Description
Object description
British merchant seaman serving in EMPRESS OF ASIA, 11/1941- 2/1942; held as a civilian internee in Changi Camp, Singapore, Malaya, 2/1942-4/1944; and Sime Road camp, Singapore, Malaya, 4/1944-8/1945.
Content description
REEL 1 - His under-age enlistment in 1941 into the Merchant Navy at age of 15, with father's support; voyage in EMPRESS OF ASIA in convoy from Liverpool to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Nov 1941; then in convoy to Freetown, South Africa; then to Bombay to collect troops of 18th Division and on to Singapore; encounter with Japanese bomber aircraft but no casualties, Feb 1942; evidence of the battle for Singapore seen 13 miles distant from the island; description of attack from Japanese aircraft and the order to abandon ship, 5 Feb 1942; unsuccessful attempts to launch lifeboats; need to throw shells overboard due to fire danger; attempts by Australian destroyer to rescue crew; loss of life due to ill-fitting cork lifejackets; 5 hours spent in water; his rescue by a tug and transport to Singapore harbour; chaotic situation due to Japanese bombing; taken to Bidadari army camp; issued with a rifle and ordered to man trenches; firing of Singapore's 16-inch guns now turned towards land; danger from snakes in the water-filled trenches; Japanese invasion of the island, Feb 1942.
REEL 2 - Continues: Japanese landings; high quality of experienced Japanese troops; strategic importance of Bukit Timah hill; his volunteering to work at Singapore General Hospital, describing the terrible overcrowded conditions there and unburied dead, the primitive facilities and high mortality; recovery of further wounded from regular Japanese bombing raids; his feelings of inability to help; arrival of Japanese soldiers and formation into columns for march to Changi; his arrival at Changi Gaol, describing layout of complex and individual cells; organisation of the prison community, including communal food; the gradual take-over of Singapore by the Japanese occupiers; work draining swamps and clearing land to build airfield; swimming off Changi Point and finding bones of Chinese murdered by Japanese; regular deaths among Allied prisoners and rudimentary burials; improvised cutlery and plates used from bamboo and leaves.
REEL 3 - Continues: utilisation of bamboo for various means; their food and rice-heavy rations; his move to Sime Road camp, circa Apr 1944; reference to the Double Tenth incident, 10 Oct 1943; discovery of a hidden radio leading to a prisoner being executed; his contracting malaria; prevalence of typhus, dysentery and beriberi; preventative means undertaken to avoid disease; other health issues including ulcers and insect bites; news of VE Day; seeing American reconnaissance aircraft overhead; air raid by Flying Fortresses and execution of captured air crew; sudden arrival of 1st Parachute Regiment to inspect camp after Japanese surrender; arrival of an emissary to order Japanese commander to surrender Singapore; leaflets dropped to announce that the war with Japan was over; his breaking out of the camp to investigate conditions outside; arrival of Gurkha troops to liberate them and visit by Lord Mountbatten; his 6 week voyage home to Liverpool and then time in a medical camp at Birkenhead; further convalescence in the Lake District; his decision to return to sea.