Description
Object description
British schoolchild in Singapore, 1939-1941; evacuee in Australia, New Zealand and United States of America, 1942; schoolchild in GB, 1942-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Shooters Hill, London and Bexleyheath, GB, 1933-1936: family; childhood. Aspects of period as child in Singapore, Malaya, 1936-1941: reason for family move to Singapore, 1936; voyage from GB to Singapore; initial impressions of Singapore; accommodation; memories of amah; attitude to multicultural lifestyle.
REEL 2 Continues: education; relations with servants; description of school; further memories of servants; contact with Chinese children; father Harold Bartlett's employment as civil engineer with Royal Air Force; opinion of defences on Singapore; organisation of household servants; attitude to possible Japanese invasion; amusing story of bath; treatment of servants; visit to palace of Sultan of Johore in Johore.
REEL 3 Continues: story of Chinese servant girl; story of Chinese woman with bound feet; period in boarding school at Cameron Highlands; problem of bullying; question of leaving Singapore. Aspects of period as schoolchild in Singapore, Malaya, 12/1941-1/1942: evacuation from boarding school, 12/1941; Imperial Japanese Army Air Service air raids on Singapore, 12/1941; air raid precautions; daily life and routine; attitude to Indian population; story of British Indian Army Sikh troops.
REEL 4 Continues: preparations for possible Japanese invasion; question of lack of common identity in Singapore. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Orion from Singapore, Malaya to Fremantle, Australia, 12/1941-1/1942: embarkation, 31/12/1941; Imperial Japanese Army Air Service attacks on docks in Singapore; story of delayed action bomb exploding aboard ship and fire; assistance from Royal Navy destroyer.
REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of period as evacuee in Australia and New Zealand, 1/1942-4/1942: disembarkation at Fremantle Harbour, Australia, 1/1942; accommodation in Shaftesbury Hotel, Perth. Australia; problem of hotel being used as brothel; opinion of accommodation; problem with finances; food; memories of concierge; fighting between Allied troops; story of soldier attempting to break into room; relations with Australian civilians; problem of mosquitoes; mother Miriam Bartlett's illness; problem of younger sister refusing to walk.
REEL 6 Continues: description of accommodation and lifestyle with relatives in Australian outback; amusing story of telephone; voyage aboard SS Nankin from Fremantle to Sydney, via Melbourne, Australia, including attacks by Imperial Japanese Navy submarines; memories of Melbourne and Sydney; voyage from Australia to New Zealand, 4/1942; visiting sheep station; opinion of New Zealanders
REEL 7 Continues: Aspects of voyage from New Zealand to United States of America, 1942: description of storm; recreational activities; passing through Panama Canal. Aspects of period as evacuee in United States of America and Canada, 1942: accommodation in New Orleans, United States of America; refitting and camouflaging of ship; food; story of visiting burned pilot in hospital; story of father leaving Singapore, Malaya and returning to GB; loading of ship with vehicles and armaments; voyage from New Orleans, United States of America to Halifax, Canada. Aspects of voyage across North Atlantic from Halifax, Canada to Greenock, GB, 1942: travelling in convoy; problem of German submarines attacks; story of ramming German submarine; sleeping arrangements on sports deck.
REEL 8 Continues: story of sabotage attempt; opinion of Royal Navy escorts; firing exercises; attitude to danger; storage of aircraft; story of submarine; disembarkation at Greenock, GB, 9/1942. Aspects of period in Plumstead and Bexleyheath, GB, 1942-1944: German Air Force raids; problem of adapting to life in England; education; problem with English money; relations with other children; incident of German V1 Flying Bomb flying over school; destruction of houses by German V2 Rocket.
REEL 9 Continues: Aspects of period as schoolchild in Scotland, GB, 1944: father's employment with Royal Air Force in GB; relationship with father Harold Bartlett; accommodation with uncle in Burntisland; story of security pass and arrest of mother Miriam Bartlett; story relating to William Joyce 'Lord Haw Haw'; relations with local people; education; German Air Force raids. Aspects of period as schoolchild in Bexleyheath, GB, 1944-1945: return to Bexleyheath; post-war visit to Singapore, Malaya; effect of war on sister.
REEL 10 Continues: memories of sister; opinion of film 'Empire of the Sun' (1987); relations with parents; reflections on wartime experiences.