Description
Object description
British NCO captured in Java 3/1942. POW of Japanese in Dutch East Indies and Japan, Mar1942-8/1945; witnessed atomic bomb on Hiroshima 8/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of family background, electrician career as civilian and with RAF and humiliation of FEPOW experience. Experiences as POW of Japanese 3/1942-8/1945: surrender of Dutch on Java; foiled attempt to evade capture; period in Garoot; aerodrome work at Kilijati; case of Singapore foot rot at Makasaru and treatment of leg ulcer by 'Weary' Dunlop using maggots; voyage to Singapore aboard Singapore Maru; personal possessions and sharing with fellow FEPOW; period in Changi, Singapore; conditions on voyage aboard Kamaraka Maru.
REEL 2 Continues: impressions on arrival in Nagasaki, Japan 12/1942; extreme cold weather conditions; camp composition and conditions; Japanese Naval guards at Mitsubishi dockyards; amusing Japanese counting method; work in boiler-shop machine-shop; American machines; sabotaging machines and move to another camp as punishment; temporary camp overlooking Yawata and move to newly built Hut 4, Yawata; intensive nature of steelworks at Yawata; position of POW camp next to power station; Japanese abuse of Red Cross parcels; detailed description of work with steel; danger of accidents and Japanese disregard for life.
REEL 3 Continues: Japanese method of working, description of his accident and injuries incurred; period of convalescence; work dismantling electrical equipment; longterm effects of accident; lack of medical attention paid to returning FEPOWs 1945; improvised cigarette lighter; obtaining war news; sheltering with Japanese during heavy bombing raid and destruction of steelworks; witnessing atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima and being knocked over by blast 8/1945; learning of war's end a week late; attitude of Japanese towards former POWs; US air supply drops; discovering poison gas in hillside shelter and speculation as to Japanese intent.
REEL 4 Continues: trading with and acquiring various supplies from Yawata town; incident of taking Japanese beer; honesty of Japanese civilians; attitude of Japanese military towards physical punishment; killing of brutal Japanese sergeant at end of war and Australian troops encouraging POWs at Yawata to take retaliation on Japanese; trying to bring variety to POW rice diet; Hut 4 Christmas propaganda photograph; various aspects of POW illnesses, cold winters and clothing; comments while looking through maps and pctures; burials.
REEL 5 Continues: Schofield reads POW poem; recollections of POWs who died; need for will to live and importance of eating diet ration regularly; POWs in docks obtaining extra food; method f concealing contraband goods; Hughes' disciplining POW caught stealing from Indian POWs; Japanese water trough punishment; personal hygiene; lice; necessity of bowing to Japanese guards; POW officers and question of pay; journey to Nagasaki after liberation and scene there; details of return to GB via Philippines and aboard HMS Implacable to Vancouver.
REEL 6 Continues: journey to Southampton late 1945; parents' limited news of Hughes as POW; psychological effect of FEPOW experience; present day attitude towards Japanese; circumstances of formation of 'Hut 4 Club', reminiscences of founder member Bob Chapman and of Bill Marshall and production of newsletter; ends with general talk about Schofield's plans for project.