DeptName
Documents

IDNO
1133

OtherNumber
90/34/1A

ItemName
Private Papers of A V Toze

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Excellent ms diary (309pp), with ts transcript (115pp), written between March 1942 and October 1945 describing the atmosphere during the final hours of fighting before the fall of Singapore, where he was captured while serving as a battery surveyor (lance bombardier) with the 122nd Field Regiment RA, Malaya Command, the ceasefire, imprisonment in Changi camp, the voyage to Korea in the FUKKAI MARU, imprisonment there in the camps at Fusan (September - October 1942), Keijo (October 1942 - June 1944) and Jinsen (July - October 1944) and in Japan in Omine camp (October 1944 - September 1945), news of the surrender, and repatriation, especially the rapturous welcome received throughout Canada, giving very good details about conditions at every stage, morale and the effect on it of mail, separation from camp friends, war news and rumours, work, Japanese brutality and kindness, the selfishness of prisoners of war and the general difficulties of life in captivity; together with a scrap book, containing excellent cartoons and prisoner of war memorabilia, including a telegram received in May 1945, contemporary photographs, an issue of the STRAITS TIMES (14 February 1942) and poems.

MakerName
Toze

Forenames
A V

RelatedIWMItems
See also DPH (HU 58743-58757 and DOC 684)

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
InTheBag

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
448

OtherNumber
Con Shelf & 01/7/1

ItemName
Private Papers of G P Davies

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Ms diary (174pp), and ts transcript (87pp with a few excisions), written as a series of letters to his wife describing his passage to Singapore in February 1942, coming under air attack in, and abandoning HMT EMPRESS OF ASIA off the island, the fighting and bombardment on land while serving as an officer with the 2nd Battalion The Loyal Regiment (1st Malayan Infantry Brigade), his imprisonment in Singapore in the camps at Changi (February - May 1942) and River Valley Road (May - October 1942), in Formosa in the camps at Taichu (November 1942 - June 1944) and Shirakawa (July 1944 - February 1945), and at Moji in Japan (March - April 1945) and Mukden, Manchuria (April - September 1945), the period after their liberation by the Russians and his repatriation. The diary encapsulates many of his criticisms and speculations about the war, religion, senior officers, death, morale, the Japanese and the Russians, criticises British inefficiency and penny-pinching in the arrangements for their repatriation in 1945, and excellently captures the sense of contrast and the psychological fears of former prisoners of war. Also included are his ts commissions with The Loyal Regiment, March 1936 and January 1939; official ts correspondence, March 1952 - March 1967, relating to his retirement from the Army on grounds of ill-health and his attempts through the Pensions Appeal Tribunal to obtain a disability pension; ts material relating to the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, March 1973, and the 18th Division Association, December 1966 - July 1972; and ts documents, July 1959, concerning his change of name.

MakerName
Davies

Forenames
G P

Style
Major

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
InTheBag

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
894

OtherNumber
88/62/1

ItemName
Private Papers of T R Lamb

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Ms diary in 8 exercise books (261pp and 9pp of notes) written while a prisoner of war in Palembang, Sumatra, March 1942 - September 1945, and during his voyage home, September - October 1945, describing in excellent detail his service as a pilot (Flying Officer/Flight Lieutenant) flying Wildebeest with No 100 Squadron RAF in Malaya (principally Seletar and Kuantan aerodromes, December 1941 - January 1942), Java (Batavia and Bandoeng areas, February - March 1942), his flight to and crash landing off Sumatra, his capture, interrogation, imprisonment in 'A' and 'O' camps, Palembang, conditions as a prisoner of war (especially early Japanese kindly treatment, later brutality, food shortages, the events surrounding the signing of a non-escape undertaking in August 1942), the surrender, Allied relief operations, life in the camp after liberation, and repatriation, giving an excellent account of operations against the Japanese and events and circumstances in Malaya, Java and Sumatra, 1941 - 1942, covering his own and those of No 36 Squadron RAF; together with a photocopied ts account (145pp) of his experiences from March 1942 to October 1945 based on the diaries but giving much greater detail and ts nominal rolls giving details and the fate of members of No 100 Squadron RAF and his post-war appraisal of their actions (11pp).

MakerName
Lamb

Forenames
T R

Style
Squadron Leader

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
InTheBag

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
4600

OtherNumber
81/32/1

ItemName
Private Papers of J F Chandler

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
A well written and remarkably objective ms journal (358pp) covering his passage by troopship from the United Kingdom to Singapore (June - July 1941), his service as an LAC on the HQ Staff at the RAF Station Tengah and in Singapore (August 1941 - February 1942), his transfer to Java and capture there (February - March 1942) and his subsequent experiences as a prisoner of war at the camps at Malang (April - August 1942) and Sourabaya (September 1942 - April 1943) in Java, at Haroekoe (May 1943 - July 1944) and Ambon (August - September 1944) in the Molucca Islands, and finally in hospital and various camps in Batavia, Java (October 1944 - September 1945). At Malang and Haroekoe he was employed on airfield repair and construction, but after July 1944 he was unfit, as a result of extreme privation during the voyages in prison ships to and from the Moluccas and conditions at Haroekoe, for further work and was frequently seriously ill. With the account are a number of documents relating to his air force service and period of captivity, including his paybook and identity discs, his RAF Malaya pass, his medical card on liberation, some Japanese banknotes and an amusing parody of the song 'These Foolish Things', as well as several photographs.

MakerName
Chandler

Forenames
J F

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
InTheBag

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
5707

OtherNumber
96/41/1

ItemName
Private Papers of G H F Carter

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Ts memoir (105pp) covering his experiences during the Second World War, with excellent descriptions of joining the Royal Canadian Air Force and training at various locations in Canada, posting to the United Kingdom as a Pilot Officer in early 1942 and further training until October 1942, when he was posted to No 35 Squadron Path Finder Force, based at RAF Graveley in Cambridgeshire, participation in the raid on the German U-boat pens at Lorient in France in February 1943 during which he was forced to bail out, his experiences evading capture and falling in with Free French agents in occupied France, eventual escape from Brittany to Cornwall in a fishing boat, rejoining No 35 Squadron RAF and participation in the 1943 Hamburg and Peenemunde raids (amongst others), capture by the Germans after being forced to bail out during the raid on Leipzig in February 1944, interrogation at Oberursel and transfer to Stalag Luft III (Sagan), where he was involved in a minor way in the 'Great Escape' of that year, conditions in Sagan and the evacuation of the camp in January 1944, his liberation near Luebeck, and concluding with the story of his journey back to France immediately after the war to find (and marry) the French girl he had met while in hiding; there are also some interesting references to the psychological after-effects of his wartime experiences; together with a translation from the French of an article (27pp ts) by Carter and others concerning the Resistance in the area around Bourblanc (Goelo) in Brittany.

MakerName
Carter

Forenames
G H F

Honours
DFC

Style
Squadron Leader

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
InTheBag

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
7667

OtherNumber
74/73/1 & 1A

ItemName
Private Papers of T R Wells

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Ts diary (128pp) kept during his service as an officer with the RFC in Mesopotamia, April 1916 - December 1918, containing very detailed descriptions of his capture at Kut and experiences as a prisoner of war in Turkey.

MakerName
Wells

Forenames
T R

Honours
MC RAF

Style
Major

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
InTheBag

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
8585

OtherNumber
99/47/1

ItemName
Private Papers of C H Frizell

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Photocopy of a ts transcribed account (9pp), probably written shortly after the events described, pertaining to his service in the 20th Battalion London Regiment at the time of the German Spring Offensive in March 1918, recalling in vivid terms the opening stages of the German attack and his capture in the vicinity of Rocquigny, near Bapaume, march and rail journey to the prisoner of war camp at Munster, subsequent work in a coal mine near Essen before being sent to the Friedrichsfeld camp "in a starving condition", liberation at the time of the Armistice by the local 'Soldiers' and Workers' Council' and repatriation via the Netherlands.

MakerName
Frizell

Forenames
C H

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
InTheBag

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
11264

OtherNumber
PP/MCR/121

ItemName
Private Papers of A R Billings

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Microfilm copy of a ts journal (105pp) compiled from original diaries and describing how, as an Engine Room Artificer serving in December 1941 in the destroyer HMS THRACIAN based on Hong Kong, he was badly wounded when the ship was attacked by aircraft some ten days before the colony's surrender to the Japanese and became a patient in the RN Hospital in Hong Kong (December 1941 - January 1942) before being moved by the Japanese to St Albert's Convent (February 1942), Bowen Road Military Hospital (March - September 1942) and, on completion of his convalescence, to Shamshuipo prisoner of war camp (September 1942 - September 1945), with interesting references to the shortcomings of the accommodation in Shamshuipo, the increasingly acute shortage of food and other essentials in the camp, illness and fluctuating morale among the prisoners, the behaviour of Major Cecil Boon RASC, the Senior British Officer in the camp, and reactions to the news of Japan's surrender and their liberation.

MakerName
Billings

Forenames
A R

RelatedIWMItems
See full catalogue and also DPH (HU 29325 - 29379 covering service in Thralian in 1941)

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
InTheBag

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
212

ProductionDate
1974

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Painting, Thomas H xxx
Pitcairn Campbell, William
Edward VII, King
Wolsley, (Field Marshal Lord)
Wilson, George <VC>

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Aldershot, Hants <Salamanca Barracks>
GB, England & Portsmouth, Hants
GB, England & Salisbury, Wilts
GB, England & London
GB, England & Newcastle upon Tyne, Northd
FR
FR & Rouen, Seine Maritime
FR & Hautesvesnes, Marne
FR & Soupir, Aisne
FR & River Aisne, Aisne
FR & River Marne, Marne
FR & Verneuil, Aisne
FR & Lille, Nord
BE
BE & Ypres area, West Flanders
BE & Passchendaele, West Flanders
BE & Gheluvelt, West Flanders
BE & Mons, Hainaut
BE & Givry, Hainaut
DE
DE & Gustrow <POW camp>
DE & Kaltenkirchen <POW camp>
DE & Tinglev <POW camp>
DE & Osterterp <POW camp>
DK
DK & Gedtedbro
DK & Ribe <Hospital>
DK Copenhagen
EG
EG & Alexandria
EG & Alexandria <Ras el Tin Camp >
EG & Cairo
EG & Cairo <Kasr el Nir Barracks>

IndexUnits
GB.A & King's Royal Rifle Corps, Bn 1
GB.A & King's Royal Rifle Corps, Bn 3
GB.A & King's Royal Rifle Corps, Bn 5
GB.A & King's Royal Rifle Corps, Depot, Winchester
GB.A & Royal Artillery & RFA & Bty, 70
GB.A & Bde, 6
GB.A & Div, 2
GB.A & Barracks, Salamanca, Aldershot
GB.A & Barracks, Kasr el Nir, Cairo, Egypt
GB.A & Camp, Ras el Tin, Alexandria, Egypt
GB.A & Command, Southern
GB.N & Sicilia
GB.O & Railway, London and North Western
DE.A & POW Camp Gustrow
DE.A & POW Camp Kaltenkirchen
DE.A & POW Camp Tinglev
DE.A & POW Camp Osterterp

