Description
Object description
Bound facsimile copy of the ms journal (ca 50pp), illustrated with a few of his drawings, written by a private in the 2nd Battalion Cambridgeshire Regiment (18th Division) in August - September 1945 covering his troopship voyage, mainly on the USS WEST POINT, via South Africa to India (October - December 1941) and then on to Singapore (January 1942); his Battalion's service in Singapore up to the capitulation (February 1942); his experiences as a prisoner of war in Singapore at Changi camp (March - May 1942) and Keppel Harbour (May - October 1942), at various camps along the route of the Burma-Siam railway including Wang Lan, Wampo, Tarsao, Hindato and Non Pladuk (November 1942 - May 1944), on a prison ship from Singapore to Japan (May - June 1944) and in Iruka camp where they were employed in a copper mine (June 1944 - August 1945); news of Japan's surrender and their eventual departure from Iruka (August - September 1945) and the first stages of his repatriation on the USS OCONTO to the Philippines and the USS MARINE SHARK to San Francisco (September - October 1945). The journal includes useful summary assessments of food, accommodation and their general treatment in the different camps, reference to his frequent bouts of serious illness during his captivity and his gratitude to the medical personnel who cared for him, and comments on the behaviour of Japanese civilians after their country's surrender.
Content description
Bound facsimile copy of the ms journal (ca 50pp), illustrated with a few of his drawings, written by a private in the 2nd Battalion Cambridgeshire Regiment (18th Division) in August - September 1945 covering his troopship voyage, mainly on the USS WEST POINT, via South Africa to India (October - December 1941) and then on to Singapore (January 1942); his Battalion's service in Singapore up to the capitulation (February 1942); his experiences as a prisoner of war in Singapore at Changi camp (March - May 1942) and Keppel Harbour (May - October 1942), at various camps along the route of the Burma-Siam railway including Wang Lan, Wampo, Tarsao, Hindato and Non Pladuk (November 1942 - May 1944), on a prison ship from Singapore to Japan (May - June 1944) and in Iruka camp where they were employed in a copper mine (June 1944 - August 1945); news of Japan's surrender and their eventual departure from Iruka (August - September 1945) and the first stages of his repatriation on the USS OCONTO to the Philippines and the USS MARINE SHARK to San Francisco (September - October 1945). The journal includes useful summary assessments of food, accommodation and their general treatment in the different camps, reference to his frequent bouts of serious illness during his captivity and his gratitude to the medical personnel who cared for him, and comments on the behaviour of Japanese civilians after their country's surrender.
History note
Cataloguer RWAS
History note
Catalogue date 2004-08