Fraser, Daniel McLair (Oral history)

British sapper served with Royal Engineers in Scotland, Singapore and Malaya 1935-1942. Captured in Singapore 2/1942, POW of Japanese in Singapore and Korea 2/1942-8/1945. Witnessed aftermath of Alexandra hospital massacre 2/1942. Fall out effects of Hiroshima atomic bomb in Korea 8/1945

REEL 1 Reasons for joining Royal Engineers in Scotland 1935; training. Malaya posting 1938: fortification work in Penang 1939. Fall of Malaya 12/1941: evacuation to Singapore. Battle and fall of Singapore 2/1941: duties unloading aircraft; witnessing Japanese atrocities after surrender; duties during battle; action at Alexandra's hospital and hearing screams from within; surrender and first encounter with Japanese; witnessing carnage in Alexandra's hospital; Japanese account of massacre; scene in hospital; British unaware of massacre happening. REEL 2 Fall of Singapore 2/1942: inadequacy of British equipment; civilian evacuation; reasons for capitulation; Japanese 'atrocities' and looting; feeling about surrender; inadequate defence of Singapore; men/officer relations. Changi POW camp 1942: march to camp; plumbing work for officers; criticism of officers' attitude; clearing up work in Singapore; rice ration and pilfering food on work parties. REEL 3 Changi POW camp 1942: visit by Japanese general. Journey to Korea aboard Fukai Maru 1942: embarkation; accommodation. Arrival at Pusan, Korea: parading of naked POWs for public humiliation. Experiences in Jinsen POW camp 1943. Volunteering for Kanko POW camp: work; POW sabotage. Japanese surrender and release 1945: experiencing atomic fallout; desertion by Japanese; treatment by British authorities after release; invalided out of Army 1946. Changi 1942: amount of contact with home; contact with local population. REEL 4 Aspects of POW experience 1942-1945: escape attempt and recapture, Changi 1942; impossibility of escape; concealing crew of shot-down B29 at Kanko; brutal behaviour of Changi guards; behaviour of Jinsen camp commandant; false promises of Allied help during battle for Singapore; false expectations of length of imprisonment; 'doghouse' punishment; POW clothing; present day attitude towards nuclear weapons; feelings about Alexandra hospital massacre; Japanese pre-war infiltration of Singapore. REEL 5 Japanese fifth column in Singapore; Allied underestimation of Japanese; food and jewellery hidden by POWs in Singapore.