IndexConcepts
POW

ShortSummary
British NCO served with 1st Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps in Egypt, GB and on Western Front, 1909-1914; POW in Germany, 1914-1915; escaped via Denmark to GB, 1915

FullSummary
REEL 1: Background: employment in various capacities with London and North Western Railway in Midlands, 1899-1906: interest in Boer War, 1899-1901; father's career with railway. Recollection of enlistment with King's Royal Rifle Corps, 1907: parents' reaction. Story of fight with recruit during training at King's Royal Rifle Corps Depot, Winchester, 8/1906-11/1906. Aspects of period with 3rd Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps at Salamanca Barracks, Aldershot, 11/1906-1/1907: conditions of service; Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1906. Voyage aboard Sicilia to Alxandria, Egypt, 2/1907: conditions; exchange of garrison troops at Crete. Recollections of period with H Coy, 1st Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps in Egypt, 2/1907-2/1909: joining part of unit at Ras el Tin Camp, Alexandria.
REEL 2 Continues: tent accommodation; swimming activities; reunification of unit in Kasr el Nir Barracks, Cairo; situation as part of Army of Occupation; relationship with British civilian tourists; sandstorms; relationship with Egyptian civilians. desert trek during course as mounted infantry including fatal accident, story of falling into Nile and horses used.
REEL 3 Continues: state of health; bed bugs; story of officer's servant's dog found in barrack room during day. Aspects of period at Portsmouth , 2/1909-2/1912: recreations; lining streets of during Edward VII's funeral in London, 20/5/1910. Aspects of period as lance corporal at King's Royal Rifle Corps Depot, Winchester, 1912-1913. Aspects of period with B Coy, 1st Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps at Salamanca Barracks, Aldershot, 1913-1914: participation in funeral procession of Field Marshal Lord Wolsley; question of approach and length of war with Germany; mobilisation and arrival of reservists, 8/1914. Journey to Rouen, France, 12/8/1914-13/8/1914. Initial movements, 13/8/1914-21/8/1914: reception from French; learning French phrases; march to Mons, 21/8/1914. Recollections of operations in Mons area, 21/8/1914-23/8/1914: march to take up positions at Givry, German success in locating and shelling 70th Bty Royal Field Artillery using of aerial reconnaissance; beginning of retreat.
REEL 4 Continues: Recollections of events during retreat from Mons, 8/1914: route; view of French troops; food rations; acting as rearguard in rotation. Recollections of operations during Battle of Marne, 10/9/1914: successful attack advancing in sections of B and C Coys on German positions at Hautesvesnes, capture and evacuation of German POWs; rain storm; fire and movement tactics in advance in section; rate of rifle fire. Recollections of operations in Aisne, 14/9/1914-13/10/1914: attack in Soupir sector, 14/9/1914, including close escape from German machine gun fire whilst acting as company range finder, successful attack by Private George Wilson on machine gun for which he was awarded VC; relief and retirement to support positions.
REEL 5 Continues: relief and retirement to support positions; subsequent problem over loss of range finder; collection of wounded and burial of dead; casualties from German shellfire in Verneuil sector; nature of trenches; story of German shell bursting amongst group of men and minor shrapnel wounds received. Move to Ypres area, 10/1914. Aspects of operations in Ypres area, 20/10/1914-2/11/1914: initial movements and actions in support role; casualty from stray bullet; NCO's close escape; attack on Passchendaele, 27/10/1914.
REEL 6 Continues: attack on Passchendaele, 27/10/1914; makeshift dugout; role as platoon commander; rum ration; effects of German shellfire, 31/10/1914; story of visiting company commander's headquarters; story of providing story illustrating response of two soldiers to death of friend during exchange of rifle fire; situation and state of unit on being moved into line in Gheluvelt sector; circumstances of being captured following German breakthrough, 2/11/1914. Initial period as POW, 11/1914: story of coming under British shrapnel shellfire; personal morale.
REEL 7 Continues: retention of pay book; reaction to German casualties; move to Lille; reactions to German accusation of using dum dum bullets; train journey to Gustrow; attitude of French civilians during move to Lille; train journey to Gustrow; refugees during retreat from Mons, 8/1914. Recollections of conditions during period at Gustrow POW camp, Germany, 11/1914: kitting out; tent accommodation; food; latrines; mixed nationalities; separation of officers and other ranks; early contact with GB; theft of tobacco; tent accommodation; assistance from German NCO who had lived in GB.
REEL 8 Continues: assistance from German NCO who had lived in GB; working parties creating mounds of earth at camp entrance; rejection by Irish POWs of invitation from Sir Roger Casement to join Irish Brigade fighting for Germans; move into hut accommodation, 1/1915; lice problem; burial services; visiting friend in camp hospital; question of roll call; punishment of British POW for writing home complaining about food; story of being hit by German guard. Recollections of period in Tinglev camp, 2/1915-7/1915: incomplete nature of camp on arrival; administration based on huts; relationship with German officers.
REEL 9 Continues: raid on German food store; cold weather and story of lending clothes to men who subsequently died; work parties; improving conditions with warmer weather; forming band using impromptu instruments; collapse of German seating area during performance of play; band concerts and redistribution of entrance charges; question of planning for escape and importance of establishing geographical location; boxing bout; storing food for possible escape. Aspects of period at Kaltenkirchen Camp, Germany, 7/1915-8/1915: reception.
REEL 10 Continues: wet weather; story illustrating British POWs' state of morale; boxing match with French POW; sketching map during train journey to Osterterp. Period at Osterterp Camp, Germany, 8/1915-11/1915: layout of camp; working parties; story of dispute and beating from German NCO during working party digging drainage channels; period of solitary confinement.
REEL 11 Continues: period of solitary confinement; relationship with German NCO; failure of attempt to cut through barbed wire using file; escape with working party attending to camp acetylene lights, 11/1915. Recollections of journey to Denmark, 11/1915: meeting other escapees at rendezvous travelling at night; success in evading German frontier sentries.
REEL 12 Continues: Danish signs; visit to hotel and arrest by Danish authorities at Gedstedbro; washing; escort; discovery of frost-bitten foot during bath and subsequent recovery in Ribe hospital; relationship with Danish civilians; question of motivation for escape and subsequent award of Military Medal 1919; story of British POW working on German farm; Danish decision to repatriate them as civilians; question of alarm being raised on escape; reads letter illustrating Danish civilians attitude to escaped Allied POWs.
REEL 13 Continues: relationship with Danish civilians; journey to Copenhagen; issue of passport and documentation; voyage aboard Zito to Newcastle upon Tyne and reception in Newcastle, 12/1915: story of being given white feather for not wearing Derby armband; refusal of Railway Transport officer to advance Painting money; train journey to Winchester including overnight stay in Salvation Army hostel. Aspects of period in King's Royal Rifle Corps Depot Camp, Winchester, 12/1915-1/ 1916: disciplinary problem for leaving camp to visit donor of POW food parcels; interview with Lieutenant General Sir William Pitcairn Campbell at Southern Command, Salisbury.
REEL 14 Continues: interview with Pitcairn Campbell at Southern Command, Salisbury; death of mother and family situation; interview with press; problems with foot; marriage by special licence. Posting as musketry instructor with 5th Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps, 1/1916: story of trial and acquittal of conscientious objector; motivation for escape; opinion of POW welfare activities.

ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1914-1919: Western Front, 1914-1918
Prisoners Of War, 1914-1918

Duration
210

NumberOfParts
14

OtherFormats
Full : 85pp

MakerName
Painting, Thomas Henry

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
000212S01.mp3
000212S02.mp3
Painting-prisoners.mp3
Painting2-prisoners.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
InTheBag
EscapeAndEvasion

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
25 June 2007

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
315

ProductionDate
1974

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Mitchell-Fox, Thomas xxx
Gribble, Julian R <VC>

IndexPlaces
GB, Scotland & Glasgow, Lanark <City Hall Recruiting Office>
GB, England & Blandford, Dorset, <Camp>
TR & Helles, Gallipoli
FR & Welsh Ridge, Pas de Calais
FR & Gavrelle, Pas de Calais
DE & Rastatt, /// <POW Camp>
DE & Mainz, /// <Citadel POW Camp>
DE & Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia
DE & Rhine, River

IndexUnits
GB.A & Div, 63
GB.N & Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
GB.N & Royal Naval Div, Bn Benbow
GB.N & Depot, Crystal Palace
GB.N & Camp, Blandford
DE.O & Soldiers' Councils

IndexConcepts
POW

ShortSummary
British seaman served with Hood Bn Royal Naval Division at Gallipoli, 1915; officer served with Hood Bn Royal Naval Division on Western Front, 1914-1917; POW in Germany, 1917-1918

FullSummary
REEL 1 Recruitment underage with Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve at City Hall Recruiting Office, Glasgow, 10/1914. Aspects of training with Victory III section and Benbow Bn Royal Naval Division at Crystal Palace Depot and Blandford Camp, 10/1914-5/1915: formation of Royal Naval Division; inadequately trained troops used on Antwerp expedition; formation of battalions; maintenance of naval traditions; composition and equipment of Royal Naval Division.
REEL 2 Continues: drumming out ceremony for court martialled soldier. Aspects of operations as seaman with Hood Bn Royal Naval Division at Gallipoli, 1915, and as officer with Hood Bn on Western Front, 1917: efforts to make Royal Naval Division into conventional army division; use of chloradyne and chocolate to treat dysentery at Gallipoli; treatment of shrapnel wound in leg received at Gavrelle, 4/1917; situation and conditions of service at Gallipoli. Recollections of capture during operations at Welsh Ridge, France, 12/1917: story illustrating comparison between British and German cigarettes; ersatz coffee; German NCO's efforts to take boots; question of quality of German troops. Aspects of period as POW at Rastatt Camp, Germany, 1918: Russian POWs.
REEL 3 Continues: food ration. Aspects of period as POW at Citadel Camp, Mainz, Germany, 1918: barrack accommodation; daily routine and conditions; story illustrating effects of starvation diet; forcible vaccination programme and resulting deaths including Julian Gribble VC; camp concert party activities; educational courses; techniques to distract German guards during escape attempts; successful escape of POW in laundry van; German newspapers; contact with German civilians and store of civilian clothing acquired by bartering Red Cross parcels; signs of unrest amongst German soldiers and eventual formation of Soldiers Councils; story of mass unopposed escape and first news of armistice during journey aboard Dutch barge down Rhine to Cologne, 11/1918.

ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1914-1919: Western Front, 1914-1918
Military Operations, 1914-1919: Gallipoli, 1915
Prisoners of War, 1914-1918
Naval Operations, 1914-1919: Royal Naval Division, 1914-1918

Duration
45

NumberOfParts
3

OtherFormats
Full : 30pp

MakerName
Mitchell-Fox, Thomas

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Photograph (1918) in typescript

RelatedSoundFile
000315S01.mp3
000315S02.mp3
MitchellFox-prisoners.mp3
Mitchellfox2-prisoners.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
InTheBag
EscapeAndEvasion

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
4823

ProductionDate
7/Apr/1981

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Savage, Raymond P xxx

IndexPlaces
GB & England
NO
SE
SE & Falun
FI
MY
MY, SG
SG & Bukit Timah
SG & Changi
SG & Havelock Road
MY & Sungei Patani
TH
TH & Ban Pong
TH & Kanburi
TH & Kinsayo
TH & Tarsao
TH & Nong Pladuk
TH & Ubon
BU

IndexUnits
GB.A & Leicestershire Regt, Bn 1/5
GB.A & Leicestershire Regt, Bn 1
JP.O & POW Camp, Changi
JP.O & POW Camp, Havelock Road
JP.O & POW Camp, Ban Pong
JP.O & POW Camp, Kanburi
JP.O & POW Camp, Tarsao
JP.O & POW Camp, Nong Pladuk
JP.O & POW Camp, Kinsaiyok
SE.O & Internment Camp, Falun

IndexConcepts
FEPOW
Internee

ShortSummary
British officer served with 1/5th Bn Royal Leicestershire Regt in Norway, 1940 and interned in Sweden 4/1940-9/1940. Served with 1st Bn Royal Leicestershire Regt in Malaya, 4/1941-1942. POW of Japanese in Singapore and Thailand, 2/1942-8/1945. In Burma-Thailand railway camps, 6/1942-8/1945

FullSummary
REEL 1 Joining Artists' Rifles 1937. Involvement in battle of Norway with 1/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment 1/1940-9/1940: journey to Norway; escape to Sweden; internment at Falun 4/1940-9/1940; repatriation via Finland; Swedish and Finnish attitudes towards war; ferocity of Russo-Finnish War; taking parole in Sweden; kindness of Swedes. Posting to Malaya with 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment 4/1941: building defences at Sungei Patani; plans to capture Thai ports; unpreparedness of British Army for jungle warfare; Japanese tactical advantages in use of jungle and coast. REEL 2 Battle for Malaya 12/1941-1/1942: dangers as liaison officer with 15th Indian Infantry Brigade; withdrawal creating low morale; unsuitability of equipment; formation of British Battalion; liaison duties during defensive stand on river; dangers of sea escape; situation in Singapore; lack of air defence throughout Malaya; comparison of attitudes of Malays and Chinese towards war. Fall of Singapore 1/1942-2/1942: witnessing massacre of Chinese Blue Force members; performance of Indian and Australian troops; battle of Bukit Timah Road. REEL 3 Fall of Singapore 2/1942: attack on British Battalion on Bukit Timah Road; Japanese bayonetting prisoners; chaotic conditions in Singapore; liaison work during days before surrender. Changi POW camp 2/1942-4/1942: march to camp; uncertainty as to future; importance of discipline; British Battalion morale; POW tendency to blame strategists for surrender; Indian National Army collaboration. REEL 4 Changi POW camp 2/1942-4/1942: Japanese propaganda film; food supply; camp organisation; working parties clearing up Singapore; relaxed attitude of Japanese guards; escape attempts. Havelock Road POW camp 4/1942-6/1942. Thailand POW camps 6/1942-7/1944: train journey to Ban Pong; unhygienic conditions; march to Kanburi; jungle march during monsoon; importance of possessions for morale; help from Thais; fate of attempted escapees; casualty rate on march to Tarsao camp; Japanese treatment of stragglers; river journey to Kinsayo; Savage's malaria and scorpion bites. REEL 5 Thailand POW camps 6/1942-7/1944: river journey to Kinsayo camp; building bamboo huts; low morale of Dutch POWs; Army discipline aiding survival; brutality of Korean guards; Army organisation within POW framework; observance of rank and discipline; POW comradeship; stealing food from Japanese; rice diet; trading with Thais for food; Japanese attitude towards POW possessions; POW attitude towards Japanese. REEL 6 Thailand POW camps 6/1942-7/1944: Savage's punishment at Nong Pladuk camp; learning war news from camp radios; means of transporting radios; Savage concealing diaries; usefulness of POWs working in Japanese stores; difficulties of interpreters job; use of Japanese language; saluting Japanese; friendly Japanese warrant officer; role of Kempeitai; Japanese belief in war success; amount of contact between Japanese and British officers; work at Kinsayo; Japanese attitude towards officers working. REEL 7 Thailand POW camps 1944-1945: allied air raids 1944 and POW casualties; POW pay POW attitude towards work on Burma-Thailand railway; intensity of work; Japanese holidays; contact with home; Red Cross parcels; reasons for separation of officers from other ranks 1944; atomic bombs saving POW lives; POW defensive plans towards end of war; POW takeover of camp after Japanese capitulation; triumphal train journey to Ubon; lack of revenge on Japanese. REEL 8 POW liberation 8/1945: hospitality of governor at Ubon; journey to GB. Longterm physical and mental effects of imprisonment. Attitude towards Japanese.

ContextDescription
Prisoners of War in the Far East, 1941-1945

Duration
225

NumberOfParts
8

OtherFormats
Full : 61pp

MakerName
Savage, Raymond Percival

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

RelatedIWMItems
Photo of Savage in 1941 in transcript SR 207

RelatedSoundFile
Savage-prisoners.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
InTheBag

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
Educational use only

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
6176

ProductionDate
1982

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexObjects
aircraft, British: Avro Lancaster

IndexPeople
Atkinson, George Arthur xxx

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Hull, Yorks
GB, England & Liverpool, Lancs
DE
DE & Muenchen-Gladbach

IndexUnits
GB.F & Sqdn 7
DE.O & POW Interrogation Centre, Dulag Luft, Frankfurt
DE.O & POW Camp, Stalag Luft III, Sagan

IndexConcepts
POW
Medical Services

ShortSummary
British officer served as bomb aimer with 7 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1941-1943; POW in at Stalag Luft III, Sagan in Germany, 1943-1944. Repatriated from Germany to GB, 1944

FullSummary
REEL 1 Reasons for volunteering for RAF, 1941. Aspects of operations as bomb aimer with 7 Sqdn, RAF, 1943: role as bomb aimer; characteristics of Avro Lancaster; squadron morale; character of raid on Muenchen-Gladbach including use of sky markers; shooting down by German night fighter on raid; bailing out of aircraft. Aspects of capture and interrogation at Dulag Luft, Frankfurt, 1943: attempt to evade and capture by German Police; removal to Dulag Luft; character of interrogation; briefings about POW experience prior to capture; train journey from Frankfurt to Sagan, 9/1943. Recollections of period as POW at Stalag Luft III, Sagan, 1943-1945: site, appearance and layout of camp; reception at camp.
REEL 2 Continues: accommodation and furniture; rations available and dependence on Red Cross parcels; POW relations with German guards; distracting attention of guards from tunnel construction; his personal attitude towards escape; removal of POW who stole food from his room; giving lectures on architecture; POW activities; daily routine; barter with Germans; manufacture of illicit alcohol; his correspondence course; supplies he received from father; German observance of Geneva Convention; German relaxation of discipline, Christmas, 1943.
REEL 3 Continues: memories of Great Escape, 3/1944; parading of POWs after Great Escape, 3/1944; reaction of POWs and German commanding officer to executions of Great Escapers; contact with home. Recollections of hospitalisation in Poland and repatriation to GB, 1944-1945: psychological effects of concern about RAF's bombing campaign; his removal for treatment to mental hospital in Poland; his eletro-convulsive therapy; recuperation in hospital; POW's saving of life of German boy; reasons for doctor's chastising of male nurse; reaction to news of decision to repatriate him.
REEL 4 Continues: German suspicion about repatriation during move to POW camp; character of train journey to Switzerland; impressions of conditions in Switzerland; conditions on board ship from Marseilles to GB; reception at Liverpool; hospitalisation and convalescence in GB. Reflections of POW life, 1943-1944: effects and habits of service life; long term effects of imprisonment; opinion of Germans.
REEL 5 Continues: experiences of Germans under Nazi rule.

ContextDescription
Prisoners Of War In Europe, 1939-1945

Duration
150

NumberOfParts
5

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Atkinson, George Arthur

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
006176S01.mp3
Atkinson-prisoners.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
InTheBag

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
7499

ProductionDate
1984

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Napier, Joseph W L xxx
Napier, Charles
Lawrence, T E
Alcock, John W
Levine
Ataturk, Kemal
Candler, Edmund

IndexPlaces
GB, England & London <Buckingham Gate Barracks>
GB, England & Woking, Surrey <Inkerman Barracks>
GB, England & Doncaster, Yorkshire
CH
TR & Helles, Gallipoli <V Beach>
TR & Helles, Gallipoli
TR & Helles, Gallipoli <Gully Ravine>
TR & Anzac, Gallipoli <Damakjelik Bair>
TR & Anzac, Gallipoli
TR & Suvla, Gallipoli <Hill 60>
TR & Suvla, Gallipoli
TR & Anzac, Gallipoli <Sari Bair>
TR & Anzac, Gallipoli <Aghyl Dere>
TR & Anzac, Gallipoli <Old No 3 Post>
TR & Basra, Mesopotamia
TR & Kut el Amara, Mesopotamia
TR & Amara, Mesopotamia
TR & Sheikh Saad, Mesopotamia
TR & Tigris River, Mesopotamia
TR & Tigris River, Mesopotamia <Dahra Bend>
TR & Tigris River, Mesopotamia <Hussani Bend>
TR & Tigris River, Mesopotamia <Shumram Bend>
TR & Baghdad, Mesopotamia
TR & Ctesiphon, Mesopotamia <Archway>
TR & Hai River, Mesopotamia
TR & Kedos, Anatolia <POW Camp>
TR & Kedos, Anatolia
TR & Meander River, Anatolia
TR & Irbil, Mesopotamia
TR & Jabel Hamrin, Mesopotamia
TR & Mosul, Mesopotamia
TR & Aleppo, Anatolia
TR & Taurus, Anatolia <Mountain>
TR & Smyrna, Anatolia
TR & Usak, Anatolia
TR & Galibea, Anatolia
TR & Nissibim, Anatolia
FR & Calais, Pas de Calais
EG & Alexandria
GR & Lemnos & Mudros

IndexUnits
GB.A & London Regt, Bn 15
GB.A & South Wales Borderers, Bn 4
GB.A & Bde, 40
GB.A & Div, 13
GB.N & Megantic
GB.N & Royal George
GB.O & Gallipoli Association
TR.A & Regiment, 37

IndexConcepts
bereavement
POW

ShortSummary
British private served with 15th Bn London Regt in GB, 1914; served as officer with 4th Bn South Wales Borderers in GB, Gallipoli and Mesopotamia, 1914-1917; POW in Turkey 1917-1918

