William Arthur Leighton Collection

Collection

Identifier: 00069

Scope and Contents

The William Arthur Leighton Collection contains photographs and recollections documenting the experiences of English prisoner of war William Arthur Leighton during World War II in the Pacific. Materials relate to Leighton’s imprisonment by Japanese forces, the sinking of the Japanese hell ship Rakuyo Maru in September 1944, and the rescue of Allied POWs by USS Sealion (SS-315). The collection includes photographs of liberated prisoners of war on Saipan and a portrait of Leighton after his rescue, as well as his written recollections describing his imprisonment, survival at sea, rescue by the United States Navy, and return to England.

Dates

Creation: 1944

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to research.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this collection in any form must be obtained from the National Museum of the Pacific War, Center for Pacific War Studies.

Biographical / Historical

William Arthur Leighton was from England and served in the British military during World War II in the Pacific. During the war, Leighton and other Allied POWs were held as Japanese prisoners of war and were being transported on the Japanese hell ship Rakuyō Maru when it was mistakenly torpedoed by American submarines in September 1944. Leighton and others were rescued by the USS Sealion II (SS-315) and taken to Saipan for medical assistance.

Full Extent

.1 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The William Arthur Leighton Collection contains photographs and a recollection documenting the experiences of English prisoner of war William Arthur Leighton during World War II in the Pacific.