Interview with Eric Martin

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Description

Object description

British officer served as dentist with Army Dental Corps in GB and Malaya, 1940-1942; prisoner of war dentist in Changi Camp, Singapore, Malaya, on Burma-Thailand Railway and Ubon Camp, Thailand, 2/1942-8/1945

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Liverpool and Upper Norwood, GB, 1917-1939: family; education; dental training at Guy's Hospital, London; awareness of political situation in Europe; school trips to Germany in 1933-1934; memories of Munich Crisis, 9/1938; sight of Crystal Palace fire, 30/11/1936; volunteering for armed forces, 1939. Aspects of period as officer with Army Dental Corps in GB, 1940-1941: initial postings; duties as dental officer; training; uniform and equipment; condition of troops' teeth; system of improving troops' teeth; reasons for poor condition of teeth; story of being issued with mobile caravan; voyage from GB to Singapore, Malaya, 1941. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of period as officer with Army Dental Corps in Malaya, 1941-1942: atmosphere in Singapore; posting to Kedah; start of Japanese invasion of Malaya, 12/1941; helping out with general medical duties; evacuation from Kedah; story of appointment as transport officer; commandeering vehicles for retreat southwards; evacuation of wounded; arrival in Singapore; use of Casualty Clearing Station in vaults of Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank; opinion of organisation of Japanese campaign in Malaya; opinion of organisation of retreat; arrival of Japanese forces. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Changi Camp, Singapore, Malaya, 1942: use of Japanese armband to protect him whilst obtaining food and supplies. REEL 3 Continues: degree of knowledge of Alexandra Hospital Massacre; description of Roberts Hospital in camp; rations. Recollections of period as prisoner of war dentist on Burma-Thailand Railway and Ubon Camp in Thailand, 5/1942-8/1945: performing tooth extraction; move to Ban Pong to construct prisoner of war camp, 5/1942; Japanese treatment of prisoners of war; instance of going on strike and punishment; duties as lavatory officer; attempts to improve sanitation in camp; latrines; problems with dysentery; dental equipment and facilities; prisoner of war who stole cocaine to use as anaesthetic. REEL 4 Continues: use of cocaine as anaesthetic for dental extractions; coping with lack of dental supplies; treatment received from Imperial Japanese Army guards; move to Ubon Camp; description of Ubon Camp; question of Imperial Japanese Army plans to kill prisoners of war before end of war; duties as medical and dental officer; problems with sanitation; explanation of Japanese term 'Speedo'; two day punishment in 'sweatbox'; condition of prisoners of war arriving from camps on Burma-Thailand Railway; presence of Special Operations Executive officers in area; hearing news of Japanese surrender, 15/8/1945; story of how inmates sang 'Land of Hope and Glory' as Royal Air Force aircraft dropped supplies. REEL 5 Continues: medical supplies dropped; disappearance of Imperial Japanese Army personnel, 15/8/1945; smuggling of items in camp; attitude towards his dental and medical work in camp; role of chaplains; question of compensation and apology from Japanese Government; difficulties adapting to civilian life; attitude towards Japanese.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Smith, Lyn E (Recorder)
Martin, Eric (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2002-05-22
Dimensions: whole: Duration 150, Number Of Items 5
Catalogue number: 23188

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Interview with Eric Martin

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