FullSummary
REEL 1 Background prior to outbreak of war, 1895-1914: family's military connections; education; return from Switzerland on outbreak of war, 4/8/1914. Recruitment and training with 15th Bn London Regt at Buckingham Gate, London, 8/1914: necessity of bribe to recruitment officer; question of white feathers; parents' reaction; recruiting route marches; buying own uniform; promotion to corporal. Concentration on mess etiquette during officers training at Doncaster, 12/1914-1/1915. Commission into 4th Bn South Wales Borderers, 1/1915. Recollections of period at Inkerman Barracks, Woking, 1/1915-7/1915: training; relationship with other ranks and officers.
REEL 2 Continues: Voyage out on Megantic to Mudros, Lemnos, Greece, 7/1915: prior issue of khaki drill; relationship with other ranks; turning hoses on Maltese 'bum boats'; coaling ship at Alexandria, Egypt; crowded nature of Mudros Harbour and consequent sewage discharge. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine in H12 trench sector south of Gully Ravine, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey, 15/7/1915-30/7/1915: landing at V Beach; move inland to relieve part of 29th Div in front line; nature of Gully Ravine and terrain; nature of trenches; latrines; fly problem; food rations; removal of corpses; prevalence of dysentery; stand to.
REEL 3 Continues: indiscriminate night time rifle fire during first night; religious nature of Welsh troops; water supply; supervising sentry duty and story of sentry asleep in Mesopotamia; sniping; question of shellfire; question of adequacy of training; morale; opinion of Turks; value of war experience in contrast to divisions thrown straight in at Suvla, 8/1915; evacuation to Mudros. Recollections of unit's role as left covering force for Left Assaulting Force during Battle of Sari Bair, 7/8/1915-12/8/1915: secrecy; prior landing and concealment at Anzac; nature of plan; terrain; preparations; night march from Aghyl Dere to Damakjelik Bair; reports of ruse by which Australians and Royal Navy captured Old No 3 Post; capture of Damakjelik Bair.
REEL 4 Continues: capture of Damakjelik Bair; story illustrating initial confusion; digging in; view of Suvla and Anzac operations including suspected sighting of Kemal Ataturk; failure to link with Suvla units; gradual advance to higher ground; casualties; ignorance of operation's failure; missed opportunity to capture Hill 60, 7/8/1915; naval support; food and water rations; reaction to death of father (Sir Charles Napier); state of unit. Detachment to mainly mixed unit beach fatigue party under Levine at Anzac, 8/1915: duties; contrast between New Zealand and Australian troops.
REEL 5 Continues: Story of receiving back wound and evacuation on Franconia to GB, 8/1915: nature of wound; jaundice attack; question of kit. Recollections of visit to Gallipoli, 1928. Period of hospital and convalescence, 9/1915-12/1915: bank cashier's knowledge of unit casualties; civilians' attitude. Posting to training battalion at Kimmel Park, 12/1915-3/1916. Recollections of voyage with draft on Royal George to Basra, Mesopotamia, Turkey, 1916: review of unit's movements and Mesopotamia campaign; taking T E Lawrence aboard and later speculation as to his mission. Recollections of voyage in P Boat to Kut el Amara, 3/1916: fever attack.
REEL 6 Continues: grounding and necessity of unloading artillery shells to refloat. Situation on rejoining unit on right bank of Tigris at Kut, 3/1916. Wound in buttocks whilst on reconnaissance patrol and evacuation on barge lashed to P Boat to Amara, 4/1916: question of medical arrangements; ironic death of sunstroke specialist; return to unit. Recollections of conditions of service and lifestyle on right bank in Sheikh Saad sector, 5/1916-10/1916: situation; effect of hot weather; high sickness rate; precautions to stop Arab theft of rifles; terrain around Tigris; rations; hot summer; daily routine; story of night exercise and Indian officer's; occasional detachment to left bank outpost; concert parties; question of effect of absence of women.
REEL 7 Continues: fatal accident during Lewis gun demonstration; fatal accident during undisciplined firing on left bank outpost duty; night temperature drop during autumn. Period reorganising 13th Div at Amara, 10/1916-12/1916; race meetings; comparison of climate at Amara and Basra; separate senior officers mess run by colonel; relationship with other ranks and Arabs. Recollections of operations in Kut area, 12/1916-2/1917: march up to front line, 12/1916: view of armoured cars; rain storms; advance to River Hai, 14/12/1916; attempt to cross Tigris at Hussani Bend, 20/12/1916; various attacks in area of Hai Salient and Dahra Bend including attempt to distract Turkish watch dogs, overall superiority of British forces in area and personal morale
REEL 8 Continues: various attacks in area of Hai Salient and Dahra Bend including nature of Turkish trenches and personal morale; organising Lewis machine gun positions to cover successful crossing of Tigris at Shumran Bend, 23/2/1917; resulting Turkish withdrawal, 2/1917; distribution and relative merits of Vickers and Lewis machine guns. Recollections of advance to Baghdad, 2/1917-3/1917: nature of operations and state of unit; Royal Navy supporting operations on Tigris; Ctesiphon Archway; aborted plan to use armoured barges for crossing River Diyala; presence of Edmund Candler; view of surrender of Baghdad, 11/3/1917. Recollections of advance on left bank to Adhain, 2/1917-4/1917: changing terrain above Baghdad; visit to Baghdad to supplement rations; situation; constant movement.
REEL 9 Continues: importance of securing river bank bunds to prevent Turks flooding area; continuous movement; action in Jabel Hamrin sector; personal morale; food and water supply. Account of attack on Turkish positions at Adhaim, 30/4/1917: situation; success of initial attack on Turkish positions; Turkish POWs; dust storm, subsequent confusion and consequent surrounded isolated position; wound in side and capture with remnants of company. Recollections of initial treatment as POW, 5/1917: looting of boots by Turkish soldier; medical treatment; separation as officer from other ranks; camel ride and re-joining fellow officers; Turkish officers insistence that British POWs exchange uniform and equipment with Turkish troops; Recollections of journey to Kedos, Anatolia, 5/1917-6/1917: consideration and hospitality shown by officers of escorting 37th Regt.
REEL 10 Continues: consideration and hospitality shown by officers of escorting 37th Regt; horses provided for British officers; question of escape; Turkish officers' opinion of war and their relationship with Turkish other ranks; Turkish civilian anti-British demonstrations at Irbil; poorer conditions experienced on being handed over to Arab escort to Mosul; period in prison at Mosul including conditions and interrogation; motor journey to Nissibim and view of mistreatment of Armenians; rail journey to Aleppo and brief hotel accommodation; meeting British other ranks POWs working on construction of Taurus Mountain rail tunnel at Galibea.
REEL 11 Continues: crossing Taurus Mountains by lorry; refusal to pay for cart transport and consequent march to Kedos; earlier final separation from other ranks at Mosul. Recollections of conditions and lifestyle during period at Kedos POW camp, 1917-1918: reception; origins of fellow POWs; accommodation; absence of bedding; cooking arrangements and food rations; money allowance via Red Cross; latrines; drinks; restrictions on shaving; uniform; lice problem; restricted exercise area; recreations; illustrations of difficult relationship with eccentric Turkish commandant; officer's period of solitary confinement; Turkish guards; reactions to conditions.
REEL 12 Continues: story of drawing up list of complaints over conditions, its presentation during surprise inspection by senior Turkish officer and consequent improvements to conditions including furniture and expansion of accommodation space; recollections of presence of John Alcock; arrival of new commandant; background to initial refusal and later acceptance of parole arrangements; arrival of British officers experienced in POW life captured in earlier campaigns, 12/1917; Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1917; delay before family informed of whereabouts; importance of letter and parcel contact with GB; use of allowances to supplement rations from Turkish shops.
REEL 13 Continues: buying food and alcohol in Kedes; relationship with Turkish civilians; billeting and messing arrangements on arrival of experienced POWs; ability to cash cheques in Kedos; musical activities; preparation and performance of 'Maid of the Mountains' including making costumes, rehearsals, stage, audience and interruption of performance by fire in Kedos; POWs' fire fighting role during Kedos fire and effect on POWs billets; subsequent successful performance of 'Maid of the Mountains'; POW newspaper which interpreted Turkish news in Allies favour; lectures and recreations including walks.
REEL 14 Continues: swimming in Meander River; relationship with Turkish civilians; Turkish reprisals on village where British officer was shot at; clothing; state of health; question of effect of absence of women; question of religion and development of agnostic viewpoint; other ranks present as officers' servants; relationship with Turkish officers; minimal knowledge of Turkish; ignorance of fate of British other rank POWs taken at Kut, 1916; relationship with fellow POWs; question of escape; story of practical joke on senior officers; use of mulberry trees; situation following Kedos fire.
REEL 15 Continues: situation following Kedos fire. Recollections of journey to Smyrna, 10/1918: march to Usak; refusal to go to new POW camp and taking over control of events from Turks due to widespread acceptance that the war was effectively over; visits to brothel; friendly parting from Turkish commandant; train journey to Smyrna. Recollections of period at Smyrna, 11/1918: hotel accommodation; relationship with local English Levantine population; earlier Turkish treatment of English Levantines; story illustrating Turkish attitude to Germans. Return via Egypt and France to GB, 11/1918-12/1918: conditions; dispute with senior officers over demand by junior POW officers for equal treatment at Calais; reception. Demobilisation early due to wound record, 12/1918: attitude to Turks; brothers' war record; rejection of possibility of becoming regular. Involvement as vice president in Gallipoli Association.

ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1914-1919: Gallipoli, 1915
Military Operations, 1914-1919: Mesopotamia, 1914-1918

Duration
430

NumberOfParts
15

OtherFormats
Full : 209pp

MakerName
Napier, Joseph William Lennox

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
photograph in which book
IWM interview with wife Isabel on 8768

RelatedSoundFile
007499S01.mp3
007499S02.mp3
Napier-prisoners.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
InTheBag

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
25 June 2007

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
10749

ProductionDate
6/Jul/1989

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Erricker, Robert Olaf xxx
Condron, Andrew

IndexPlaces
GB, England
EG
KR
KR & Pusan
KP
KP & Compo Valley

IndexUnits
GB.A & The 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars
GB.A & Royal Ulster Rifles, Bn 1
GB.A & Cooperforce
GB.O & Ship, Empire Fowey
KP.O & POW Camp, Bean Camp, North Korea
KP.O & POW Camp, Camp 5, Pyuktong, North Korea

IndexConcepts
POW

ShortSummary
British trooper served with 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars in Korea, 1950-1951; POW in North Korea, 1951-1953

