Interview with Fergus Gordon Anckorn

British gunner served with 118th Field Regt, Royal Artillery 18th Infantry Div in Singapore, Malaya, 1/1942-2/1942; prisoner of war in Changi Camp, Singapore, on Burma-Thailand, Nong Pladuk and Ubon Camps, Thailand, 2/1942-8/1945

REEL 1 Aspects of period as gunner with 118th Field Regt, Royal Artillery, 18th Infantry Div in GB and Singapore, Malaya, 1939-1942: details of training in GB and voyage to Far East; problems with camouflage; details of division; wounding in Singapore, 13/2/1942; medical treatment received; description of Alexandra Hospital Massacre and reason for survival, 14/2/1942-15/2/1942. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Changi Camp, Singapore, Malaya, 1942: story of discovering he was a prisoner of war; stay in school; journey to Changi; situation on arrival and search for familiar face; description of operation to remove bullet from kneecap; problems with wrist; later meeting with Lieutenant-Colonel Julian Taylor and treatment received for wounded wrist; problems with memory and keeping track of time; pay. Aspects of period as prisoner of war on Burma-Thailand Railway, 1942-1943: reception on arrival at Ban Pong Camp organised by Lieutenant-Colonel Philip Toosey; massage training received from 'Pop' Hort; journeys to work; details of earth removal duties; work undertaken on railway viaduct at Wampo; story of refusal to apply creosote and punishment; treatment received for creosote burns; reasons for opinion he was lucky to receive burns. REEL 2 Continues: medical treatment received in Chungkai Camp, including operation on wrist; prevalence of malaria among prisoners of war; precautions taken against malaria; opinion that he lacked power over life and death and was lucky to survive; rations in camp run by Lieutenant-Colonel Philip Toosey, opinion of officers and rackets organised; loss of rank on capture; prisoner of war discipline; opinion of Australian prisoners of war; relations with Dutch prisoners of war; contact with Japanese and Korean guards. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Nong Pladuk Camp and Ubon Camp, Thailand, 11/1943-8/1945: story of narrow escape from execution, 8/1945. REEL 3 Continues: Allied air raid witnessed at Nong Pladuk Camp; later meeting with Royal Air Force bomb aimer who from raid; move to Ubon Camp; maintenance on railway bridges and Allied air reconnaissance of railway; story of Allied aircraft attacking train in siding; work preparing bodies for burial; sleeping arrangements; details of work in moribund hut; story of peas and butter; reaction of prisoners of war to situation; friendship with Dutch prisoner of war; arrival of British officer at end of Second World War, 8/1945; nature of treatment received from Imperial Japanese Army guards; reaction to news Second World War was over, 8/1945. Aspects of retur from Thailand to GB, 8/1945-12/1945: flight to and period in Burma; story of arrival and first night in Liverpool, GB; story of journey through London, GB; story Douglas Dakota flight from Bangkok, Thailand to Rangoon, Burma; mutiny during voyage to GB; return to Sevenoaks and reunion with family. REEL 4 Continues: Reflections on period as prisoner of war in Far East, 2/1942-8/1945: congratulations received on liberation, 8/1945; details of concert parties; memories of Alexandria Hospital Massacre in Singapore, Malaya, 14/2/1942-15/2/1942; problems during first weeks after return home; further nature of stay at Alexandra Hospital, Singapore, Malaya, including removal of dog tags; first letter sent home from captivity and mother's reaction to receiving it; details of later correspondence including code used; story of attempt to become journalist and learning shorthand. REEL 5 Continues: use of magic to gain food and cigarettes; story of fifty eggs obtained and cover story used; story of show at Guy's Hospital theatre; use of magic during tea breaks on Burma-Thailand Railway and on arrival at Ban Pong Camp. Post war life and employment: ambitions on return; attitude towards Japanese; reason for not joining associations; attitude to life; talking about experiences; problems from nightmares; story of searches for firewood and discovery of officers in cave.