Description
Object description
British petty officer served aboard HMS Exeter in the Far East, 1941-1942 including sinking in Sundra Straits in Java Sea, 1/3/1942; prisoner of war in Makassar and Poemalla Camps, Celebes Island, Dutch East Indies, 1942-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of period as seaman and petty officer with Royal Navy, 1924-1941: enlistment in Royal Navy, 1924; early gunnery career; duties with Fleet Air Arm. Recollections of operations as petty officer aboard HMS Exeter in Atlantic and Far East, 1941-1942: drafting to ship; opinion of quality of ship's company; seaworthiness; convoy duties; reception of survivors of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse on board, 12/1941; apportioning blame for setbacks and sinkings; troop ferrying duties to Singapore, Malaya; Japanese air attacks on ship, 2/1942.
REEL 2 Continues: formation of mixed Allied naval force at Surabaya, Java in Dutch East Indies. Aspects of operations as petty officer aboard HMS Exeter during Battle of Java Sea in Far East, 2/1942: crippling of ship during action; fate of Allied naval force; sinking of ship in Sundra Strait in Java Sea, 1/3/1942; abandoning ship and period in sea; rescue by Japanese Navy; medical treatment received aboard hospital ship. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Makassar Camp, Celebes Islands, Dutch East Indies, 3/1942-1/1943: accommodation.
REEL 3 Continues: march through streets of Makassar; interrogation; provision of rations; work demolishing air raid shelters; organisation of work parties; stealing from Japanese; execution of Dutch escapers; prisoner of war beatings and punishments; relations with Dutch prisoners of war improvised clothing; making 'inspection kit'; receiving language lessons from Japanese guard.
REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Poemalla Camp, Celebes Island, Dutch East Indies, 1/1943-9/1943: transfer to camp, 1/1943; levelling work at nickel mine; absence of beatings; theft of duck from Japanese; playing volleyball with Japanese guards; lack of medical facilities and prisoner of war deaths; killing of water buffalo for meat. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Makassar Camp, Celebes Island, Dutch East Indies, 9/1943-8/1945: return to camp, 9/1943; character of cruel Japanese guard; punishment of Japanese guard for his beating of Adams; Imperial Japanese Army hierarchy; prisoner of war suffering from Weil's Disease; medical attention for prisoners of war.
REEL 5 Continues: rumours of approaching end of war; concrete mixing work; illustrations of Japanese mentality; availability of fruit; his operation on hand to avoid working party; carpentry work; his fear of punishment if work proved faulty; period of sickness; United States Army Air Force air raid; news of end of Second World War, 8/1945; contacting Australian aircraft; air supply drops; liberation by Australian Army troops; hospitalisation in Australia and return to GB, 5/2/1946.
REEL 6 Continues: Reflections on period as prisoner of war in Makassar and Poemalla Camps, Celebes Island, Dutch East Indies, 3/1942-8/1945: his worst beating; prisoner of war mosquito quota; naval prisoners of war lack of possessions; Japanese news sheet; Japanese capacity for work; Japanese plans to dispose of prisoners of war at end of war; long term effects of imprisonment; attitude towards Japanese; examples of kindness from some Japanese captors; work of Far Eastern Prisoners of War Association.
