Description
Object description
Australian signals officer served Royal Australian Corps of Signals, 8th Australian Infantry Divisional Signals in Australia, Malaya and Singapore, Malaya, 1941-1942; prisoner of war in Changi Prison Camp, Singapore, Malaya, 2/1942-7/1942, Sandakan Camp and Kuching Prison, British Borneo, 7/1942-3/1943 and Outram Road Gaol Camp, Singapore, Malaya, 3/1944-8/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Tatura, Australia, 1920-1939: father's military service during First World War; opinion of GB and Commonwealth; attitude to Japanese and Italians; reaction to outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939; father's refusal to sign enlistment papers; failure of initial attempt to enlist underage; completion of radio apprenticeship. Aspects of enlistment and training as NCO and officer with Royal Australian Corps of Signals, I Australian Corps Signals, 1939-1941: promotion to corporal; signals course; attending officers cadet training unit; commissioning as lieutenant, 1/11/1940; Christmas leave, 25/12/1940; reactions of parents to prospect of overseas service.
REEL 2 Continues: course at signals course at Casula. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Australian Corps of Signals, 8th Australian Infantry Divisional Signals in Australia, 1941: role of signals unit; question of active service; embarkation; reliance on British equipment; voyage from Australia to Singapore, Malaya. Recollections of operations as officer with Royal Australian Corps of Signals, 8th Australian Infantry Divisional Signals in Malaya, 8/1941-2/1942: initial period attached to 137th Field Regt, Royal Artillery; move to Kuala Lumpur; training; route marches in gas masks; nature of plans to defend Singapore including question of pre-war exercise and siting of gun positions; lectures on Japanese forces; opinion of strategic situation and reaction to sinking of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, 10/12/1941; composition of division; Australian view of defence of Singapore.
REEL 3 Continues: move to Muar; accommodation in police station; daily routine; preparations for Japanese attack and destruction of police station; opinion of British officers; Japanese attack on Malaya and destruction of police post; recall to Johore Bharu, 7/12/1941; duties; preparations for demolition of signals station at Johore Bharu; story about disconnecting chief justice of Singapore; opinion of commanding officer; withdrawal to Singapore Island; story of joining 'Snake Gully Rifles' and near death experience; fall of Singapore, 15/2/1942. Aspects of period in prisoner of war in Changi Prison Camp, Singapore, Malaya, 2/1942-7/1942: story of sharing a cell with Sir Robert Scott in Changi Prison Camp, Singapore; attitude to British command for surrendering; story of post-war meeting General Arthur Percival in 1961; opinion of General Gordon Bennett.
REEL 4 Continues: early atmosphere in Changi Prison Camp; Japanese attitude towards prisoners of war; conditions in camp; division of prisoners of war to labour groups in Burma and British Borneo, 1942. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Sandakan Camp, British Borneo, 7/1942-6/1943: voyage aboard SS Ubi Maru from Singapore, Malaya to Borneo; initial meeting with Imperial Japanese Army officer, 7/1942; organisation of Sandakan Camp; formation of underground organisation with Captain Lionel Matthews as intelligence officer; story of being in charge of wood collecting party and obtaining supplies; Japanese raid on camp, 6/1943. Recollection of period of imprisonment in Kuching Prison, British Borneo, 6/1943-3/1944: interrogation; move to Kuching for trial; personal morale; conditions inside Kuching Prison; opinion about arrest; Japanese Kempeitai torture methods; opinion of torturers injuries sustained under torture; post war treatment for injuries; weight loss in captivity; court appearance; execution of Captain Lionel Matthews, 2/3/1944; trail verdict.
REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Outram Road Gaol Camp, Singapore, Malaya, 3/1944-8/1944: sea journey from British Borneo to Singapore; conditions in Outram Road Gaol Camp; solitary confinement; rope picking; rations; allocation of number and question of loss of personal identity; occupying time; testing heart rate; hearing of atomic bombs being dropped on Japan, 8/1945; Japanese preparations for defence of Singapore; health problems; story of needing to get into hospital before surrender; doctors visit; story of Imperial Japanese Army soldier offering him a cigarette; attitude towards Japanese captors; sight of Allied aircraft dropping supplies and medicines; opinion of GB and Commonwealth.
REEL 6 Continues: opinion of Japanese; story of submitting evidence to war crimes trial.