Description
Object description
British aircraftman and NCO served with Royal Air Force Police in GB and Java, Dutch East Indies, 1940-1942; prisoner of war in Malang Camp and Jaarmarkt Camp, Surabaya, Java, Dutch East Indies, 3/1942-4/1943, aboard SS Amagi Maru during voyage from Surabaya, Java, Dutch East Indies to Ambon Island, Moluccas Islands, Dutch East Indies, 22/4/1943-4/5/1943, Haruku, Liang and Ambon Camps, Molucca Islands, Dutch East Indies, 5/1943-9/1944, aboard SS Maros Maru during voyage from Ambon Island, Moluccas Islands to Surabaya, Java, Dutch East Indies, 9/1944-11/1944 and Bicycle Camp, Batavia and Bandoeng Camp, Java, Dutch East Indies, 1/1945-8/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of period as aircraftman and NCO with Royal Air Force in GB, 1940-1941: background to volunteering for Royal Air Force, 1/1940; opinion of organisation of police course at RAF Uxbridge, 1/1941-2/1941; question of punishment of guard for following orders at RAF Colerne; lack of esprit de corps in Royal Air Force; overseas posting and transit to RAF West Kirby, 12/1941. Aspects of voyage aboard SS Esperance Bay and HMT Dunera from GB to Dutch East Indies, via South Africa, 12/1941-2/1942: conditions on board SS Esperance Bay; German submarine attacks on convoy; accident with stream winch.
REEL 2 Continues: arrival in Durban, South Africa; transfer to HMT Dunera at Durban, 1/1942; crossing Indian Ocean. Recollections of period as NCO with Royal Air Force Police on Java, Dutch East Indies, 2/1942-3/1942: arrival in Batavia during Japanese air raid; Japanese re-naming of towns; interpretation of Japanese military communiqués; disorganisation of Royal Air Force life in Batavia; problems in obtaining rations at Bandoeng; relations with American troops; allocation to Security Section of Headquarters, American-British-Dutch-Australian Command Air at Bandoeng; contact with British agents; Japanese invasion of Java; disbandment of American-British-Dutch-Australian Command Air Headquarters; armoury guard's refusal to issue arms; evading Japanese.
REEL 3 Continues: hearing news of Dutch capitulation from Royal Air Force air commodore, 8/3/1942; taking refuge in tea plantation; surrender to Japanese at Garoet; performing guard duty alongside Japanese; Japanese preconceptions about British. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Malang Camp, Java, Dutch East Indies, 4/1942-9/1942: journey to camp; accommodation in bicycle shed; challenge from Japanese wrestler; ration supply; problem of water supply; work on aerodrome; incident of being beaten for 'kicking Emperor's property'; lack of leadership amongst prisoners of war; refusal of Japanese challenge by Royal Air Force officer; escape plans.
REEL 4 Continues: beating and execution of four British escapees and two Japanese guards; Japanese attempt to repair four engined American aircraft; false rumours of war situation; prisoner of war caution over contact with Javanese; suffering from dysentery. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Jaarmarkt Camp, Surabaya, Java, Dutch East Indies, 9/1942-4/1943: move to camp; contracting beri beri; beatings for communicating with civilians; Japanese punishment of two Dutch women.
REEL 5 Continues: prisoner of war defiance on morning parade at Jaarmarkt Camp; bed bugs; study groups at HBS School Camp; burial arrangements; Japanese problems with counting on parade; Japanese attempt to gather intelligence about Australia from prisoners of war; clearing lalang grass at Lalang Camp, 12/1942-1/1943; sleeping arrangements; viewing Japanese propaganda film of Pearl Harbor attack; Japanese Army discipline. Aspects of voyage aboard SS Amagi Maru from Surabaya, Java, Dutch East Indies to Ambon Island, Moluccas Islands, Dutch East Indies, 22/4/1943-4/5/1943: embarkation; sinking of Japanese coaster; conditions on board; unloading ammunition at Amboira.
REEL 6 Continues: unloading fruit at Ambon, 5/1943; Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Haruku Camp, Haruku Island, Molucca Islands, Dutch East Indies, 5/1943-6/1944: arrival at site of Haruku Camp, 5/1943; prior recollection of journey to Malang Camp, 4/1942; rock chipping work to construct aircraft runway; organisation of work and feeding; construction of camp; importance of prisoner of war comradeship; use of dynamite and discarded bombs for moving rock; funeral arrangements.
REEL 7 Continues: arrangements for sick; suffering of sick in isolation hut and visiting them; burial procedures and burial of 'wrong man'; Japanese punishments for incorrect numbering; Japanese codes of behaviour; Japanese bowing requirements; fatal effect of beri beri inoculations; camp language; types of Japanese punishments; two cruel Japanese guards 'The Mad Gunzo' and 'Horseface'; Japanese 'sport' with prisoners of war.
REEL 8 Continues: covering up for inability of sick to work; stealing and smuggling exploits of particular prisoner of war; Kempitei search of camp for knives; further instances of theft from comrades; importance for survival of getting on easy work parties and false reputation each party consequently given.
REEL 9 Continues: method of slowing down tree felling work; slowing down runway clearing work; coping with the rains; importance of footwear; development and treatment of tropical ulcers; effects of malnutrition including blindness and sharpened instincts; deceiving Japanese over amount of tunnelling work carried out; Japanese punishment for slacking on work party; influence of 'Gunzo Mori' on camp organisation; prisoner of war medical and eating problems; eating crocodile; attempted escape of Japanese guards.
