Burrows, Alfred John (Oral history)

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Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
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Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
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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.
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Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

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Description

Object description

British aircraftman with Royal Air Force in GB, Singapore and Dutch East Indies, 1940-1942; POW in Java and the Moluccas, Dutch East Indies and in Singapore, 1942-1945

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Barham and Chatham, GB, 1918-1940: father's work and service in First World War; education; period in Chatham orphanage; civilian work with Short Brothers in Rochester including story of flight in Short Mayo Composite; joining of Royal Air Force. Aspects of period as aircraftman in Royal Air Force in GB, 1940-1941: problems with officers during work with simulator; description of simulator; memories of pilots; memories of television before war; period working with radar; friends involved in Dunkirk evacuation; details of work with radar on Dartmoor; background of officers; details of period at radar stations in Wales; voyage to Singapore aboard Duchess of Richmond including activities during stay in Durban. Aspects of period as aircraftman with Royal Air Force in Singapore and Dutch East Indies, 1941-1942: Christmas 1941; location and description of radar station; wildlife. REEL 2 Continues: preparations for tropics; stories of pre-war trips with Short Brothers abroad including health problems among troops in Singapore; RAF Stations served at; Japanese activity picked up on radar; withdrawal from radar station to HMS Kedah, 2/1942; story of air raid; arrival in Jakarta; details of pay in Singapore; make-up of unit; work with radar; ambush of train during journey south; crossing of river; details of American airbase; destruction of equipment and aeroplanes; capture. Aspects of period as POW in Dutch East Indies, 1942-1944: population of camp at Surabaya, Java; details of Surabaya and Haruku; work on airfield; rations; relationship with civilians; punishment for escapees; story of POW who escaped to Timor; further details of work including clothing worn; accommodation; memories of fellow POWs; treatment from Japanese; length of period at Haruku, Moluccas; attitude to situation; Japanese treatment of monkeys; punishment given to one POW. REEL 3 Continues: comradeship; settling into civilian life on return; knowledge of war; air activity; story of sabotage to Japanese plane; presence of geishas; movement of unexploded bombs; relationship with civilians including story of dart shot at Burrows; relationship with guards; weather; morale; events during second period at Surabaya. Aspects of period as POW in Singapore, 1944-1945: work parties; entertainments; improvement in treatment; scenes at end of war; POWs placed on charges by artillery officer; arrival of Allied troops; physical state; reactions to situation including Australian treatment of Japanese; details of journey to GB. Aspects of period as aircraftman with Royal Air Force in GB, 1945: regaining of health. REEL 4 Continues: casualties among Far East POWs; leisure activities; demobilisation. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1945: contact with fellow Far East POWs.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Haslam, Nick (Recorder)
Burrows, Alfred John (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2006-06-25
Dimensions: whole: Duration 120, Number Of Items 4
Catalogue number: 29168

Object associations

Associated people and organisations

Burrows, Alfred John
Campbell, Joe
Royal Air Force
Japanese Prisoner of War Camp, Surabaya
Japanese Prisoner of War Camp, Haruku
Associated events

31/5(41)
Associated places

GB, England
Barham, Kent, England, United Kingdom
Chatham, Kent, England, United Kingdom
Rochester, Kent, England, United Kingdom
Dartmoor, Devon, GB
ZA
ZA & Durban
SG
in
ID & Jakarta
ID & Surabaya
IN & Haruku
Associated themes

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Burrows, Alfred John (Oral history)

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