Delavigne, Ronald Arthur (Oral history)

British gunner served with 88th Field Regt, Royal Artillery, 9th Indian Infantry Div in Malaya, 1/1942-2/1942; prisoner of war in Changi Camp, Singapore, Malaya, 2/1942-4/1943, aboard SS Kykko Maru on voyage from Singapore Malaya to Moji, Japan, 26/4/1943-21/5/1943 and in Camp 13-B, Omi, Japan, 5/1943-8/1945

REEL 1 Background in Camden Town, London, GB, 1919-1940: family; education; conscription into Royal Artillery, 1940; reaction to declaration of war, 3/9/1939; story of father and mother's background pre-1939; joining 88th Field Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, 1940. Recollections of operations as gunner with 88th Field Regt, Royal Artillery, 9th Indian Infantry Div in Malaya, 1/1942-2/1942: Imperial Japanese Army Air Service attacks on unit river crossing near Kuala Lumpur; firing on Japanese tanks; withdrawal southwards towards outskirts of Singapore; wounding in leg by Japanese artillery fire, 2/1942; destruction of unit's guns in Singapore, 2/1942. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Changi Camp, Singapore, Malaya, 1942: initial contact with Imperial Japanese Army troops; march to Changi, 2/1942; erection of barbed-wire perimeter by prisoners of war; trading with local Chinese; clearing of war debris by prisoners of war in Singapore, 3/1942; Japanese torturing of Chinese civilians; display of Chinese heads in Singapore. REEL 2 Continues: prisoners of war suffering from dysentery; death of prisoner of war from scalding accident; nature of address by Japanese general. Aspects of voyage aboard SS Kyokko Maru from Singapore, Malaya to Moji, Japan, 26/4/1943-21/5/1943: nature of voyage; survival of ship during typhoon; preparations for arrival in Japan. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Tokyo No 13-B Camp, Omi, Japan, 5/1943-8/1945: public 'dysentery test' for prisoners of war on arrival, 1943; camp rations; labouring work; treatment for ulcer on neck; accident in which he broke his right leg and re-setting of fracture by Japanese doctor; mischief of American prisoner of war with Japanese nurse; illicit prisoner of war radio; character of Japanese camp commandant who announced end of war, 8/1945; United States Army Air Force air supply drop to camp, 8/1945; prior recollection of work as hospital orderly and death of comrade from dysentery in Changi Camp, 1942. REEL 3 Continues: story of Japanese beating of prisoner of war for stealing tobacco and how Japanese rewarded him with a job in cookhouse for his fortitude; another instance of a prisoner of war being rewarded for fortitude; reduction of prisoner of war to nervous wreck as punishment for stealing chicken; propaganda photographs of prisoners of war eating meal to celebrate Emperors Hirohito's birthday; description of 'fish soup'; vermin in camp; punishment for whistling; prisoner of war bathing facilities; examples of guards misuse of power over prisoners of war; incident of Japanese officer publicly punishing guard for making accusation against Delavigne; incident of receiving smashed teeth for helping exhausted prisoner of war; story of the 'Night of the Big Fart'; punishment in blizzard for prisoner of war who brought up phlegm; work of Japanese camp doctor; prisoner of war distribution of food to Japanese civilians, 9/1945; kindness shown to him by old Japanese worker. REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of journey from Japan to GB via Philippines, 1945: flight in United States Army Air Force bomber to Manila, Philippines, reception of prisoners of war in United States of America; American civilian who offered to buy him anything he wanted in Macey's Department Store; arrival in GB and help from Woman's Volunteer Service in London; return to civilian life in London; question of effects of experiences in Second World War.