Description
Object description
British civilian living in Australia, 1941-1945; served with Women's Auxiliary Service Burma in India and Burma, 1945
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of family and educational background. Recollections of life in GB & Malaya, 1939-1941: hearing of outbreak of war; evacuation from GB to join parents in Malaya, 1940; journey to Malaya; meeting husband to be, Lynton White, on board ship; story of Lynton White's escape from POW camp, 1942; reaction to returning to Malaya; situation in Malaya, 1940; father's role as Judge of the Supreme Court of Singapore and the Straits Settlements; father's internment; families decision to send her to Australia.
REEL 2 Recollections of period in Australia, 1941-1945: arrival; attending University; impact of war on Australia, 1941; arrival of her mother, 12/1941; anti-British feeling in Australia after fall of Singapore; financial situation; communication with father interned in Singapore; leaving University to work for Netherlands Indies Information Service, NIIS; information-gathering role; arrival of American troops in Australia; opening home to British servicemen; Australian attitude towards Japanese civilians; story of a riot in an internment camp; Australian attitude towards Europeans.
REEL 3 Continues: father's experience of internment. Recollections of period with the Women's Auxiliary Service Burma, India and Burma, 1945: decision to join WASB; organisation of WASB under Lt Massey; recruitment procedure; impressions of Nin Taylor; women's reasons for joining WASB; conditions in barracks at Sydney; journey to India; situation in Bombay and Calcutta.
REEL 4 Continues: arrival in Calcutta; move to Shillong; end of war; posting to WASB HQ at Mawlai; memories of Lois St John; training; uniform; attending social events; reorganisation of WASB; move to Rangoon; serving food and goods to bored troops in Burma; contact with former POWs of Japanese; work in canteen at Mawbi airfield; accommodation; move to Pegu; social duties; mepacrine tablets; obtaining supplies for canteen.
REEL 5 Continues: condition of returning POWs; attitude towards Japanese prisoners working for them; food rations; war devastation in Rangoon; life in Pegu; morale amongst troops in Burma post-war; relations with troops; attitude of 'old' WASBs towards new ones; question of recognition of WASBs role; adapting to civilian life in GB; attending WASB reunions.