Description
Object description
British civilian served with Colonial Administrative Service in Malaya, 1928-1942; internee in Changi Prison and Sime Road Camps, Singapore, Malaya, 2/1942-8/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1906-1928: father's political career; childhood and education in Saltburn-by-the-Sea; relations with parents; opinion of education at Oundle School; sporting activities. Aspects of period with Colonial Adminstrative Service in Malaya, 1928-1941: obtaining appointment with Colonial Adminstrative Service in Malaya; training and duties as Customs Service Cadet with Customs and Excise Department; attitude to Malay language and culture; summary of career and appointments; opinion of lifestyle in Malaya; attitude to inter-ethnic marriages; social life; relations with Chinese and Malays; role in preparations for possible invasion.
REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of period with Colonial Adminstrative Service in Malaya, 12/1941-2/1942: organisation of rice storage dumps; opinion of adequacy of preparations; air raid precautions; evacuation from Penang to Kuala Lumpur following Japanese invasion; liaison role between local civilians and military; accommodation in police station; role as interpreter; story of suspect being shot dead by British soldier during interrogation; journey to Singapore, 2/1942; attitude of civilian population to British; accommodation in Customs House; reaction to fall of Singapore, 15/2/1942; arrest by Japanese and march to Changi Prison; clothing and personal possessions; opinion of treatment by Japanese. Aspects of period as internee in Changi Prison Camp, Singapore, Malaya, 2/1942-3/1945: initial impressions of Changi Prison Camp; confiscation of binoculars; allocated cell; relations with Japanese.
REEL 3 Continues: Japanese administration of camp; freedom of movement; organisation of elections by internees; role of block representatives and camp committee; duties as deputy block representative; allocation of work; complaints procedure; attitude to enforcement of discipline among internees; opinion of guards; problem of lack of food; punishments used by Japanese; search and arrests by Kempeitai.
REEL 4 Continues: daily routine and meals; work duties; cleaning of cells; lectures; washing clothes; evening concerts; use of illicit radios to follow progress of war; camp hospital; problem of lack of medicines; effects of malnutrition; use of brandy to treat wounds; suicides; problem of constipation due to diet; use of palm oil and dried fish to improve diet; attitude to eating duck eggs; availability of fruit; advantages of being internee in tropical climate; attitude to working for Japanese; question of escape; methods of concealing illicit radios and distributing war news; preparation and serving of food; camp shop.
REEL 5 Continues: camp currency; bartering; bribing guards; morale; communication with family; suicide of camp doctor. Aspects of period as internee in Sime Road Camp, Singapore, Malaya, 3/1945-8/1945: accommodation in atap huts; liberation of camp and visit by Lady Edwina Mountbatten; problem of eating and adjusting to freedom. Reflections on period of internment: attitude towards Japanese; question of reconciliation