Description
Object description
British signaller served with 135th Field regt, Royal Artillery in GB, Malaya and Singapore 1941-1942. Captured in Singapore 15/2/1942; POW of Japanese in Singapore and Thailand 1942-1945; Burma-Thailand railway
Content description
REEL 1 Davies summarises early wartime career of Philip Toosey and his becoming CO 135th Field Regt, Royal Artillery. Naylor's service with RA: call-up 3/1941; signals training; posting to 135th Field Regt with new CO Toosey; expectation of Middle East posting. Service with 135th Field Regt in Malaya: journey of 53rd Bde aboard SS Sobieski to Halifax; surprise at US convoy escort and later switch to USS Mount Vernon; route of convoy and journey from Mombassa to Singapore; arrival in Singapore 13/1/1942; occupying island off west coast Johore as forward observation; retreat into Singapore and expectation of evacuation; mistaken poor reputation of Japanese fighting ability; trying to organise escape party; ceasefire order and destroying guns. Experiences as POW of Japanese in Singapore 2/1942-10/1942: initial impression of Japanese troops; march to Changi; maintenance of unit organisation; Indian National Army guards; living conditions; punishment incident at Bukit Timah. REEL 2 Experiences as POW in Thailand 10/1942 -8/1945: expectations; arrival at waterlogged Ban Pong; truck journey to Tamarkan; immediate heavy work on bridge building; question as to whether POWs should work for Japanese; taking sabotage opportunities including murder of guards; temporary nature of wooden bridge; means of construction of concrete pillars for steel bridge; Toosey's organisation of camp activities and his negotiating better working conditions with Japanese; role of officers; ill with dysentery; influence of Dutch POWs; being chosen by Toosey to help with administration of camp as hospital after completion of bridge; numbers and condition of hospital inmates; move to Nong Pladuk 14/12/1943, Toosey becoming camp commandant at No Camp, Nong Pladuk 1/1944; air raid and digging trenches 9/1944; feelings on being bombed by 'own' aircraft and Toosey trying to indicate POW status on football pitch. REEL 3 Continues: tension caused by air raids; move to Nakhom Pathom; extent of Naylor's association with Toosey; assessment of Toosey's character and his style of leadership; men's and other officers' opinion of Toosey and his relationship with Japanese; Toosey's relationship with other officers; Toosey's pragmatic approach to officers working; story of Toosey joining men at Ubon after liberation; story of nearly being hit by air dropped supplies; return to GB; pay as POW; weight during captivity; psychological effects of POW experience.