Description
Object description
British civilian in GB, Malaya and Australia, 1940-1945; NCO served with Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma) in India and Burma, 1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Malaya and GB, 1923-1940: family; education; hearing declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; evacuation from GB to join parents in Malaya, 1940; voyage aboard RMS Viceroy of India from GB to Malaya including meeting future husband Lieutenant Lynton White; story of Lynton White's escape from Sham Shui Po prisoner of war camp, Hong Kong, 4/1942; reaction to returning to Malaya; situation in Malaya, 1940; father Sir Arthur Newnham Worley's role as Judge of the Supreme Court of Singapore and the Straits Settlements; father Sir Arthur Newnham Worley's internment in Singapore, Malaya, 2/1942-8/1945; family decision to send her to Australia.
REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of period as civilian in Australia, 1941-1945: arrival; attending University of Melbourne; degree of impact of Second World War on Australia, 1941; arrival of her mother, Marie Louise Worley, 12/1941; anti-British feeling in Australia after fall of Singapore, 15/2/1942; financial situation; communication with father Sir Arthur Newnham Worley interned in Singapore, Malaya; leaving University of Melbourne to work for Netherlands Indies Information Service; information-gathering role; arrival of American military personnel in Australia; opening home to British service personnel; Australian attitude towards Japanese civilians; story of a riot in an internment camp; Australian attitude towards Europeans.
REEL 3 Continues: father Sir Arthur Newnham Worley's experience of internment. Recollections of period as NCO with the Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma), India and Burma, 1945: decision to join Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma); organisation of Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma) under Captain Lee Massey; recruitment procedure; impressions of Commandant Nin Taylor; women's reasons for joining Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma); conditions in barracks at Sydney, Australia; journey to India; situation in Bombay and Calcutta, India.
REEL 4 Continues: arrival in Calcutta, India; move to Shillong, India; end of Second World War, 15/8/1945; posting to Headquarters, Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma) at Mawlaik, Burma; memories of Major Lois St John; training; uniform; attending social events; reorganisation of Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma); move to Rangoon, Burma; serving food and goods to bored Allied troops in Burma; contact with former Allied prisoners of war; work in canteen on airfield at Mawbi, Burma; accommodation; move to Pegu, Burma; social duties; use of mepacrine tablets; obtaining supplies for canteen.
REEL 5 Continues: condition of returning Allied prisoners of war; attitude towards Japanese prisoners of war working for Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma); rations; war devastation in Rangoon, Burma; life in Pegu, Burma; morale amongst Allied troops in Burma post-war; relations with military personnel; attitude of long serving Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma) personnel towards new ones; question of recognition of role of Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma); adapting to civilian life in GB; attending Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma) reunions.