Description
Object description
Printed memoir (191pp including illustrations), mainly written in 1994, describing his childhood with his divorced mother in South East London (1919 - 1933); his employment as a salesman in London (1933 - 1939); his basic Army training and qualification as a driver in the Royal Army Service Corps (October 1939 - early 1940); his service as a driver with 508 Petrol Company RASC (44th Division) in France from March 1940 till he was evacuated from St Nazaire in June 1940 after fortunately escaping capture; his transfer to 292 Supply Column in the newly formed 18th Division under training in East Anglia, the South of Scotland and North West England, where he was employed on fire-watching duties during the Liverpool blitz (August 1940 - August 1941); his transfer to the 18th Divisional Troop Company RASC and passage with the unit on the troopships SOBIESKI and MOUNT VERNON from the United Kingdom via Nova Scotia and South Africa to Singapore (October 1941 - January 1942); his service during the fighting in Malaya and Singapore and growing demoralisation as the prospect of defeat became apparent (January - February 1942); his experiences as a prisoner of war in Changi camp, Singapore (February - October 1942); and on the Thailand-Burma railway, principally in the camps at or near Tarsao (November 1942 - May 1943), Tonchan (June - September 1943), Tarsao again (October 1943 - June 1944), Tamuang (June - October 1944), Tiamonta (October 1944 - February 1945), Tamuang again (February - May 1945) and finally Pratchai (May - August 1945); their liberation, flight from Bangkok to Rangoon and repatriation on the troopship WORCESTERSHIRE (September - October 1945); his long-term difficulties in readjusting to life with his young wife whom he had married in 1941 and to returning to work; his pilgrimage to Thailand following his retirement in 1979 and his continued opposition to reconciliation with the Japanese. His account of his time in captivity includes references to the inadequacy of their rations, sickness and death among the prisoners, the harsh demands made on working parties on the Thailand - Burma railway, instances of ill-treatment by their guards, the conduct of certain Senior British Officers and the attitude of their companions towards a projected escape from Tiamonta by two prisoners.
Content description
Printed memoir (191pp including illustrations), mainly written in 1994, describing his childhood with his divorced mother in South East London (1919 - 1933); his employment as a salesman in London (1933 - 1939); his basic Army training and qualification as a driver in the Royal Army Service Corps (October 1939 - early 1940); his service as a driver with 508 Petrol Company RASC (44th Division) in France from March 1940 till he was evacuated from St Nazaire in June 1940 after fortunately escaping capture; his transfer to 292 Supply Column in the newly formed 18th Division under training in East Anglia, the South of Scotland and North West England, where he was employed on fire-watching duties during the Liverpool blitz (August 1940 - August 1941); his transfer to the 18th Divisional Troop Company RASC and passage with the unit on the troopships SOBIESKI and MOUNT VERNON from the United Kingdom via Nova Scotia and South Africa to Singapore (October 1941 - January 1942); his service during the fighting in Malaya and Singapore and growing demoralisation as the prospect of defeat became apparent (January - February 1942); his experiences as a prisoner of war in Changi camp, Singapore (February - October 1942); and on the Thailand-Burma railway, principally in the camps at or near Tarsao (November 1942 - May 1943), Tonchan (June - September 1943), Tarsao again (October 1943 - June 1944), Tamuang (June - October 1944), Tiamonta (October 1944 - February 1945), Tamuang again (February - May 1945) and finally Pratchai (May - August 1945); their liberation, flight from Bangkok to Rangoon and repatriation on the troopship WORCESTERSHIRE (September - October 1945); his long-term difficulties in readjusting to life with his young wife whom he had married in 1941 and to returning to work; his pilgrimage to Thailand following his retirement in 1979 and his continued opposition to reconciliation with the Japanese. His account of his time in captivity includes references to the inadequacy of their rations, sickness and death among the prisoners, the harsh demands made on working parties on the Thailand - Burma railway, instances of ill-treatment by their guards, the conduct of certain Senior British Officers and the attitude of their companions towards a projected escape from Tiamonta by two prisoners.
History note
Cataloguer RWAS
History note
Catalogue date 2004-02