Description
Object description
Photocopy of a detailed ts memoir (299pp), written in the early 1990s, describing how he was serving as a leading aircraftman attached to No 84 Squadron RAF when the Allied forces in Java surrendered in March 1942 and, after making the journey on foot and by train from Buitenzorg in central Java to Batavia, became a prisoner of war in Boei Glodok gaol, where he worked as a medical orderly (March - October 1942), was transported on a Japanese prison ship to Singapore (October 1942) and temporarily held in Changi camp before sailing with 700 other prisoners of war on the prison ship DAI NICHI MARU for an horrific 56 day voyage to Japan (October - November 1942) and was then in the camps at Hakodate, where he was employed in a shipyard (December 1942 - May 1943), and Ohashi where he was among many American prisoners of war and worked in an iron ore mine and also briefly in a limestone quarry as well as carrying out sanitary fatigues (May 1943 - August 1945), and concluding with an account of events in Ohasi following Japan's surrender and a description of how he and some fellow prisoners left the camp against orders and proceeded by train to Tokyo. The memoir includes many interesting references to the loneliness and boredom of captivity, the spartan conditions and consequent problems of sickness and hygiene in the camps, the indifference and intermittent brutality of their captors, comradeship and internal discipline among the prisoners and his philosophy to combat the 'dangers' of captivity, along with comments on numerous other aspects of prisoner of war life.
Content description
Photocopy of a detailed ts memoir (299pp), written in the early 1990s, describing how he was serving as a leading aircraftman attached to No 84 Squadron RAF when the Allied forces in Java surrendered in March 1942 and, after making the journey on foot and by train from Buitenzorg in central Java to Batavia, became a prisoner of war in Boei Glodok gaol, where he worked as a medical orderly (March - October 1942), was transported on a Japanese prison ship to Singapore (October 1942) and temporarily held in Changi camp before sailing with 700 other prisoners of war on the prison ship DAI NICHI MARU for an horrific 56 day voyage to Japan (October - November 1942) and was then in the camps at Hakodate, where he was employed in a shipyard (December 1942 - May 1943), and Ohashi where he was among many American prisoners of war and worked in an iron ore mine and also briefly in a limestone quarry as well as carrying out sanitary fatigues (May 1943 - August 1945), and concluding with an account of events in Ohasi following Japan's surrender and a description of how he and some fellow prisoners left the camp against orders and proceeded by train to Tokyo. The memoir includes many interesting references to the loneliness and boredom of captivity, the spartan conditions and consequent problems of sickness and hygiene in the camps, the indifference and intermittent brutality of their captors, comradeship and internal discipline among the prisoners and his philosophy to combat the 'dangers' of captivity, along with comments on numerous other aspects of prisoner of war life.
History note
Cataloguer RWAS
History note
Catalogue date 2001-10