Interview with Arthur Bancroft

Australian seaman served aboard HMAS Perth in Australian coastal waters and Indian Ocean, 9/1941-3/1942 including sinking in Sunda Strait, 1/3/1942; prisoner of war in Serang Camp and Bicycle Camp, Batavia, Java, Dutch East Indies, Changi Camp, Singapore, Malaya, Burma-Thailand Railway, 1942-1944 and Saigon, French Indochina, 3/1942-9/1944; survived sinking of SS Rakuyo Maru in South China Sea, 12/9/1944, including rescue by United States Navy submarine USS submarine USS Queenfish

REEL 1 Background in Fremantle and Northam, Australia, 1921-1940: family; education; degree of understanding of First World War; attitude towards British Empire and United Kingdom; life in Depression; initial volunteering for Royal Australian Air Force; degree of understanding of political situation in Europe including opinion of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain; background to enlistment in Royal Australian Navy, 18/11/1940; opinion of wartime leaders; attitude to joining Royal Australian Navy and prospect of active service, 18/11/1940. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of training with Royal Australian Navy in Australia, 11/1940-8/1941: reaction to first day in Royal Australian Navy at HMAS Cerberus, Mornington Peninsula; attitude to being in armed services; training for funeral duties; attitude to Phoney War and subsequent events in Europe, 1939-1940; pattern of training at HMAS Cerberus, Mornington Peninsula; awareness of role of HMAS Perth in Australian coastal waters and Mediterranean. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMAS Perth in Australian coastal waters and Indian Ocean, 9/1941-1942: joining ship, 9/1941; action station; attitude to joining ship; messing arrangements; painting ship; relations with ship's crew who had already been in action; daily routine; reaction to Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, United States of America, 7/12/1941. REEL 3 Continues: attitude towards Japanese; relations with officers and opinion of captain; move to Sydney, Australia; convoying United States Army troops; opinion of Americans service personnel; attitude to prospect of active service; convoy escort duties; action station with crew of QF 4 Inch Naval Gun; ship's move to Fremantle, Australia; reaction to fall of Singapore, Malaya, 15/2/1942; opening fire on Imperial Japanese Army Air Service aircraft in harbour at Tanjong Priok, Java, Dutch East Indies; reaction to first action. REEL 4 Continues: results of Japanese attack on Surabaya Harbour; confidence in combined Allied fleet; nature of engagement with Imperial Japanese Navy ships during Battle of Java Sea, 27/2/1942; reaction to Japanese 8 Inch Shell hit on HMS Exeter; aftermath of action; torpedo attacks by Imperial Japanese Navy destroyers; confidence in Captain Hector Waller; refuelling and re-supplying after action; opinion of role of Allied ships in battle. REEL 5 Continues: confidence in ability of ship to get through Sundra Strait; nature anti-aircraft fire against Imperial Japanese aircraft; torpedo hit of ship; noise during night action, 1/3/1942; work of gun crew. Aspects of sinking of HMAS Perth and period in water, 1/3/1942: reaction to torpedoing of ship by Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Harukaze; orders to abandon ship; reaction to abandoning ship; reaction to sinking of ship; effects of explosions in water; period in water and finding place in lifeboat; fate of seaman who made it ashore; degree of awareness of situation during action; rescue by Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer; treatment by Imperial Japanese Navy personnel on board destroyer; reaction to capture; transfer to Imperial Japanese Navy troopship; sight of sailors fighting over cigarettes. REEL 6 Continues: Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Serang Camp and Bicycle Camp, Batavia, Java, Dutch East Indies, 3/1942-10/1942: move into Serang Camp; fate of electrician who escaped from Serang Camp; conditions in Serang Camp; presence of Jutland veteran in Serang Camp; morale in camp; description of Bicycle Camp; attitude of Indonesian civilians towards prisoners of war; treatment received from Imperial Japanese Army guards; roll calls; concerts; removal from Serang Camp to Bicycle Camp in Batavia; incident of Imperial Japanese Army guard wounding him in arm with bayonet; boxing tournament; daily routine in Bicycle Camp; working parties; incident of prisoner of war drinking pure alcohol; aid received from Dutch female internees. REEL 7 Continues: national composition of prisoners of war in Bicycle Camp; degree of awareness of progress of war; concern over hearing of Imperial Japanese Army Air Service bombing of Darwin, Australia, 19/2/1942; contact with home; case of prisoner of war psychologically disturbed by incarceration; relations between prisoners of war; status of naval prisoners of war; clothing worn; unshaven appearance of naval prisoners of war; bartering with American prisoners of war; lack of interference by Imperial Japanese Army guards on running of Bicycle Camp; nature of work carried out; relations with Imperial Japanese Army guards. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Changi Camp, Singapore, Malaya, 10/1942: conditions on ship on voyage from Batavia, Java, Dutch East Indies to Singapore, Malaya; move to Changi Camp. REEL 8 Continues: conditions in Selarang Barracks; appearance of naval prisoners of war. Recollections of period as prisoner of war on Burma-Thailand Railway, 10/1942-10/1943: conditions during voyage aboard SS Maebashi Maru from Singapore, Malaya to Moulmein, Burma, 10/1942; arrival at Moulmein, Burma; aid received from Burmese civilians; speech made by Imperial Japanese Army camp commandant Lieutenant-Colonel Yoshitada Nagatomo at Thanbyuzayat Camp; introduction of 'Speedo'; importance of 'buddy' system; aid received by naval prisoners of war from Australian Imperial Force prisoners of war; work with Mobile Force; importance of Burma-Thailand Railway for Japanese forces; importance of clearing camps on arrival; description of 'Speedo' period of work; contrast in working in wet and dry seasons; Japanese captors' attitude to sickness; daily working routine; treatment by Korean guards serving with Imperial Japanese Army; Japanese forces' reverence to emperor. REEL 9 Continues: attitude of Japanese captors towards prisoners of war and native contingents; incident of Korean guard breaking prisoner of war's jaw; nicknaming of Imperial Japanese Army guards; treatment of puppy by Imperial Japanese Army guard; relations with Imperial Japanese Army guards; inability to keep clean; description of camp huts; use of rice bags for blankets; sick parade; first malaria attack; importance of keeping working; state of health; opinion of camp doctor; character of camp leader, Lieutenant-Colonel John Williams; outbreak of cholera; deaths from combinations of diseases on Burma-Thailand Railway. REEL 10 Continues: attitude of Japanese captors to prisoners of war rations and Red Cross supplies; reasons for keeping hidden diary; place of religion in captivity; different attitudes of prisoners of war towards survival; opinion of chaplains; attitude towards being a prisoner of war; importance of forming small groups; caring for prisoner of war psychological case; reads poem about rice rations; impressions of sunsets; bridge construction; working conditions during 'Speedo' period; activities at end of day; attitude to continual work. REEL 11 Continues: reaction to completion of Burma-Thailand Railway, 10/1943; Imperial Japanese Army treatment of own troops; receiving day off and concert after convincing Japanese captors that Melbourne Cup day was a celebration in Australia, 5/11/1943; leaving Thanbyuzayat Camp and move down railway into Thailand. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Thailand, French Indochina and Singapore, Malaya 12/1944-9/1944: conditions in Tamarkan Camp, 12/1943-1/1944; general health of prisoners of war; decision of Japanese to move prisoners of war to Japan, 6/1944; awareness of progress of war; Allied bombing of Burma-Thailand Railway; nature of journey from Thailand to Saigon, French Indochina; attitude to threat of bombing; move to Singapore, Malaya; state of Singapore, Malaya; issue of ex-Dutch uniforms; embarkation on SS Rakuyo Maru at Singapore, 6/9/1944. REEL 12 Continues: Recollections of voyage aboard SS Rakuyo Maru from Singapore, Malaya and sinking in South China Sea, 6/9/1944-12/9/1944: character of ship; giving advice on abandoning ship; reasons for not sailing from Saigon, French Indochina; choosing location in hold; attitude of Japanese guards to prospect of voyage; description of lavatories on board; sinking of Imperial Japanese Navy escort and tankers by United States Navy submarine, 12/9/1944; reaction of Japanese guards; torpedoing of ship and how Japanese crew abandoned ship; freeing prisoners of war from hold; eventual sinking of ship, 15/9/1944; conditions in water; rescue of Imperial Japanese Army officer by Imperial Japanese destroyer; reaction to Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer not rescuing prisoners of war; decision to swim to raft. REEL 13 Continues: question of survival; character of his group of survivors; lack of threat of sharks; group morale; loss of water bottle; question of chance of being rescued; use of sea water; confidence in survival; sighting of United States Navy submarine USS Queenfish; discovery of melon floating in water; talk of food and life after war; disappointment of not acquiring rain water; night-time on raft; rescue of survivor from water; change in weather conditions; hearing submarine USS Queenfishes' engines and sighting of his group by crew. REEL 14 Continues: Recollections of rescue by submarine USS Queenfish in South China Sea and return to Australia, 9/1944-10/1944: story of rescue by USS Queenfish; treatment on board submarine; amusing story of rescue; hearing new recording artists; reaction to availability of ice cream on board; seasickness amongst crew; depth charging of submarine; arrival on Island, Mariana Islands; hearing of Imperial Japanese Army soldier coming down from hills; reaction to sight of Lockheed P-38 Lightning aircraft; treatment on Saipan Island, Mariana Islands; move to Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands; reaction to sight of masses of food; medical check up; reaction to threat of submarines on voyage to Auckland, New Zealand; attitude of United States military personnel to volunteering; transfer to United States Navy minelayer for voyage to Brisbane, Australia; attitude to life after treatment; arrival in Brisbane, Australia. REEL 15 Continues: de-briefing on arrival in Brisbane, Australia; examination by naval doctor; flight from Brisbane to Perth, Australia; reception on arrival at family home; re-union with former military prisoners of war; sense of isolation on arrival home; parent's reaction to his return. Aspects of period as seaman with Royal Australian Navy in Australia, 1945: move to depot in Melbourne; reasons for initially being ignored by classmates; decision to remain in Royal Australian Navy move to HMAS Cerberus, Mornington Peninsula; amusing story of clash with authority; reaction to being asked to work on railway line at HMS Cerberus, Mornington Peninsula; state of health; discharge from Royal Australian Navy, 6/1945; reaction to victory celebrations, 1945. Post-war life and employment: adjusting to civilian life. REEL 16 Continues: problems during first employment with Union Bank of Australia Ltd; lessons learnt from naval service; civilian career in banking; attitude to returning early to Australia from captivity; attitude towards Second World War; reflections on value of experiences in Royal Australian Navy and as prisoner of war; reads telegraph received from King George VI.