FullSummary
REEL 1 Period with 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars in GB, 1950: posting to Korea late 1950; character of Cromwell tank; role as co-driver and gunner; regimental pride; reaction to posting. Voyage from GB to Korea via Suez aboard Empire Fowey, 1950. Recollections of operations with 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars in Korea, 1950-1951: reception in Pusan, 11/1950; initial impressions of Korea; arrival of tanks in Pusan.
REEL 2 Continues: riding shot gun on northward bound train; refugee trains heading south; nature of US troops' withdrawal; preparations of tanks for combat; opinion of US Army; coping with winter conditions; problem with weight of Centurion tanks; rations and diet; move through Compo Valley; question of tactics of leaving tanks in valley overnight; Korean refugees passing through lines; heavy fire on Chinese positions; withdrawal of unit southwards under-fire.
REEL 3 Continues: capture by Chinese, 4/1/1951; end of Cromwells of Cooperforce; fate of Cooperforce comrades. Period as POW on march into North Korea, 1/1951-3/1951: staying in Korean homes; first appearance of lice; POW possessions; POW sharing and moral code; refuge from United Nations' bombing; question of who was to blame for POWs' predicament; state of POW morale and bowels.
REEL 4 Continues: trek north through snow; blessings of tank suit; keeping warm in doorways; POW diet; problem of keeping clean; attack by US Air Force; meetings with Korean civilians; conditions in Bean Camp; question of escape; sight of Chinese troops on march. Recollections of period as POW in Camp 5, Pyuktong, North Korea, 1951-1953: arrival, 3/1951; low US POW morale; arrival of rations; camp deaths; relation of low morale and death; dysentery problems; memories of POW guard 'Screaming Skull'.
REEL 5 Continues: Chinese medical attentions; POW spokesman, Andrew Condron; punishments of POWs; attempts to uphold POW morale; arrival of electricity in camp; Chinese political indoctrination; suffering on roll-call; food obsessions; political lectures; possible residual effects of propaganda; POW hygiene; POW uniform issue; varieties of rations received including weighing of rations, pig killing and sorghum diet; opinion of Chinese treatment of POWs; Chinese rations.
REEL 6 Continues: religious holidays for POWs; salt supply; wood details outside camp; camp songs; marijuana smoking; danger of flooding; Turkish POW quarters; camp library and entertainments; levelling hill for sports field; padded clothing issue, winter 1951-1952; driving POWs to lectures; counting accumulating army credits; emptying latrine in winter and summer; anti-fly drive; POW ablutions; method of razor blade sharpening; sports and camp Olympics.
REEL 7 Continues: Chinese film and theatre for POWs; POW stage productions; swimming in river; POW health and treatments; use of acupuncture by POWs; POW strategy of re-political indoctrination; news of peace talks and 'give-it-upitis'; contact with home; his broadcast message home; arrival of mail; Christmas card production; news from outside world; western Communist's visits; news of British Royal Family, 1952; question of use of germ warfare; POW comradeship.
REEL 8 Continues: release of sick, spring 1953; news of release; instances of Chinese leniency; release 9/8/1953; US equipment discarded by returning Chinese POWs; processing of returned POWs; treatment in Japan; decision of Andrew Condron to defect to Chinese. Question of long term effects of Korean War. Poem written in Camp 5, a version of Kipling's 'If'.

ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1945-1975: Korea, 1950-1953

Duration
320

NumberOfParts
8

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Erricker, Robert Olaf

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
010749S01.mp3
010749S02.mp3
Erricker-prisoners.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
InTheBag

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
11442

ProductionDate
Jul/1990

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Wheeler, Lawrence G xxx
Wheeler, George xxx
Jones, Jack
Clive, Lewis
Dunlop, John
Matthews, Charlie
Prime, Lawrence
Walker, Hookey
West, Frank

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & London, S <Battersea>
GB, England & London, W <Trafalgar Square>
GB, England & London
GB, England & London
ES
ES & Figueras, Catalonia
ES & Montblanc nnn
ES & Chavola Valley, Aragon
ES & Ebro, Aragon <River>
ES & Hill 481 nnn
ES & Corbera, New Castile
ES & Benecanet nnn
ES & Hill 666 nnn
ES & Cambrilles nnn
ES & Burgos, Old Castile <San Pedro de Cardena Prison>
ES & Saragossa <Prison>
ES & Burgos, Old Castile
FR
FR &

IndexUnits
ES.AR & International Bde, 15 & Bn British
ES.AN & Army of Africa
GB.O & Government
ES.O & Prison, San Pedro de Cardena, Burgos
ES.O & Prison, Saragossa
CA.O & Government

IndexConcepts
POW

ShortSummary
British volunteer served with British Bn 15th International Bde in Spain, 5/1938-9/1938; POW in Spain, 9/1938-4/1939.

FullSummary
REEL 1 Background to joining International Brigades <IB> in Spain, 1938: reaction to British policy of non-intervention and speech by Aneurin Bevan in Trafalgar Square, London, ca 4/1938; question of his political affiliations; employment as wood machinist in London; family's political attitudes; family's reaction to his decision to go to fight in Spain; recruitment in London; journey to Paris with others including Jack Jones, 20/5/1938; medical examination; crossing border to Figueras, Spain. Recollections of initial period with 15th IB in Spain, 5/1938-7/1938: opinion of other volunteers; activities, cameraderie, training period at Montblanc; question of previous military experience; recruitment to No.4 Coy, British Bn at Chavola Valley, 6/1938; construction of shelters; water shortages; story of fatal accident in machine gun competition during Second Anniversary celebrations, 7/1938; march to positions on Ebro; view of air attacks; crossing River Ebro by boat, 25/7/1938; view of evacuated positions and Nationalist prisoners; losing attache case of personal belongings under fire; encountering resistance; reaction to finding dead Moorish soldier.
REEL 2 Continues: question of attitude towards Nationalist soldiers; finding pillaged attache case and losing rations. Aspects of attack on Hill 481, 30/7/1938-1/8/1938: importance of attack; going over the top; dropping rifle; attempts to advance up hill; Nationalist fire; accumulating casualties; names of comrades killed; firing at hill top position; view of death of Lewis Clive; opinion of Lewis Clive; death of Jim Strangward; trying to save Lawrence Prime; cigarette rations; going over the top towards Hill 481; lack of supplies; reaction to methods of rifle training; question of artillery support; view of Nationalists; hunger; searching for food and water.
REEL 3 Aspects of period in reserve, 8/1938: bathing with comrade in irrigation sump; foraging for food with John Dunlop near Benecanet; reaction to prospect of killing chickens for food; searching for water; cooking chicken with civilians at Benecanet; view of Hill 666. Aspects of defence of Hill 666: positions and defences; verbal abuse from Nationalists; defecating on rifle; patrolling defences; problems with passwords; question of action; being sent to hospital at Cambrilles for treatment of skin boil; impressions of hospital; lice problem.
REEL 4 Continues: reaction to waking up in hospital; treatment for boil; morale of injured Spanish soldier; going sea-bathing and meeting young Spaniards; view of air attack; release from hospital; going AWOL with others and fraternising with civilians in Tevisa; rejoining Bn; opinion of Bn cook, Hookey Walker; biting on wood during air attack at Mora del Ebro; reaction to his own fear, morale of unit; preparing for final action at Sierra de Pandols, 22/9/1938.
REEL 5 Continues: background to withdrawal of IBs; morale; positions, defences at Sierra de la Val; being overrun, surrendering to Nationalists; avoiding fire from IB unit. Recollections of period as POW, 9/1938-4/1939: attitude towards his captors; refusing to accept Fascist salute; thirst during march with other prisoners to Bote; names of other British prisoners; overcrowding and conditions in accommodation at Bote; role call, questioning and mock execution of volunteers; cameraderie; conditions at Saragossa prison.
REEL 6 Conditions: rations; journey to San Pedro de Cardena Prison; view of Italian Nationalist soldiers on way to front; lice and sanitary conditions in prison camp; question of escapes; stories illustrating treatment from guards nicknamed 'Tanky', 'Navarro' and 'The Frog'; treatment of recaptured German prisoners; question of mail home; rumours of release; money; parcels; selling clothing.
REEL 7 Continues: story of fighting with Cuban prisoner; making boxing gloves; interrogation including questionnaire on sexual behaviour; story of being questioned on knowledge of the solar system; arrival of Christmas parcels; friendship with Canadian prisoners; visit from British Government representative and his response to prison conditions; question of attempting to escape; story illustrating prisoners' responses to Catholic mass; question of collaboration; question of being interrogated by German officers; rations; march to San Sebastian prison, reactions of civilians in Burgos; view of cells at San Sebastian prison; talking to Spanish prisoners awaiting execution; sings excerpt from Republican song.
REEL 8 Continues: recollections of cellmates at San Sebastian including artist Charlie Matthews and cook, Frank West; effects of failure of sanitary system; selection of prisoners for release; conditions during final months as prisoner; question of further visits by British Government's representative. Aspects of his release and repatriation, 5/4/1939: view of San Sebastian town; reactions to release; de-lousing, food and wine from Canadian government in France; being met by police in London, 4/1939; question of his physical condition after imprisonment; family's reaction to his unexpected return home, Battersea; family's attitude towards his going to Spain; opinion of system of political commissars; question of IB attitudes towards him as non-CP member; attitude towards his experiences in Spain.

ContextDescription
Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939

Duration
240

NumberOfParts
8

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Wheeler, Lawrence George

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
Wheeler-prisoners.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
InTheBag

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
Educational use only

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
11952

ProductionDate
1991

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Razzell, Alfred C xxx
Hubbard, William

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Lambeth, London
GB, England & London
GB, England & Shorncliffe, Kent <Camp>
GB, England & Colchester, Essex <Barracks>
GB, England & Liverpool, Lancs <Hospital>
GB, England & Watford, Herts <Rehabilitation Centre>
GB, England & Aldershot, Hants <Barracks>
GB, England & Hounslow, London <Hounslow Barracks>
FR
FR & Houplines, Nord
FR & Bethune area, Pas-de-Calais
FR & Boulogne, Pas-de-Calais
FR & Etaples, Pas-de-Calais <Infantry Base Depot>
FR & Etaples, Pas-de-Calais <Canadian Hospital>
FR & Loos sector, Pas-de-Calais
FR & Loos sector, Pas-de-Calais <Hohenzollern Redoubt>
FR & Armentieres sector, Nord
FR & Arras area, Nord
FR & Monchy le Preux, Nord
FR & Somme area, Somme
FR & Douai
FR & Douai <Fort Macdonald>
FR & Ovillers sector, Somme
FR & Pozieres sector, Somme <Ration Trench>
BE
BE & Ploegsteert sector, West Flanders
DE
DE & Westphalia
DE & Bremerhaven
DE & Saltau <POW Camp>
DE & Dulman <POW Camp>
DE & Hamburg

IndexUnits
GB.A & Royal Fusiliers, Bn 8
GB.A & Div, 12
GB.A & Bde, 36
Barracks & Hounslow
Barracks & Colchester
Camp, Shorncliffe
GB.A & Infantry Base Depot, Etaples
DE & A & POW Camp, Soltau
DE & A & POW Camp, Dulman

IndexConcepts
POW

ShortSummary
British NCO served with 8th Bn Royal Fusiliers in GB and on Western Front, 1914-1917; POW in Germany, 1917-1918

