Introduction to the Java FEPOW Club 1942
Please note that since most other FEPOW Clubs have closed, we welcome ALL FEPOWs, not just those taken prisoner on Java. We want to ensure that there are no FEPOWs, Wives or Widows, who may be lonely, in need or are without the support of a Club. If you know any, please contact us through this web site or our email address enquiries@thejavafepowclub42.org
Rear Left to Right - Lesley Clark & Margaret Martin
The Java FEPOW Club 1942 is the largest and only remaining UK Nationwide Club of FEPOWs, with worldwide members too.
We are honoured to be supported by our Patron HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh. Sadly our other patron Dame Vera Lynn DBE has now passed away but we were proud that she supported us for many years, as do the Royal British Legion and the Not Forgotten Association.
The Club is run by 2 daughters of FEPOWs - Chairman & Treasurer Mrs Lesley Clark and Secretary & Welfare Officer Mrs Margaret Martin.
Our goals are to provide all remaining FEPOWs, wives and widows with camaraderie (through our quarterly 60+ page newsletters, the AGM & reunion held in Stratford upon Avon each year) and welfare advice, with access to FEPOW specific grants. For more information please see our Welfare Grants Available page.
We also aim to ensure that the FEPOW experience is never forgotten, always remembered and honoured, which we do by helping family researching and through the many stories in our quarterly ‘Java Journals’ and the Club’s book ‘Prisoners in Java’.
Our book 'Prisoners in Java’ is a compilation of FEPOW members’ recollections, praised by researchers for its detail and coverage of many different areas and camps as printed in the first 20 years’ newsletters. Please see the page about Our Book, the detailed index and order form.
Whilst Welfare and Research help is provided freely to non-members, Margaret and Lesley who run the Club from home in their spare time, like to invite those they have helped to become members so that the Club may benefit from their time. The welfare of the veterans, wives and widows will always be their priority.
Our subscription is currently just £20 (with donations encouraged if the member can afford it) for the period April to March each year. This includes the quarterly 60+ page Java Journal made up of the FEPOW stories, research information, member news and articles of interest. If you would like to join us, please complete the Membership Application formThe Club is annually self funding, run by volunteers, with the only overheads being the printing and postage of the Java Journal, donations to memorials and The Poppy Appeal for wreaths and, if there is enough money, annual bonuses to our FEPOW members!