Ash Civilian Assembly Center

The occupying forces opened the camp on March 1, 1943. The eastern half was used by Chinese troops under the Wang Jingwei puppet government while the western half of the camp housed Allied internees. Wooden barrack huts were partitioned into 10 foot by 12 foot rooms for small family groups, while older teens and unmarried inmates lived in six or seven room dormitories. Access was through two gates, both facing Great Western Road. A large stone house with large veranda, previously called the White House, housed the Japanese administration.^[2]

Ash Camp housed 521 captives within its walls during the war years. Most internees were former Shanghai Municipal Council employees. While a complete roster is not currently available, the following nationalities and/or citizenships are known:

• British 409
• Australian 11
• Palestinian 5
• New Zealanders 3
• American 18 (16 men, 2 women)
• Dutch 1 woman
• Belgian 3 (2 male, 1 female)
• Stateless 5 (1 man, 1 female, 3 children)

31°13′12″N 121°26′40″E / 31.220122°N 121.444339°E / 31.220122; 121.444339 amsh camp