description
Physical description
A circular glass lens framed with a wooden ring that has 'SIMMANCE -THIS SIDE UP -' burned into one side, the item has broken into four pieces and adhesive tape has been used to try and keep it together.
History note
This item belonged to Major Francis Douglas Kingsley Simmance and was made during his time spent in Changi prison after the fall of Singapore. Major Simmance talked to his son, John Simmance, about the magnifying lens and spoke of its many uses including starting fires when matches were not available and to identify his property as can be seen by EPH 9245, a knife which has Simmance's name burnt into the handle using this lens.
Major Simmance, who went by the nickname 'Tiny', survived his time in captivity, but on his release was suffering from malaria, beri-beri and starvation debility with a weight of nine and a half stone (his normal weight being seventeen stone).
Major Simmance retired from the Indian army as a Brigadier in 1948, he died in 1978, at the age of 77.
Burned
SIMMANCE -THIS SIDE UP -
