The fascinating war archives of a RAF airman of Japanese descent who escaped three times from POW camps has been put up for sale by his family.
Warrant Officer Percy Sekine’s mother was British and his Japanese father worked for Mitsui Bank in London.
He was wearing a black belt in judo when he volunteered for the RAF as a 19-year-old at the outbreak of World War II.
He ejected from a Hampden bomber at 3,000 feet over the Netherlands in 1942 after being hit by anti-aircraft fire.
But its two pilots could not escape in time and died when the plane crashed.
Warrant Officer Sekine was captured five hours later and taken to a POW camp, but then escaped by climbing over the wire fence.
He was recaptured and taken to Stalag 383 in Bavaria, where he founded a judo club, founded a dojo and held tournaments.
After the war he became captain of the British judo team in the 1950s and 1960s and was once pictured in the Daily Mail showing off his moves.
Now his family is selling his archive at Rowley’s auction house in Ely, Cambridgeshire. The archive is expected to fetch up to £1,000.
It contains previously unpublished photos of life at Stalag 383, including its judo group.
Other images show other aviators and him playing golf with former ace fighter pilot and ex-PoW group captain Douglas Bader, who he befriended in later life.
The fascinating war archive of a half-Japanese RAF airman (pictured during the war) who escaped three times from POW camps has been put up for sale. Warrant Officer Percy Sekine’s mother was British and his Japanese father worked for Mitsui Bank in London
In addition to his initial escape, Warrant Officer Sekine made two more attempts at escape – once walking under a wire fence and once walking through it.
While at large he queued up at a mobile German soup kitchen while still wearing his RAF battle dress and enjoyed a meal before continuing his escape.
But he was arrested a second time when he walked past a squad of German soldiers in Bad Tölz, Bavaria.
Warrant Officer Sekine became a renowned judo expert in the post-war period, training comedian Tommy Cooper and Formula 1 driver Stirling Moss and the Royal Marines at his dojo in Hammersmith.
He became captain of the British judo team despite weighing just 9.5 stone and standing just 5ft 6in tall.
Warrant Officer Sekine’s wife, Hana, was the daughter of Gunji Koizumi, who first brought the martial art of judo to Britain in 1918.
In the soldier’s archive there is a picture of his father-in-law.
Warrant Officer Sekine, who had a wife and son, died in 2010 at the age of 90.
Warrant Officer Sekine ejected from a Hampden bomber at 3,000 feet over the Netherlands in 1942 after being hit by anti-aircraft fire. Above: The ex-soldier’s old uniform, along with pictures and letters, which are also being sold at auctioneer Rowley’s in Cambridgeshire
Warrant Officer Sekine spent some time as a prisoner of war in Germany. Pictured: The aviator in his flight suit is second from left to his flying colleagues
Warrant Officer Sekine started a judo group while imprisoned at Stalag 383 in Germany. Pictured: The airman is seen third from left among the other members of his judo squad
Warrant Officer Sekine’s “Judo Squad” at POW camp Stalag 383 in August 1943. Warrant Officer Sekine, who had a wife and son, died in 2010 at the age of 90
Warrant Officer Sekine became a renowned judo expert in the post-war period, training comedian Tommy Cooper and Formula 1 driver Stirling Moss and the Royal Marines at his dojo in Hammersmith. Pictured: members of the former airman’s judo school
Warrant Officer Sekine’s judo skills led to his being featured in a 1965 issue of the Daily Mail
Roddy Lloyd of Rowley’s said: “After the war, Sekine followed his mother’s profession as a diamond cutter at Hatton Garden, but the appeal of judo was too great.
How Percy Sekine’s father-in-law brought judo to the UK
Warrant Officer Percy Sekine’s wife, Hana, was the daughter of Gunji Koizumi, who first brought the martial art of judo to Britain in 1918.
The fighting system, now very popular around the world, was introduced to Britain when Koizumi opened Europe’s first martial arts club, the Budokwai.
The club that still exists was based at Lower Grosvenor Place, near Buckingham Palace
Judo was developed in Japan in 1882 by a professor, Jigoro Kano.
Koizumi died in 1965 at the age of 79 and is said to have taken his own life.
Warrant Officer Percy Sekine’s wife, Hana, was the daughter of Gunji Koizumi, who first brought the martial art of judo to Britain in 1918
“He became an instructor and competitor, formed his own club at Hammersmith and coached the Royal Marines.
“He represented and led the British judo team in the 1950s and 1960s and although he was only 9.5 stone and there were no weight classes in judo he went unbeaten.
“In the 1960s he became the British judo team manager and was the first Briton to be promoted to the high rank of seventh dan in the martial arts.
“Among the items for sale are his Royal Air Force uniform jacket, along with photographs and letters relating to his time in the war.
“Among the pictures is one of his flight crew, on which Percy made notes which were killed or captured.
“There are never-before-seen photos from a POW camp, one shows ‘my judo group’ in Stalag 383.
“There are also ephemera relating to him and his wife Hana, who was the daughter of Gunji Koizumi – the ‘Father of British Judo’.
“Included are judo belts and other items including a trophy and a picture of him with former PoW colleague Douglas Bader, who he played golf with.
“Percy was an irrepressible character. He escaped and was captured three times during the war, after which he shaped the sport of judo.
“In his judoka he trained a number of notable people including Tommy Cooper and Stirling Moss.
“He coached people at his club until he was in his 80s.
“Collectors of wartime memorabilia and judo items will be interested in these items as they relate to a remarkable man who moved easily between British and Japanese cultures.”
The sale will take place on May 7th.
Warrant Officer Sekine’s judo skills led to his being featured in a 1965 issue of the Daily Mail.
The report detailed how the Reverend Kenneth Wade, then the Dean of Bocking in Essex, had fended off a “6-foot thug” using judo skills.
“Within seconds he had suffered a dislocated shoulder and was floating through the air over the Dean’s head with the greatest of ease,” reads the report.
Warrant Officer Sekine is seen holding his flying helmet while posing in his pilot’s suit during the war
Judo ephemera belonging to Percy Sekine including belts with his name and the trophies he won. Also featured is a cartoon of the combat expert expert
A Red Cross letter to Percy Sekine asking for information on the other members of his downed crew
A Judo Cup appointing Warrant Officer Sekine as captain of the British Judo team. The war veteran then opened his own dojo
Warrant Officer Sekine also befriended former fighter ace and POW Douglas Bader. The couple are pictured together in later life
Warrant Officer Sekine was then quoted alongside a picture demonstrating his moves.
He said: “But anyone – man, woman or child – should be able to give a criminal a good run for their money within six months of starting judo, provided they practice.
He described how “thirty girls” attended his judo classes at his dojo, adding that they ranged from “girls as young as 12 to models, secretaries, nurses, a film makeup artist and a newspaper reporter.”
After “lifting” Mail reporter Harry Weaver “in demonstration” the fearsome veteran added, “I pity the stranger who puts his arm around one of them and says, ‘Hello, dear.’