大象传媒

5775461

CPL. LANE, J. L.

5 Norfolks

P.O.W.

Singapore - Malaya

BOOK I

漏 July 2003

TRAVELOGUE

OCT. 1941 - SCOTLAND

HALIFAX, CANADA 鈥� TRINADAD, WEST INDIES -
CAPETOWN, SOUTH AFRICA, MOMBASA, EAST AFRICA 鈥� MALDAVE ISLANDS - SINGAPORE

MALAYA
YONG PENG - BENUT

THAILAND
BAN PONG 鈥� TAMARKEN 鈥� KANCHANABURI -
TONCHAN 鈥� KANU 鈥� TAMPEI - KINSIO
PRANKASI - TAMAJO - HINDATO -
NONG PLAOUK.

SINGAPORE - PHILLIPINE ISLANDS
FORMOSA.
|
JAPAN
MOGI - OSAKI - KANOSE - YOKOHAMA
|
OKINOWA
PHILLIPINE ISLES
SAN FRANCISCO
NEW YORK
ENGLAND.

(1) 1941

S.S. DUCHESS OF ATHOLL (ATLANTIC CROSSING)

One of the many liners converted into troopships.

Carried about 200 men. Very crowded 鈥� sleeping

in hammocks slung touching each other. Air absolutely

foul. Food good. Canteen 鈥� Beer, chocolate, cigarettes,

etc.. Very little deck space for exercise. Majority of

men seasick. Weather cold and rough. Uneventful

crossing - no sign of enemy subs..

U.S.S. MOUNT VERNON - (CANADA TO SINGAPORE)

Converted American Luxury Liner carried 500 men.

Boarded at Halifax, Canada. Food very good - but no canteen for Troops. Nine men in a single birth cabin.

Cinema show on Sun Deck. "Crossing the line" ceremony.

Concerts - Boxing. Card playing main pastime.

Cigarettes as stake.

(2)

Small native boys will carry a

huge basket of fruit from the

market to the docks (about 2

miles) balanced on their head.

I could hardly lift it. Sixpence

is a large some to them for this

work, but they must not be paid in advance or they will drop the basket and disappear in a maze of native houses.

The fruit itself is unbelievably cheap - a basket containing the following costing about 2/6d

50 oranges.
3 coconuts

3 grape fruits.
1 Pineapple

a hand of Bananas

50 Tangerines.

To compare the prices, a bottle of beer also costs 2/6d.

(3)

CAPETOWN

An ideal climate - a very good place to live.

Wonderful beaches - cinemas - dance halls. Generous and open hearted population. Troops calling there in war time receive a wonderful reception - many of the populace waiting at the docks with cars to take the troops on a tour of the colony, finishing with a slap up meal and a visit to a theatre (or beer garden - whichever you prefer).

Table Mountain - wonderful view.

Native part of town out of bounds to troops owing to disease and danger of being attacked with knife and robbed.

(4)

SINGAPORE
Wartime - all places of interest and amusement were closed.

Rains every day if only for a few minutes. Population mostly chinese. Excellent modern barracks - Changi, Tanglin,

Alexander, etc. Swimming Pools, NAAFI, Cinema, native shops. Cigarettes (Players) approx. 2d for 10. Rickshaw favourite method of travelling. Chinese coolies can pull at a jog trot for hours without seeming to get tired.

Will endeavour to charge ten or more times the fare if you appear to be an innocent and ignorant tourist.

(5)
CENTIPEDE - has not got a hunderd legs. About 9" long - will if on skin and alarmed, dig its many legs in and can
only be removed by an operation.

SCORPION. Grows to about 6" long. Can move at an increditable speed. The tail
contains a terrible sting the pain of which being paralizing makes one writhe in agony.

(6)

(picture)

(7)

WHY STARVE !!

The following have been eaten by me as a P.O.W.
Snails

Seaweed

Snake

Cat

Chrysanthemums

Bamboo shoots Whale Blubber

Grasshoppers Squid

Fish Guts Betopus

Chameleon Clover

To gnaw a bone which has been boiled clean two or three times has been a luxury.

WHAT, NO TOBACCO!
Try smoking either of the following
Roasted tea leaves.

Dried potato tops

I have.

(8)

Took 9 months and 2000 P.O.W. to build.

