Kirkwood, James (Oral history)

British aircraftman served with Royal Air Force in Malaya and Java, Dutch East Indies, 9/1941-2/1942; prisoner of war in Boei Glodok Jail Camp, Batavia, Java, Dutch East Indies, 3/1942-2/1943, Changi Camp, Singapore, Malaya, 2/1943-5/1943, Saigon Camp, Saigon, French Indochina, 5/1943-9/1943 and Hakodate Main Camp, Bibai-Machi, Japan, 12/1943-8/1945

REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment and service with Royal Air Force in GB and Singapore, Malaya, 1938-1941: enlistment, 1938; posting to Malaya, 1941; arrival in Singapore, 20/9/1941; pleasant life at RAF Kallang. Aspects of operations as aircraftman with Royal Air Force in Singapore, Malaya, 12/1941-1/1942: Imperial Japanese Air Force attack on RAF Kallang, 23/12/1941; Japanese jungle warfare techniques; retreat to Singapore town; escape to Java, Dutch East Indies, 14/1/1942. Aspects of operations as aircraftman with Royal Air Force on Java, Dutch East Indies, 1/1942-3/1942: defending Kalidjati Airfield, 2/1942; officers deserting men; escape to Surabaya and then to Bali; return to Surabaya; capture by Japanese, 3/1942. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Boei Glodok Jail Camp, Batavia, Java, Dutch East Indies, 3/1942-2/1943: conditions in prison. REEL 2 Continues: Japanese interrogation; airfield work; fate of attempted escapees; signing parole under duress; deteriorating Japanese treatment; prisoner of war illnesses and malnutrition; Japanese attempts to undermine prisoner of war morale; prisoner of war collaborators; prisoner of war beatings; stealing from Japanese during beatings; pilfering on work parties; Japanese searches; news from secret camp radio; dysentery deaths. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Changi Camp, Singapore, Malaya, 2/1943-5/1943: life and work in camp; Japanese difficulties with Gurkha prisoners of war. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Saigon Camp, Saigon, French Indochina, 5/1943-9/1943: dock work; prisoner of war methods of avoiding work. REEL 3 Continues: harshness of Korean guards; prior recollection of Javanese civilian help given to prisoners of war; harshness of road and rail construction work. Aspects of voyage to Japan, 9/1943-12/1943: food; treatment by Imperial Japanese Navy guards. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Hakodate Main Camp, Bibai-Machi, Japan, 12/1943-8/1945: cold weather on arrival, 12/1943; Japanese civilians jeering at prisoners of war being paraded through streets of Yokohama; train journey to Hakodate Main Camp; brutal Korean guard; Japanese clothing issue; lice problem; prisoner of war malnutrition; nature of work causing Kirkwood's tuberculosis; numbering in Japanese; prisoners of war learning Japanese songs; sing excerpts; prisoner of war collaborators. REEL 4 Continues: forms of prisoner of war collaboration; prisoner of war psychological condition and survival instinct; treatment for Kirkwood's foot injury; Japanese 'no work, no eat' policy; prisoners of war sabotaging work; coal mining work, 2/1945-8/1945; elderly Japanese guards; time spent under ground; change in Japanese attitude towards prisoners of war during 1945; disappearance of guards and learning about surrender, 8/1945. Aspects of period in Japan, 8/1945-9/1945: liberation; United States Army air-supply drops and prisoner of war overindulgence; journey through Japan, 9/1945; prisoner of war treatment of Japanese; debriefing about experiences; attitude towards Japanese; prior recollection of voyage aboard SS Tofuku Maru from Singapore, Malaya to French Indochina, 5/1943.