Description
Object description
British NCO served with 197th Field Ambulance, 18th Infantry Divisional Medical Corps in Singapore, Malaya, 5/2/1942-15/2/1942 including sinking of HMT Empress of Asia off Sultan Shoal Island, Malaya, 5/2/1942; prisoner of war in Loyang Hospital, Changi Camp, Singapore, 2/1942-4/1943, on Burma-Thailand Railway, 4/1943-4/1944 and Kranji Camp, Singapore, Malaya, 5/1944-8/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Army Medical Corps in GB, 1939: reasons for joining Territorial Army; promotion to corporal after attending hygiene course at Aldershot. Recollections of operations as NCO with 197th Field Ambulance, 18th Infantry Divisional Medical Corps in Singapore, Malaya, 5/1942: voyage from GB to India via South Africa, 10/1941-12/1941; Japanese air attacks on HMT Empress of Asia off Sultan Shoal Island, 4/5/1942-5/2/1942; abandoning sinking ship and rescue, 5/2/1942; medical duties during Battle of Singapore, 2/1942; reaction to surrender, 15/2/1942; comparison between British and Australian troops' morale; effects of fatigue after surrender; civilian reaction towards Japanese victory. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Loyang Hospital, Changi Camp, Singapore, Malaya, 2/1942-4/1943: duties in hospital; diminishing food rations and medical supplies; clothing worn; monotony of work; prisoner of war diseases and effect of poor diet; question of importance of mental attitude to survival; prevention of beri; reasons for volunteering to work on Burma-Thailand Railway.
REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of period as prisoner of war on Burma-Thailand Railway, 4/1943-4/1944: journey to Ban Pong Camp; march to Shimo Nikki Camp; cholera outbreak at Shimo Nikki Camp; how he survived cholera; burning bodies of cholera cases; treating sick Korean guard; story of how Korean guard who he had treated helped carry Wood-Higg's load during march to Songkrai Camp; state of health; description of hospital at Songkrai Camp; incident of hiding illicit radio; prisoner of war who lost the will to live; attitude of prisoners of war towards medical staff including saving medicines and use of placebos; relations between medical officers and other ranks; medical work; question of officer privileges.
REEL 3 Continues: effects on sick of Japanese pressure to complete railway; attitude of Japanese towards medical staff, padres and dead; irregular contact with GB; Japanese withholding of Red Cross parcels; opinion of work of prisoner of war cooks; prior recollection of Selarang Square Incident in Singapore, Malaya, 8/1942-9/1942; Imperial Japanese Army discipline; relations between different nationality prisoners of war; return by train to Singapore, Malaya, 4/1944; prisoner of war sabotage of railway; prisoner of war payment; method of keeping diary. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Kranji Camp, Singapore, Malaya, 5/1944-8/1945: medical work and prisoner of war health problems; food cultivation; story of prisoner of war's recovery from beri-beri on hearing news of dropping of atomic bombs on Japan, 8/1945.
REEL 4 Continues: hearing news of atomic bombing of Japan on illicit radio, 8/1945; question of terms of surrender; impressions of Lord Louis Mountbatten during visit to former prisoners of war. Reflections on period as prisoner of war, 1942-1945: long-term psychological and physical effects of captivity; attitude towards Japanese and visit of Emperor Hirohito to GB, 1971.