Davis, Leslie Harold Nearsom (Oral history)

British civil servant with Malayan Civil Service in Malaya, 1932-1941; officer served with Federated Malay States Volunteer Force in Malaya, 1941-1942; prisoner of war in Changi Prison and Sime Road Camps, Singapore, Malaya, 1941-1945; served as Administration Officer with Malayan Civil Service in Muar, Federation of Malaya, 1948-1951

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1909-1932: family; education; joining Colonial Administrative Service. Aspects of period as civil servant with Malayan Civil Service in Malaya, 1932-1941: pre-war presence of Japanese civilians in Malaya; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; duties as District Officer in Kuantan, 1940-1941. Recollections of operations as officer with Federated Malay States Volunteer Force in Malaya, 1941-1942: liaison duties with 22nd Indian Infantry Bde and opinion of quality of brigade; Imperial Japanese Army Air Service attacks on Kuantan Airfield and reaction of Australian troops; sight of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse from Bukit Ubi, 12/1941; question of whether warships sunk because of false alarm at Kuantan; Imperial Japanese Army advance towards Kuantan; retreat southwards; role during counter-attack at Noir. REEL 2 Continues: successful nature of counter-attack at Noir; retreat to indefensible position at Rengam, 26/1/1942; premature destruction of bridge at Rengam; extrication of unit from encirclement at Rengam; effect of retreat on morale; problems transporting wounded through difficult terrain; enlisting Chinese civilians to guide them; reaction to Sikh infantry company's defection to Japanese; reaction of Garhwali infantry company to defection of Sikhs; reporting to Sir Shenton Thomas at Government House in Singapore, 2/1942. REEL 3 Continues: Japanese shelling of Government House; reaction of Lady Lucy Thomas to Japanese attack; move of Government House to Singapore Club in Fullerton Building; Japanese treatment of local civilians on fall of city. Recollections of period as prisoners of war in Changi Prison and Sime Road Camps in Singapore, Malaya, 2/1942-8/1945: start of incarceration; Japanese interrogation of Sir Shenton Thomas; description of camp on arrival; treatment of prisoners of war and internees; departure of Sir Shenton Thomas for Formosa; memories of cellmate Major Mervyn Sheppard, later Abdul Mubin Sheppard; Japanese belief that prisoners of war were sending information to United States of America and punishment of suspects, 1943; memories of Hugh Fraser and Robert Scott; plight of diabetics; move to Sime Road Camp, 1945. REEL 4 Continues: Japanese plan to kill prisoners of war, 1945; liberation and condition of prisoners of war; flight with Lady Lucy Thomas to Calcutta, India; his attitude towards Japanese; question of surrender of Singapore, 15/2/1942; attitude of Sir Shenton Thomas towards scorched earth policy; return to Malaya, 10/1945. Recollections of period as Administration Officer with Malayan Civil Service in Muar, Federation of Malaya, 1948-1951: start of Emergency, 1948; planter who was attacked and subsequently joined Ferret Force; defence of rubber plantations; use of car to move around district; insurgent attack on Federation of Malaya Police station at Bukit Kepong, 23/2/1950; how Chinese squatters would signal to insurgents the presence of security forces; New Village system; failure of insurgents to influence Malays. REEL 5 Continues: belief that Communist insurgents could not succeed in their aims; memories of Sir Gerald Templer; attending Sir Henry Gurney's funeral; killing of the 'Bearded Bandit' Liew Kon Kim by 1st Bn Suffolk Regt in the Kuala Langat Forest Reserve, 6/7/1952