial site. He and two other Japanese Soldiers were ordered to bury Templeton.
Nishimura’s Map of the site. Translation by Derek Brown.
Kokichi Nishimura
"The Japanese Interpreter Miyazaki interrogated Templeton.
They question him about the number of Australian troops and locations of their positions. But the Captain did not answer. Instead he laughed at the Japanese; saying behind us 20,000 Australian troops have gathered in our support.
I wonder how many of you will actually get there alive! I will be counting...."
Lieutenant Ogawa was present during the interrogation and requested Dr Yanagisawa to keep Templeton alive until the Commander of the expedition force Colonel Yosuka Yokoyama could interrogate him.
It was not possible for Ogawa to order the Doctor to keep Templeton alive as they were from different Regiments, hence why it was a respectful request.
Dr. Yanagisawa did his best to keep Templeton alive, treating his wounds and making him comfortable during the wait.
Lieutenant Colonel Tsukomoto was ordered by Yokoyama to interrogate Templeton again as the original interrogation had caused confusion and disbelief amongst the Japanese Command.
Tsukomoto was to extract accurate information from the Australian regarding troop numbers, positions and routes across the Track, using any means available to him. “We must find out the truth, if what he says is true then we must delay our schedule and wait for reinforcements to arrive”.
Tsukomoto was ruthless with Templeton and unleashed a scathing attack on Templeton’s honour.
“You are my prisoner, you have brought great shame to yourself, your family and your country, no Japanese soldier would let themselves be taken prisoner, they would fight to the death in the great Bushido Spirit and accordingly to the honour of serving our Emperor.
Templeton’s condescending and mocking tone to the Japanese Officer sent him into a rage, his face was bright red, his eyes bulging, no one speaks to Japanese Officer like that! He shouted.
Templeton knew his time was running out, it was only a matter of time before they killed him.
He was enjoying the moment watching the Japanese Officer in the rage. He continued to laugh and mock the Japanese adding that along with the 20,000 Australian troops waiting for you across the track there are 80,000 allied troops on their way to Moresby and Rabaul waiting to invade your comrades. You will never see your homeland or family again!
Templeton in one last defining moment is said to have muttered these words
‘nos morituri te saltamus’
We who are about to die salute you!
Templeton had successfully confused the Japanese, ensuring that their speedy progress across the track was slowed.
Tsukomoto responded to Templeton. It is not honourable to be captured by your enemy; it is your duty to die.
With this Tsukomoto thrust a saber into Templeton’s stomach, twisting the blade to ensure that the stomach was severed. Captain Sam Templeton was left to die, lying on his back, his legs against his stomach and his arms spread behind his head.
Nishimura and two of his colleges were ordered two days later to bury the bloated body of Templeton.
Kokichi Nishimura
I clearly remember the afternoon that I came upon the body. We had a hard walk that day and I was making a climb up this waterfall, my pack was heavy and my energy was getting low.
This waterfall was refreshing and cool and I stopped to fetch some water. As I got to the top of the waterfall I was overcome with this powerful and awful odour. The smell appeared to becoming from the clearing to my right. I walked over to the spot and laid my pack down, the clearing was a Japanese camp used by the Officers of the three companies ahead of me.
This is when I saw the body, it was in a very bad way, and it was bloated and was a grey colour. He was laying on his back his hands behind his head. His head was facing the coast towards Buna and his legs towards Kokoda. His legs were against his chest and he had a sword protruding from his stomach.
The smell was very bad, I felt sorry for the Australian, and so we buried him on the spot where he lay. We must have buried him about two feet down. It was late in the afternoon and getting dark. We were very keen to finish the job so we could lie down to sleep.
When I arrived in Kokoda I saw my friend Sergeant Imanishi Sadashige of the 144th Regiment and I asked him who the Australian soldier was killed at Oivi. He told me that it was Captain Sam Templeton of the 39th Battalion. He had been captured and interrogated then killed by Lieutenant Colonel Tsukomoto. Captain Templeton would not answer the questions and was disrespectful to Tsukomoto so he killed him.
Nishimura speaks highly of the Australian soldiers:
Actually many Australian Soldiers were brave. Although we were well trained and specialised in battle, we had to admit they were brave, especially the 39th Battalion. Many of the Australians had the Bushido Spirit, the Spirit of the Samurai Warrior. We knew we could not underestimate them at all.
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