FullSummary
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Lambeth, London, 1897-1914: social circumstances; education; work as trainee electrical engineer with Post Office; background to leaving PO on leaving army, 1918. Recollections of recruitment and training with 8th Bn Royal Fusiliers in Hounslow Barracks, Colchester Barracks, Shorncliffe Camp and Aldershot, 8/1914-5/1915: background to recruitment underage at Lambeth Town Hall, 13/8/1914; mother's reaction; treatment of underage soldier in France; PT sessions at Hounslow Barracks; nature of recruits; issue of uniform at Colchester Barracks; nature of basic training and instructors; inculcation with regimental spirit; promotion to lance corporal; food rations; canteen; recreations; relationship with other ranks; nature of basic training and route marches; relationship with NCOs and soldier's court martial after attack on NCO.
REEL 2 Continues: punishments; move to Shorncliffe, 10/1914; tactical exercises; firing course on rifle range; tactical exercises including question of attack formations; map reading; digging trenches; making jam tin hand grenades; ; bayonet training; question of opinion of German soldiers; movements prior to march to Aldershot, 2/1915; nature of exercises; selection and training as sniper. Various aspects of service on Western Front, 1915-1917: difficulty in finding sniping positions and question of use of steel loop holes; story of failure to shoot escaping German POW at Arras, 4/1917.
REEL 3 Continues: story of failure to shoot German soldier at Arras, 4/1917; accurate sniping range; relationship with sniping officer; sniping equipment and dissolution of sniping squad, 1916; hand grenade accident; reactions to death of platoon officer; question of personal morale; route marches; stories illustrating of relationship and opinion of various officers including colonel, adjutant, platoon officer and regimental sergeant major; question of shell shock and executions for cowardice; personal morale under shell fire; reaction to conscientious objectors. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine period in Ploegsteert, Armentieres and Loos sectors on Western Front, 10/1915: journey out and overnight stop at Boulogne, 5/1915; story of subsequent rough Channel crossing.
REEL 4 Continues: story of subsequent rough Channel crossing; question of learning French in German POW camps, 1917-1918; winter conditions, consequent attack of trench feet and period on regimental police, 1915-1916; move up in stages; taking over trenches from Guards in Loos sector, 9/1915; improving shallow trenches; situation in front line; wiring parties; effects of German machine gun fire; introduction to trench routine in Ploegsteert sector, 6/1915; latrines; nature of quiet sectors; concentrated period of German shell fire at Houplines; shooting at rats in River Lys; reactions to casualties and personal morale; tours of duty; prior gas mask training; working parties and mining activities; relationship with French civilians; drinking habits; question of contacts with French Army; role of NCOs in organising sentry routine; food rations including problems with cooking; water supply; sleeping arrangements; working parties.
REEL 5 Continues: account of attack on B Crater following detonation of mines at Hohenzollern Redoubt, 3/1916, including effects of detonation, successful advance to capture crater, reasons for failure to dig communication trench back to front line, distance across No Man's Land, British casualties from effects of mine detonation, German night counter-attacks, reactions of colonel, value of machine gun and question of British shells falling short; view from trenches; German use of minenwerfer and rifle grenades; nature of trenches and dugouts; use of Stokes mortars to clear Germans from dugouts, 9/1915; barbed wire; tours of duty; effects of wet and cold conditions; failure to use whale oil; attack of trench feet and consequent period on regimental police; shower bath; lice problem; causes of casualties; state of morale; opinion of colonel; contrast of regular and wartime officers.
REEL 6 Continues: story of copying style of officer's cap in GB; relaxation of relationship with officers and NCOs; inexperience of reinforcements, 1916; burial of corpses; reception of reinforcements; role of latrine orderlies; route march to Somme area, 6/1916; problems as NCO in distributing food rations; estaminets; personal kit and souvenirs. Recollections of operations in Somme area, 7/1916: kit carried into action; letter contact with GB; question of sharing out parcels of casualties; cooks; personnel left out of battle; account of attack with Headquarters Coy at Ovillers, 7/7/1916, including formation, death of Colonel in No Man's Land, break down of attack due to German machine gun fire, moving along ditch, attack formation, German hand grenades, view of Germans troops retreating, move into German trench, relief and state of unit at roll call, 8/7/1916.
REEL 7 Continues: question of prior briefing; failure to cut wire; collection of paybooks from corpses; state of German trench; question of medical treatment for German wounded; lack of first aid training and problem of casualties bleeding to death; attitude of German POWs; observation post duty; opinion of German uniform and equipment; question of prior briefing and German counter-attack at Loos, 9/1915; effects of machine gun fire; bullet through rifle butt; question of effects of preliminary bombardment. Recollections of night attack on Ration Trench at Pozieres, 4/8/1916: absence of preliminary bombardment; capture of German front line; German POWs; prior arrival of large reinforcement drafts to reconstitute unit; use of periscopes to draw fire to unoccupied trench; German bombardment on captured trench; facial wound from German shell; evacuation as walking wounded; initial treatment and tetanus injection at advanced dressing station; evacuation by ambulance and hospital train to Canadian Hospital, Etaples.
REEL 8 Treatment at Canadian Hospital, Etaples, 8/1916: question of being sent back to GB; removal of shrapnel from jaw; problem with grit in eyes and subsequent treatment. German air raid on Dover during journey to Liverpool, 6/8/1916. Period at Liverpool Hospital, 8/1916-11/1916: reception; hospitality and entertainment from civilians; severely wounded Australian soldier; effects of wound. Period at Rehabilitation Centre at Watford, 1916-1917: interview with general; Journey out with draft via Etaples Infantry Base Depot, Etaples and reception on rejoining unit in Somme area, 1917. Recollections of attack in Arras area, 9/4/1917: move up from Somme area and billets in caves; successful advance behind creeping barrage; linking shell holes to form trench; signal to aircraft; question of changes in unit personnel since 1916; failed cavalry attack; reaching objectives and capture of German gun line; nature of German trenches; wiring parties; relief and return to Arras; alarm of German counter-attack and casualties caused by German shell fire in field bivouacs. Recollections of attack on Monchy le Preux, 3/5/1917: prior briefing; casualties from machine gun on left flank; story of failure to shoot escaping German POW; leaving dugouts to mopping up parties; casualties; consolidating shell hole line; German attack from behind line; sniping from isolated position.
REEL 9 Continues: effects of sniper fire from isolated position; concealment behind German lines for two days using water and iron rations taken from corpses; question of attempt to break through lines; discovery by German trench digging party. Recollections of initial period as POW, 5/1917: attempt to help badly wounded friend Bill Hubbard, refusal of assistance from German troops and failed attempt to carry him back out of line; march through Douai; jettisoning hand grenades prior to search; interrogation; train journey to Dulman POW Camp, Westphalia; question of notification of family; interrogation. Conditions during period in Fort Macdonald, Douai, 5/1917: shortage of food; latrines; story of gifts of food from French civilian during march round Douai. Recollections of period in various POW Camps in Germany, 5/1917-11/1918: shortage of food and malnutrition; Red Cross parcels; attack of dysentery; disruption of Red Cross parcels supply on moving between POW camps; German guards' search of contents of Red Cross parcels; camp defences; roll calls and hut searches.
REEL 10 Continues: treatment of Russian POWs; exchanges of bread for potatoes and cabbages; bribing German guards and evading searches; working party building road to camp; question of escape; trench to prevent tunnelling activity; conditions in camp jail; take over of control of camp by German sailors deputation from Soldiers Councils of Bremerhaven, 11/1918; visit out of camp to trade for food with German farmers; move to Saltau POW Camp; Italian NCO acting as cook; background to train journey to Hamburg. Journey back to London, 11/1919. Demobilisation, 1919. Post war career: return to work with Post Office; reactions to bombing during Second World War.

ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1914-1919: Western Front, 1914-1918
Prisoners of War, 1914-1918

Duration
300

NumberOfParts
10

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Razzell, Alfred Charles

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
011952S01.mp3
011952S02.mp3
011952S03.mp3
Razzell-prisoners.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
InTheBag

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
15350

ProductionDate
27/Apr/1995

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexObjects
film: Bridge Over The River Kwai

IndexPeople
Long, Jim xxx
Long, Bill
Toosey, Philip
Taylor, Jim
Adams, Geoffrey
Long, Bill
Smith, Victor
White, Arthur
Long, Len

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight
GB, England & Norwich, Norfolk
GB, England & Aldershot, Hants
GB, England & Jedburgh, Northumberland
GB, England & Alderley Edge, Cheshire
GB, England & Manchester, Lancs
GB, England & Portsmouth, Hants
GB, England & Bristol, Glos
GB, Scotland
FR
FR & Calais
FR & Dunkirk
MY
MY & Singapore
MY & Singapore, Klooni Hill
MY & Singapore, Bukit Timah Road
IC
IN
IN & Bombay
ZA
ZA & Capetown
TH
TH & River Kwae Noi

IndexUnits
GB.O & Boy Scouts
GB.O & Civil Air Guard
GB.O & Hall, Letton
GB.O & Radio Station, Wick
GB.A & Pioneer Corps, Coy Holding
GB.A & Div 18
GB.A & Div 18, Headquarters
GB.A & Cameron Highlanders, Bn 2
GB.A & Camp, Ahmednagar, India
GB.O & Ship, Oronsay
GB.O & Ship, Empress of Asia
US.O & Ship, Leonard Wood
US.O & Ship, Felix Rousel
MY.O & Rubber Plantation, Tek Hoc
JP.O & POW Camp, Kanburi, Thailand
JP.O & POW Camp, Tamarkan, Thailand
JP.O & POW Camp, Ban Pong, Thailand
JP.O & POW Camp, Changi, Indian Lines, Singapore
JP.O & POW Camp, Sime Road, Singapore
GB.A & Camp, Larkhill
GB.A & Reserve Z
GB.A & Camp, Bulford

IndexConcepts
POW

ShortSummary
British private served with Royal Army Service Corps in GB, France and Belgium, 1939-1941; served with 55 Coy, Royal Army Service Corps in GB and Singapore, 1941-1942; POW in Singapore and Thailand, 1942-1945

