Stonor, Ian Williams (Oral history)

British officer served as aide-de-camp (ADC) to General Arthur Percival in Singapore, Malaya, 1941-1942; escaped from Singapore to Tibia Island, Sumatra, Dutch East Indies, 2/1942; prisoner of war in Changi Camp, Singapore, 2/1942-8/1942, Karenko Camp, Tamazato Camp and Formosa No 4 Camp, Shirakawa, Formosa, 8/1942-10/1944 and Mukden No 2-B Camp, Hsian, Manchuria, 10/1944-8/1945

REEL 1 Recollections of period as aide-de-camp (ADC) to General Arthur Percival in Singapore, Malaya, 1941-1942: background to appointment, 1941; first meeting with General Arthur Percival; visit to North Borneo, British Borneo prior to Japanese attack on Singapore, 12/1941; anticipations of Japanese attack, 12/1941; work as aide-de-camp (ADC) and character of General Arthur Percival; arrival of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse in Singapore, 2/12/1941; Australian attitude to being under British command; loss of units in jungle; Alfred Duff Cooper's proposal to concentrate defences on Singapore; question of use of naval guns in Singapore; opinion of performance of 2nd Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Malaya; question of disorder amongst Australian troops in Singapore. REEL 2 Continues: his orders to leave Singapore, 13/2/1942. Aspects of escape from Singapore, Malaya to Tibia Island, Sumatra, Dutch East Indies, 2/1942: how ship ran aground; foraging for food on island; sailing from island towards Padang, Sumatra, Dutch East Indies; shipwreck on second island. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Changi Camp, Singapore, Malaya, Karenko Camp, Tamazato Camp and Formosa No 4 Camp, Shirakawa, Formosa and Mukden No 2-B Camp, Hsian, Manchuria, 2/1942-8/1945: return to Changi Camp, Singapore; removal to Formosa and then Manchuria; liberation of No 2-B Camp, Hsian by Soviet Army troops; flight from Manchuria to India; lack of temptation to take revenge on Japanese; treatment received as prisoner of war. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as aide-de-camp (ADC) to General Arthur Percival in Singapore, Malaya, 1941-1942: blowing of The Causeway, 30/1/1942; move of General Arthur Percival's headquarters to Fort Canning, early 2/1942; destruction of alcohol stores in Singapore, 2/1942; behaviour of Chinese civilians; disappearance of staff officers to fight in front line; contact with General Arthur Percival post-1945; arrangements for 'stragglers posts' in Singapore, 1942.