Description
Object description
British gunner served with 13th Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery, 2nd Infantry Div in GB and France 1939-1941; served with 80th Anti-Tank Regt in Malaya and Singapore 1941-1942, captured in Singapore 2/1942. POW of Japanese in Malaya and Thailand 2/1942-8/1945; Burma-Thailand railway [Variable audibility, some very poor]
Content description
REEL 1 Early employment and service career in Liverpool, Lancs, England, GB 1920s-1930s. Mobilisation 1939. Service with 13th Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery in France and GB 12/1939-1941: opinion of 2pdr guns; first experience of action; withdrawal to Dunkirk, period on beach and close escape from Germans; arrival in Dover, welcome and journey to Porthcawl, Glamorgan; wife recalls being told he was missing. Service with 80th Anti-Tank Regt, RA in Malaya 1941: voyage to Singapore summer 1941; posting to camp at Sungei Patani ca 10/1941; story of unit personnel being killed as Japanese tanks invaded 12/1941. REEL 2 Continues: story of unit caught unaware by Japanese tanks; mishap with gun in paddy field; being encircled by Japanese; rapid retreat through Malaya and loss of equipment; Japanese aerial activity; ineffectiveness of Allied troops resistance in peninsula; retreat into Singapore and advance of Japanese; hearing news of capitulation 15/2/1942; witnessing Japanese killing Singaporean civilians; inadequacies of defences and rapidity of Japanese advance; move to Changi. REEL 3 Aspects of FEPOW experience in Singapore and Thailand 2/1942-8/1945: rice diet and effect on digestion; dock work and severity of Japanese guards; cigarette ration; relationship with officers; conditions on train journey to Thailand 8/1942; arrival at Ban Pong; move to Tamarkan under command of Major Roberts; building camp; Japanese attitude towards British; food. REEL 4 Continues: apparent hopelessness of war situation and POWs' feelings of isolation; dislike of helping Japanese war effort; comparison of camp moves with Toosey's; opinion of Toosey's discipline and his involvement with men's work; Toosey's attempts to improve conditions for men; Allied air raids on railway 1944 and POWs' fear of being hit; attacks on bridge over River Kwae Noi; cookhouse work. REEL 5 Continues: [very poor audibility] making bread from rice; rail journey and march to Nakom Nayok with Toosey ca 6/1945; building road and camp; news of progress of war; learning news of end of war from Thai [ends third way in] REEL 6 [Another interview] REEL 7 Experiences as POW in Thailand 1942-1945: bridge building while Toosey commandant at Tamarkan 10/1942-5/1943; camp layout at time of Toosey's arrival; recollections of Toosey; learning to cook rice, other food available and types of meals; POW feelings about rice diet; railway work during 'speedo' period; moving to Japanese cookhouse after spell of dysentery; bridge building work; Toosey's pride in men's efforts; daily routine; being late for roll call; question of escape; Japanese hierarchy and attitude towards punishment. REEL 8 Continues: vicous punishments; Toosey's role in mediating with Japaneseand their respect for him; treatment of a malingerer at Kanburi; radio at Tamarkan [ends third way in]. REEL 9 [Another interview]