REEL 10 Continues: punishment of Japanese escapers; prisoner of war's 'escape' from work party to obtain food; fate of sick prisoners of war evacuated by boat; Japanese attempt to suppress contact with Moluccans; unco-operative attitude of British towards Japanese; severe punishment of prisoner of war who took blame to save others; latrine arrangements; humorous end to 'Gunzo Mori's' punishment; Japanese attempt to make prisoners of war punish each other and subsequent death of prisoner of war.
REEL 11 Continues: chance meeting of two radio hams in camp; prisoners of war psychological state; incident of empty execution threat by Japanese; abortive escape attempt; prisoner of war method of resting on work parties; incident of Moluccan workers whistling Christian carol; Japanese use of prisoner of war pianist; methods of keeping up morale; Japanese brothel; Moluccan casualties during American bombing raid on camp; prisoner of war deaths from eating castor oil beans; Japanese method of enlisting Moluccans to provide working party.
REEL 12 Continues: prisoners of war using supplies from brothel; Amboinese hostility towards Japanese; move to Ambon Island, 6/1944, Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Liang Camp, Ambon Island, Molucca Islands, Dutch East Indies, 6/1944-8/1944: Japanese objections to prisoners of war swearing; conditions in camp; effects of Allied anti-personnel bombs; water supply; blowing last post at funerals; conditions for American prisoners of war in Imperial Japanese Navy run camp. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Ambon Camp, Ambon Island, Molucca Islands, Dutch East Indies, 8/1944-9/1944: conditions in camp; settling into new camp; insanitary habits of Javanese workers; tropical food; Japanese exploitation of prisoner of war skills; American bombing of Ambron; gathering shellfish.
REEL 13 Continues: obtaining medical supplies during boat loading work party; United States Army Air Force strafing attack. Recollections of voyage aboard SS Maros Maru from Ambon Island, Moluccas Islands to Surabaya, Java, Dutch East Indies, 9/1944-11/1944: overcrowded conditions on board; discovery of vitamin B tablets; death of prisoner of war forced to stand; loss of his rice through bomb blast; weather conditions; drowning of sick prisoners of war on deck; submarine threat; prisoners of war help with engines; American sinking of second prisoner of war ship and rescuing survivors; increased overcrowding; latrine arrangements.
REEL 14 Continues: prisonersof war psychological state; officers' punishment for prisoner of war falling overboard; prisoner of war plan to take-over ship; disposal of corpses overboard; aid given to prisoners of war by Indonesians on island; concealing American propaganda leaflet; collision with reef; anchorage at Macassar, Celebes; Allied air activity and Japanese capture of airmen; death of prisoner of war; return to Macassar and sight of propaganda leaflets in harbour; death of prisoners of war from typhoid; prisoners of war corpses floating in harbour.
REEL 15 Continues: physical condition of prisoners of war during period at anchorage off Macassar, Celebes; suffering from jaundice; prisoner of war story of encounters with author who was intelligence agent; character of tough prisoner of war on board; instance of religious division between Indian prisoners of war; mosquito plague and subsequent cerebral malaria; death of prisoner of war on arrival; disembarkation at Surabaya; Aspects of period as prisoner of war on Java, Dutch East Indies, 11/1944-1/1945: beating received for urinating on dockside; train journey to Jakarta; after effects of beating; fortnight period in Kampong Makassar Camp; story illustrating importance of possessions to prisoners of war. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Bicycle Camp, Java, Dutch East Indies, 1/1945-5/1945: layout of Bicycle Camp, 1/1945.
REEL 16 Continues: prior recollection of prisoner of war choking to death aboard SS Maros Maru. condition of prisoner of war who had remained on Java; fate of American airmen shot down at Macassar; prisoner of war fire guard duty; book repairing work party; problem of securing utensils; rumour of Japanese intention to kill all prisoners of war; work in Copra mill; receiving news and aid from Chinese civilians; reaction to prospect of further boat journey, 5/1945. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Bandoeng Camp, Java, Dutch East Indies, 5/1945-8/1945: transfer to camp.
REEL 17 Continues: sleeping arrangements; morning roll call; intelligence officer's talks about Japan; work party; dilapidated state of roads; problems with cold nights; change in guard arrangements, 8/1945; treatment of prisoner of war informers; change in Japanese attitudes and treatment, 8/1945; Javanese political demonstration; fate of Indian prisoner of war informer; reaction to Japanese commandant's announcement of end of war, 8/1945.
REEL 18 Continues: prisoners of war reaction to survival; character of 'Gunzo Mori'; move to Bicycle Camp; monopolisation of radio by officer prisoners of war; delivering present to female internee; air-supply drop of Red Cross parcels; Japanese behaviour to internee children; visit by Lady Edwina Mountbatten. Aspects of return to GB, 1945: evacuation from Java; reception by Allied Fleet and recuperation in Singapore, Malaya, 10/1945; voyage aboard SS Cilicia; danger of over-eating; issue of medals in Port Tewfik, Egypt.
REEL 19 Continues: arrival at Liverpool, GB; reception at No 106 Personnel Reception Centre, RAF at RAF Cosford, 11/1945; inability to sleep in bed; reunion with comrade; medical tests. Reflections on period as prisoner of war, 1942-1945: lack of preparations for Far Eastern posting; long-term psychological effects of imprisonment; attitude towards Japanese.