Interview with Ernest Albert Toovey

Sound: © IWM (18276)

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Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
By embedding this audio file you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is:

Sound: © IWM (18276)

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

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Description

Object description

Australian seaman aboard HMAS Perth in Pacific and Indian Ocean, 12/1941-3/1942 including sinking during Battle of Sunda Strait, 1/3/1942 ; prisoner of war in Java, Dutch East Indies, Singapore, Malaya and on Burma-Thailand Railway, 3/1942-8/1945

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Warwick, Australia, 1922-1940: family; education; reasons for joining Royal Australian Navy. Aspects of operations as seaman aboard HMAS Perth in Pacific and India Ocean, 12/1941-3/1942: reputation of HMAS Perth; opinion of Captain Hector Waller; convoying other Australian ships; depth charging outside of Sydney Harbour, Australia; duties prior to Battle of the Java Sea, 28/2/1942; opinion of Allied organisation during Battle of Java Sea. Aspects of sinking of HMAS Perth during Battle of Sunda Straits, Indian Ocean, 1/3/1942: casualties; escaping from sinking ship; witnessing seamen being picked up by Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer; getting to shore aboard ruined life boat, Java, Dutch East Indies; meeting Javanese people; capture by Japanese. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Java, Dutch East Indies, Singapore, Malaya and on Burma-Thailand Railway, 3/1942-8/1945: being held with other prisoners of war in Serang Camp, Serang, Java, Dutch East Indies; moving to various camps in Singapore and Burma-Thailand Railway. REEL 2 Continues: working at various camps with mobile Force A on Burma-Thailand Railway; lack of proper shoes and clothing; problems with skin conditions; treatment for tropical ulcer on left leg; memories of Lieutenant-Colonel Albert Coates; medical care provided by other prisoners of war; difficulties of communicating with camp guards; bombing of camp by United States Army Air Force; close relationship with Americans in camp; description of average day in camp; food; sport in camps; attitude towards Japanese; move to Thailand to construct airfield; gradual process of liberation; move to 38th British General Hospital, Rangoon, Burma; reaction to end of war, 15/8/1945; condition of prisoners of war on leaving camps; journey home to Australia.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: Frith, David Edward John (Production company)
Frith, David Edward John (Recorder)
Toovey, Ernest Albert (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1998-12-23
Dimensions: whole: Duration 60, Number Of Items 2
Catalogue number: 18276

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Interview with Ernest Albert Toovey

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