Description
Object description
British aircraftman served as driver with Motor Transport Section, Royal Air Force at Station Headquarters, RAF Kallang, Singapore, Malaya and in Dutch East Indies, 1941-1942; prisoner of war on Java, Dutch East Indies, 3/1942-8/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of period as driver with Motor Transport Section, Station Headquarters, RAF Kallang, Singapore, Malaya, 1941-1942: conscription into Royal Air Force, 11/1940; effects of Japanese aerial attacks; his motor transport duties; morale and conditions in Singapore. Aspects of escape aboard MV Empire Star from Singapore, Malaya to Surabaya, Java, Dutch East Indies 2/1942: escape aboard ship; Japanese aerial attacks on ship. Aspects of period as driver with Motor Transport Section, Royal Air Force in Java, Dutch East Indies, 2/1942-3/1942: vehicle distribution; Dutch capitulation; capture at Garoet, 8/3/1942. Recollections of period as prisoner of war on Java, Dutch East Indies, 3/1942-8/1945: how he was severely injured whilst clearing booby traps for Japanese, 3/1942; medical treatment; how Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Dunlop prevented Japanese from killing Griffiths; movements as prisoner of war on Java, 3/1942-8/1945, attitude of Japanese towards prisoners of war; description of first camp; prisoners of war reaction to capture; prisoner of war illnesses; his attitude after accident.
REEL 2 Continues: importance of maintaining morale and how other prisoners of war helped; lack of help from Japanese; availability of tobacco and medical supplies; Japanese refusal to distribute Red Cross parcels; degree of contact with home; rumours of progress of war; Japanese behaviour towards Griffiths; Japanese and Korean guards brutality; clothing worn; accommodation; washing facilities and hygiene; problems he had sleeping; how prisoners of war passed time; learning Braille using feet; religious life in camp.
REEL 3 Continues: role of senior British officer; futility of complaining to Japanese; prisoner of war relations with Japanese; types of punishment; prisoner of war attitude towards work; his attitude towards Japanese; what kept his hopes alive during captivity; Japanese dislike of tall prisoners of war; Japanese treatment of different nationalities; prisoner of war temperaments and resilience to conditions; news of end of war and reaction to release, 8/1945; treatment on Java, 8/1945-9/1945. Aspects of period as civilian in GB, 1945-1980: return to GB, 11/1945; civilian attitude towards Far Eastern Prisoners of War; attitude towards Japanese, 1980.
REEL 4 Continues: effect of captivity on attitude towards life; comradeship of ex-Far Eastern Prisoners of War; attitude towards Emperor Hirohito's visit to GB, 10/1971.