FullSummary
REEL 1 Family background in Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight, 1916-1939: family; education; employement; membership of Boy Scouts; sense of community in Carisbrooke; volunteering on outbreak of war; love of motorcycles, trips with friend Arthur White and instructing new motorcyclists; brief membership of Civil Air Guard. Enlistment and medical with Royal Army Service Corps, 11/1939. Aspects of training with Holding Coy, Pioneer Corps in GB, 6/1940-8/1940: reception with unit at Clacton on Sea; procedure on arrival and pay.
REEL 2 Continues: relationship between recruits; daily regime during training; drill, rifle handling, discipline, physical fitness and route marches; rifle and bayonet training; use of Lewis machine guns, Boyes anti-tank guns and Mills hand grenades; typical meals; map reading, trench digging, gas chamber training; butchery course at Aldershot; kitchen work at Clacton on Sea.
REEL 3 Aspects of period with Royal Army Service Corps in GB and France, 11/1939-5/1940: enlistment and posting to unit, 11/1939: company and field kitchen composition at Portsmouth; crossing to France c3/1940; conditions at Calais; butchery work and meat supply; poor hygiene of field kitchens; kitchen duties; lack of in-service training or drill .Recollections of period with Royal Army Service Corps in France, 5/1940: retreating troops and air attacks signifying German advance; sight of demoralised and undisciplined retreating troops; retreat to Dunkirk; arrangements for feeding troops; conditions at Dunkirk, German Air Force attacks, lack of systematic destruction of equipment and vehicles; abandoning vehicles and making way to beach; nature of JU 87 dive attacks; reaction to scene on beach; wading out to small boat; German Air Force attacks on voyage to Folkestone.
REEL 4 Aspects of period with 2nd Bn Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders at Inverness, Scotland 8/1940: posting to unit after period with Holding Coy, Pioneer Corps at Clacton 6/1940-8/1940: discipline and training with Cameroons; character of daily training routine; role as motorcycle machine gunner; opinion of Norton motorcycle with side car; composition and reconnaissance role of motorcycle section within company; training 'schemes' in countryside; daily duties of 'despatch rider'and motorcycles preferred; picket duties at Wick radio station 10/1940. Aspects of period with 55 Coy, Royal Army Service Corps, 18th Div in GB, 1940-1941: circumstances of transfer to unit joining unit at Letton Hall near Norwich; assignment as dispatch rider with Royal Artillery regts including 135th Field Regt, Royal Artillery and convoy duties as despatch rider.
REEL 5 Continues: daily duties as despatch rider with 18th Div Headquarters; nature of unit personnel; recreations; move of 18th Div to Scotland winter 1940-1941; freezing conditions at billets in Jedburgh; move to Alderley Edge near Manchester early 1941; issue of overseas kit and reasons for dislike; inoculations. Voyage from GB to India, 1941-1942: embarkation aboard HMT Oronsay at Bristol 10/1941: conditions on board; lifeboat drill; transfer at Novia Scotia to US ship Leonard Wood; conditions on board; submarine scare in South Atlantic.
REEL 6 Continues: shore leave in Capetown, South Africa; Christmas dinner in Indian Ocean; impression of Bombay; conditions at Ahmednagar Camp; embarkation aboard Felix Rousel; US attitude towards Japanese; composition of 18th Div convoy, rumours of strike aboard Empress of Asia; Japanese air attack on convoy in Straits of Malacca, manning Bren gun on deck, sight of dive bombing attack on Felix Rousel, destruction of Empress of Asia and scene at end of attack.
REEL 7 Continues: Recollections of operations with 55 Coy, Royal Army Service Corps, 18th Div in Singapore, 2/1942: arrival in Singapore 5/2/1942; location of company in Tek Hoc rubber plantation; daily Japanese bombing raids and lack of Allied air cover; troop movements in expectation of Japanese landing; dangers as despatch rider of night-time movement of troops; arrival at Klooni Hill, Bukit Timah Road c10/2/1942; assignment to pick up lorry of barbed wire; taking up infantry position in trenches on Klooni Hill with older brother Bill; Japanese spotter aircraft directing Japanese mortars and impossibility of movement during daytime; intensification of Japanese attack; glimpses of Japanese advancing and retreat of Cambridgeshire Regt; reputation of Japanese troops and their preparedness for jungle warfare; situation 14/2/1942, ceasefire order for Allied toops and Japanese continued mortar attacks; finding NCOs in air raid shelter; finding company dead; loss of motorbike and kit; surrender 15/2/1942, treatment by Japanese and obtaining food.
REEL 8 Recollections as POW in Singapore, 1942: march to Changi 15/2/1942; physical condition on arrival; accommodation in Indian lines; POWs self-organisation and educational classes; POW numbers; maintaining unit organisation and officers wishing to maintain hierarchy; rush of civilians to leave Singapore 10-15/Feb and story of two soldiers who deserted and escaped to Ceylon; requirement to bow to Indian National Army guards at Changi; food, sea bathing and conditions; move to Sime Road camp; duties of working party making shrine to Japanese dead; witnessing beating of British soldier by Japanese for disrespect; camp leisure activities; officers' maintaining privileges; knowledge of Japanese beatings; Japanese Army discipline.
REEL 9 Continues: minor beatings received; return to Changi late 5/1942; Selarang Square incident 8/1942 including squalid conditions on Square, signing parole under duress and further realisation of Japanese lack of value of life; detailed for working party; being loaded into steel railway trucks; trading possessions with Japanese and Chinese in Changi. Aspects of train journey from Singapore to Thailand, 1942: train journey up country; food stops; conditions in trucks; POW with dysentery. Recollections of period as POW in Thailand 9/1942: water-logged conditions at Ban Pong; march to Kanburi; effects of poor diet; prickly heat sores; arrival at Tamarkan 9/1942; method of clearing jungle; organisation of POWs; working in section under Lieutenant Geoffrey Adams.
REEL 10 Continues: opinion of Adams and of officers in general and of Captain Jim Taylor; Japanese requiring working parties chosen by British officers; various duties including cookhouse; cooking rice, vegetables available and poor quality rice; means of supplementing rations; symptoms of diet deficiences including skin complaints, prickly heat sores and beri-beri; incidence of dysentery and malaria; causes of leg ulcers and improvised treatments; sleeping arrangements; building camp huts; daily routine.
REEL 11 Continues: daily work routine; rations; latrines; washing in river; drinking water; arrival of POWs allocated to build bridge over River Kwae Noi; building wooden bridge under supervision of Japanese engineers; brutality of Korean guards illustrated by story of a particular guard called 'The Undertaker'; method of driving wooden piles into river bed and practical problems encountered; preparation of wood by Thais; simplicity of wooden bridge design; POW injuries during construction; building of railway embankment between Kanburi and Tamarkan; requirement to move cubic metre of earth per day and Japanese making POWs work harder; cruel Japanese 'jokes' played on POWs; POWs' favourite duties; laying railway track; opinion of camp commander Lietenant Colonel Toosey, his help to men and being prepared to stand up to Japanese; opinion of Japanese camp commandant 'The Frog'.
REEL 12 Continues: construction of concrete piles for steel bridge; method of excavation of river bed using divers' helmets, conditions and dangers of work underwater; making concrete for pillars and means of building up piles; effect of work on skin and working without clothes; Long's improvised underwear 'snaprag' and lack of other clothing; speed of construction of concrete pillars; building concrete 'shoulders'; rivetting steel bridge and dangers for POWs; means of allocation of duties; dislike of carrying railway sleepers; difficulty of shovelling shingle from railway bed; feelings about completion of bridge; opinion of film 'Bridge Over The River Kwai'; incident of Long and brother Bill reacting to Japanese guard's mistreatment and guard's subsequent behaviour; chance meeting with younger brother Len 7/1943; building bridges further up line; volunteering with Vic Smith for party as driver/mechanic; working in stores hut at railway halt at Kanburi 8/1943-9/1943.
REEL 13 Continues: composition of party at Kanburi under Japanese guards; POWs killed and damage in Allied air raid; POWs detailed to deal with unexploded bomb; Consolidated Liberator attack on steel bridge; more lenient regime at Kanburi; Thais giving POWs food; extent of communication between Japanese and Allies; move northwards 3/1944-1/1945; clearing jungle and beginning construction of airstrip; Long's spinal malaria and lack of medicine; digging tunnels in rock as ammunition stores and water wells; duties of wood parties providing fuel for trains; difficulties of working in dense tropical vegetation and wildlife dangers.
REEL 14 Continues: sight of tiger in camp; insect problem including red ants, leeches, lice, rats and flies; desirability of bees' nests; POWs' health; outbreak of cholera during 'speedo' period 1943 exacerbated by Tamils' lack of hygiene; spread of cholera; friendship with Vic Smith; POWs detailed to repair damage caused by Allied air raids; officers ordered by Japanese to work on railway during 'speedo' period; Kempetai discovery of wireless in Kanburi officers' camp.
REEL 15 Continues: tension amongst Korean and Japanese guards during 1945; rumours about progress of war; Japanese punishments witnessed including description of bamboo cage treatment and POW being put into underground hole during monsoon; POWs' mental health, need for survival instinct and incident of a despatch rider simply giving up; improving morale during 1945 Aspects of liberation and return to GB, 1945: arrival of Allied paratroopers at camp 8/1945; surrender of Japanese in camp; situation in camp and relations with former captors; uniform issue, supplies and inability to eat; Allied Dakotas landing on POW constructed airstrip; airlifting POWs to Rangoon; hospitalisation to restore health; voyage aboard hospital ship Oronsay to GB: arrival at Southampton 28/10/1945; lack of medical examination and being classed A1 despite weight and poor digestion; home leave; extent of wife's knowledge concerning his whereabouts during war.
REEL 16 Continues: POW postcards home and cards from wife; Japanese pilfering Red Cross parcels; difficulties of readjustment to civilian life; need to be outside; problems with pschological effects of imprisonment; medical problems encountered; discharge; later medical and psychological examination at Haslar and subsequent award of disability pension c1980; effects of POW experiences on his brothers; recurring longterm psychological effects of POW experience; wife's attitude towards his condition; attitude towards Japanese and Koreans. Period with Heavy Transport Coy, Royal Army Service Corps, 1952: call-up with Z Reserve; assignement to unit at Larkhill Camp; attending scheme at Bulford Camp during winter flood; standing down after five weeks.

ContextDescription
Prisoners of War in the Far East, 1941-1945

Duration
470

NumberOfParts
16

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Long, Jim

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
Long-prisoners.mp3
Long2-prisoners.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
TheCamps
InTheBag

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
16358

ProductionDate
17/Dec/1995

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Levitas, Maurice xxx
Kusten, Leo
Gilbert, Tony

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & London, E <Bethnal Green>
GB, England & London, E <Stepney>
ES
ES & Calaceite
ES & Figueras
ES & Albacete
ES & Madrid
FR
FR & Paris
DE
DD

IndexUnits
GB.O & Political Party, Communist & Young Communist League
GB.O & Jewish Lads Bde
ES.AR & International Bde, 15 & Bn British
GB.O & Political Party, British Union of Fascists
ES.O & POW Camp, Burgos <San Pedro de Cardenas>
ES.O & POW Camp, San Sebastian

IndexConcepts
POW
Anti semitism

ShortSummary
Irish Jewish civilian, secretary of Bethnal Green Young Communist League, east London, 1933-1936. Served as rifleman with British Bn 15th International Bde in Spain 12/1937-4/1938. POW in San Sebastian and San Pedro de Cardenas 4/1938-2/1939. Worked as teacher in East Germany (GDR) and Germany 1985-1991

FullSummary
R1 Jewish family background in Dublin, Ireland: father's employment; learning English; move to London, 1931. Activities in Stepney, East London during 1930s: employment as plumber; living conditions; story illustrating Jewish and non-Jewish relations; joining YCL; activism of BUF in Bethnal Green; YCL activity at Cable Street, 1936; friends who volunteered to fight with IBs in Spain; being attacked by BUF in Cambridge Heath Rd, East London; marches and demos to BUF headquarters; clashes between police and YCL. Recollections of Tony Gilbert, POW exchange in Spain, 1939 and of being beaten by guards in San Pedro de Cardenas prison. R2 Continues: appearance on being released as POW in Paris, 2/1939; contacting friends of Leo Kusten in Paris; return to GB. Recollections of period in Bethnal Green, East London during 1930s: strength of BUF; CP organisation in Bethnal Green; membership of Jewish Lads Bde; reasons for joining YCL and connections with Hitler coup, 1933; CP/LP relations, ideological foundations in East London. Decision to volunteer as secretary of Bethnal Green YCL; interview, recruitment; crossing border into France, 1937. R3 Continues: crossing Pyrenees to Figueras; training at Albacete; question of Army discipline; sheltering in rain in village after period at front;enemy bombing attack on British Bn in olive grove; clash with Italian tanks; capture by Italian unit at Calaceite, 4/1938; interrogation of POWs; being interrogated; Communist organisation in San Pedro; POW response to Pathe news visit; interpretors; sleeping arrangements. R4 Continues; living conditions in San Pedro; state of health; story of priest arranging supply of books, POWs use of them; camp authorities' attempts to make POWs raed Francosit pamphlets; Christmas, 1938; escape attempts at San Pedro; transfer from San Pedro to San Sebastian; Basque aid for IB volunteers, 2/1939; period in San Sebastian prison, executions; communications with Spanish prisoners; question of his own nationality. R5 Continues: question of what was achieved by IBs in Spain; equality of treatment of nationalities in San Pedro; attitudes of British diplomats in Spain and GB; kitted out by Co-Operative Society on return to London; story of mother's reaction to his homecoming. Aspects of period as English teacher in East Germany, 1985-1991: reasons for going; intolerance of anti-semitism; standards of living including lack of unemployment, homelessness.

ContextDescription
Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939

Duration
270

NumberOfParts
5

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Levitas, Maurice

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
Levitas-prisoners.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
InTheBag

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British
Irish

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
18439

ProductionDate
4/Aug/1998

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Tyas, Albert Edward xxx
Winterskill, Keith
Winnington, Alan
Burchett, Wilfred
Felton, Monica
Gaster, Jack

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Dewsbury, Yorks
MY
MY & Singapore
KR
KR & Suwon
KR & Kansas Line
KR & River Imjin
KR & Hellfire Pass
KP
KP & Pyongyang
KP & River Yalu
KP & Manpo

IndexUnits
GB.A & Green Howards, Bn 1
GB.O & Ship, Charlton Star
GB.O & Ship, Sangola
GB.A & Ulster Rifles, Royal, Bn 1, Coy B, Platoon 4
KP.O & POW Camp , Camp 1, Chonksong, North Korea

ShortSummary
British civilian in Dewsbury, GB, 1939-1945; private served with 1st Bn Green Howards during Maria Hertzog riots in Singapore, 1950; served with 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles in Korea, 1951; POW in North Korea, 1951-1953

FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in Dewsbury, 1929-1939: family; education. Recollections of childhood in Dewsbury, 1939-1945: German Air Force raids; influx of soldiers into town; V1s which fell on farmland around Dewsbury, 1944; effect of rationing; cash raising 'war weeks' for war effort. Background to call up for National Service, 1950. Voyage from GB to Singapore aboard Charlton Star, late 1950. Period with 1st Bn Green Howards in Singapore, 1950: patrolling streets during Maria Hertzog riots, 12/1950. Voyage from Singapore to Japan aboard SS Sangola, 1/1951. Aspects of operations with 4 Platoon, B Coy, 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles in Korea, 1951: arrival in Suwon and secondment to RUR, 2/1951; push north to Kansas Line, 2/1951; Recollections of Battle of the Imjin River, 4/1951: return to front-line on River Imjin, 1/4/1951; taking up reserve positions; story of watching film 'Tea for Two' when Chinese assault begin; orders to unit to open up road to surrounded Glosters, 4/1951; question of faulty intelligence about position of Chinese on River Imjin; loss of friend Keith Winterskill.
REEL 2 Continues: his role in battle; receiving order 'everyman for himself'; attempting to withdraw by Centurion tank and capture by Chinese, 25/4/1951; question of accuracy of his memories of battle. Recollections of POW march into North Korea, 1951-1953: sight of huge number of Chinese dead; lack of equipment of Chinese Army; Chinese Army's organisation; how Chinese soldier carried five days supply of food; character of front-line troops; lack of rifles for Chinese soldiers; loss of personal possessions to captors; wild tobacco rolls given to POWs by Chinese soldiers; problems of adapting to Chinese food; dodging US Air Force attack in Hellfire Pass; gradual weakening of POWs; recuperating in schoolroom 'Half Way House' near Pyongyang; strafing of POWs by Sabre jets on march to Yalu River; how Chinese kept POWs away from Korean civilians. Recollections of period as POW at Camp 1 Choksong, North Korea, 1951-1953: conditions in POW camp 'give-in-itis' disease of US POWs.
REEL 3 Continues: huge death rate amongst US POWs, Choksong; impossibility of escape; types of food given to POWs; lice infestations and how these were dealt; life sustaining nature of soya beans for breakfast; camp celebrations; start of indoctrination, 8/1951; nature of Chinese indoctrination; gathering fuel in hills; issue of kapok-padded clothing; his punishment in pit for three days; availability of 'Daily Worker' to POWs; sending of money by POWs to Lynmouth disaster fund; visits by Communist journalists Alan Winnington, Wilfred Burchett, Monica Felton and Jack Gaster; role of camp Peace Committee; results of anti-fly campaign; construction of fly-free latrine and urinal stall; Chinese attempt to exploit racial discrimination among US troops; condition of Turkish POWs, news of signing of cease-fire, 1953.
REEL 4 Continues: Recollections of release from captivity, 1953: removal of POWs from Choksong to Manpo before being sent south for release; sight of destruction caused by United Nations' bombing on journey south; method of releasing POWs to United Nations' forces; welcome of POWs by General West; reaction to contrast in treatment of Gloucestershire Regt POWs and those from other units. Question of long term effects of period as POW. Attitude to having served in Korean War.

ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1945-1975: Korea, 1950-1953

Duration
105

NumberOfParts
4

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Tyas, Albert Edward

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Photos (1950s) in file

RelatedSoundFile
018439S01.mp3
Tyas-prisoners.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
InTheBag

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
EPH 610

ItemName
shackles

ObjectType
misc

IndexPeople
Sinclair, Laurence (Air Vice-Marshal Sir)

IndexPlaces
Oman

IndexUnits
GB.F

FullSummary
The shackles were given to the Museum by Air Vice-Marshal Sir Laurence Sinclair GC DSO, Commander British Forces Arabian Peninsula. They were found in an underground dungeon in a rebel fort in Nizwa, Oman in 1957. According to Sir Laurence Sinclair: 'Ghalib bi Ali egged on by his brother tried to set up Oman as a separate state with the support of a number of the local rulers who lived in massive forts. At the end of the operation I went and looked over the forts before we blew them up. One had huge iron studded doors and just inside were a heap of manacles. These were were fastened to captives and then they were thrown into a series of deep pits in the central courtyard, where they were left to die.' Air Vice-Marshal Sir Laurence Sinclair's George Cross and other awards are on display in the Museum's Victoria Cross and George Cross Exhibition

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
InTheBag

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

Access
On display at IWM London

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
EPH 612

ItemName
stethoscope, British

ObjectType
misc

IndexPeople
Pavillard, Stanley (Dr)

FullSummary
Dr. Stanley Pavillard MBE was born in Las Palmas in the Canary Islands on 19 January 1913. He was educated at Liverpool Institute and Ellesmere College, Shropshire and read medicine at Edinburgh University. He volunteered for war service in 1940 and was appointed to a civialian medical post in Penang, Malaysia. He was transferred to Singapore and was captured on 15 February 1942. He assisted in the aftermath of the Alexandra Hospital massacre of Allied medical staff and patients. In October 1942 he accompanied a battalion of 650 prisoners to the jungle camps of the Burma-Thailand Railway and later was in the base camp hospitals where he improvised medical care though he had minimal medical supplies and equipment. He also sent the British Government the first account of conditions on the Railway. For further information see his book 'Bamboo Doctor' held in the Department of Printed Books and a book of Camp Medical Records from Thailand held in the Department of Documents.

RelatedIWMItems
EPH 611-616

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
InTheBag

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

Access
On display at IWM Duxford

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
EPH 641

ItemName
easter egg, handmade

ObjectType
misc

IndexPeople
Gurdin, H. H. (Private)

IndexUnits
GB.A & 7th Battalion The Royal Fusiliers

FullSummary
Private H. H. Gurdin of the 7th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers was wounded 7th March 1918 and taken prisoner by the Germans. The egg was made by a fellow prisoner.

RelatedIWMItems
EPH 642-646

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
InTheBag

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
The carved wooden egg depicts a painted rural scene.

Access
Access by prior appointment

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
EPH 762

ProductionDate
1919

ItemName
snake, handmade, Turkish

ObjectType
souvenir

IndexPeople
Frost, H J (Private, 23613)

IndexPlaces
<Almura Camp>

IndexUnits
GB.A & Queen's Regiment

IndexHistPeriod
First World War

FullSummary
Made during 1918 by Turkish prisoners of war held in Almura Camp. The 'snake' was brought back to the United Kingdom by (23613) Private H J Frost.

RelatedIWMItems
EPH 763-764

RelatedImageFile
EPH_000762.jpg

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
InTheBag

UncatTransferDate
30/08/2007 05:50:14

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
beaded snake made from green, white and black beads stitched on to, and entirely covering, the flexible body. On the white beaded underside of the body are interspersed black beads forming the inscription: 'TURKISH PRISONERS 1919'.

Access
Access by prior appointment

Theme
Prisoners of War 1914-1918

CoLStatus
Published

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
EPH 945

ItemName
bierstein, German

ObjectType
misc

IndexUnits
DE.O & Waffen SS

IndexHistPeriod
Second World War

FullSummary
The bierstein was reputedly made during the Second World War by a Waffen SS prisoner of war.

RelatedImageFile
EPH_000945.jpg

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
InTheBag

UncatTransferDate
06/03/2008 05:50:17

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
bierstein (H 17cm x W 16cm) made of wooden slats bound with copper hoops. A carved swastika adorns the lid and the name 'K. Gauch' is engraved on the front.

Access
Access by prior appointment

Theme
Prisoners of War, Europe 1939-1945

CoLStatus
Published

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
EPH 1045

ItemName
pullover, handmade

ObjectType
misc

IndexPeople
Eastman, Ronald Hugh Cooper (Lieutenant)

IndexPlaces
Germany & Eichsttt <Oflag VIIA)

IndexUnits
GB.A & 3rd Royal Tank Regiment

FullSummary
Ronald Eastman was taken prisoner after the defence of Calais in May 1940. He was held in a number of prison camps in Germany and Poland for the next five years. Before the war he had been a handcraft teacher and was an expert in lettering. He put these talents to good use as a forger. He informed the Germans that heraldry was his hobby and used this as a cover to make German passes and identity cards.
He made this pullover from scrap wool during his incarceration.

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
InTheBag

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

Access
Access by prior appointment