Steel girders and concrete pillars. River in dry season although fairly rapid, only a few feet deep in middle and able to wade across. In monsoon season transforms into a muddy raging torrent at least
20 feet deep. A temporary wooden bridge was

(9)

erected to enable trains to cross the river while the permanent bridge was being built. This was made of
wood and was twice washed away causing much hard work in rebuilding.

Believe it or not An Austrialian P.O.W. in Singapore was employed on road repairing as a Steam Roller Driver. Every day he called at a Petrol Dump and drew 2 gallons of petrol for this vehicle. He made over $1000 by selling this to the Chinese before it was realized that he should be drawing water and not Petrol.

A Korean guard on his tour of duty spent a while among the prisoners trying to buy watches, rings, etc..
On resuming his patrol he had gone about 100 yards when a P.O W. ran after him shouting "Hoi you've left your rifle behind".

(10)
JUNGLE CANTEEN
A canteen was allowed in all
P.O.W. Camps in Thailand and managed entirely by a P.O.W. officer. Supplies were obtained from Thai merchants who brought them up river by barge. The
further into the jungle the camp the scantier the supplies and the higher the prices. Cigarettes costing 20 cents
at a base camp cost $1飪�50 at a jungle camp. The Railway Bn. canteen had abundant stores and was able to run a black market for native coolies.
The profit from this source was unbelievably high and enabled us to buy medical supplies for

(11)

the numerous sick and also to purchase very much needed foodstuffs to supplement the rice ration.
The coolies were of many different nationalities and as salesman in this back door canteen I had to understand
demands made in Chinese, Malay, Tamil, Dutch, Thai, and Japanese.

Constipated

During our first few weeks as P.O.W. the food supplied by the Japanese was mainly rice and we had
boiled rice three times a day. This diet did not necessitate
many visits to the latrine. One man went to see the doctor because he had not been for 14 days. The doctor
replied "Come and see me in another week's time and I'll give you a laxative then.

(12)

During the year taken to construct the Burma - Thai Railway many thousands of lives were lost through disease
Dysentery, Fever, Beri-Beri and starvation all took a heavy toll, but the quickest and most deadly of all was Cholera.
With the onset of the monsoon rains came this dreaded plague. Thousands of Chinese and Malay coolies who had been living in filth during the dry season
were suddenly stricken down and then the epidemic spread among P.O.W.. Doctors and medical orderlies worked like heroes in an attempt

(13)

to cope with it and isolate all suspects but came too quickly.
During the day I would be working with a fellow P.O.W. when suddenly he would double up with the cramps.
After two or three hours of terrible pain he would be dead.

Men died too quickly to be buried decently and were just thrown into an incinerator and burnt. Every day we went to work as usual but with that fearful though - who would be next?
All along the railway line would be seen dead and dying coolies left there by friends frightened to touch them.
And still we had to work like slaves to build the railway.

(14)

For two months raged this disease before the strenuous efforts of doctors and numerous injections took effect, and the daily number of deaths diminished.
Terribl gaps had been made in our ranks and a horrible imprint of this nightmare left in our minds.

British Commanding officer's Speech to the P.O.W.s on Xmas Day. 1942: " I am convinced this will be our only Christmas as P.O.W. and that next year will see
us safely home. "
1943: " The end is in sight. Next year our terrible hardships as P.O.W. will be only a dim memory. "
1944: " This is our last Xmas in captivity. In Fact the New Year will see us free men once more. We shall soon be home now! "
1945: " ? " " ? " ( I wonder ).

(15)

THAI RLY.

A mountain range separates the Thai jungle from the Burma Jungle and it took months of hardship and toil to tear out a track.
No modern machinery was used - just slave labour.
Picks, crowbars and dynamite were the tools used and P.O.W. and native coolies supplied the manpower.
Instead of machine powered drills to make holes for the dynamite, steel drills had to be driven 3 feet into
solid rock with a 9 lb. hammer. It took two men 8 hrs. of ceaseless toil to make one of these holes and the
incentive to carry on day after day was a beating with an iron bar by a sentry. It was stated that the railway
would be finished even if it meant killing every P.O.W.

(16)

(picture)

(17)

Wonders of the East

(a) A whirlwind will pick anything up in its path and fling it high into the air, not dropping it until the
whirlwind peters out. It is nothing to see a wooden house whirling across the sky.

(b) Blue moon - In Thailand. A Full moon, sky blue in colour.

(c) Ant Army on Move. Seen from a distance a long black path about 4 foot wide and swaying from side to side.

(c) The White Ant. This tiny insect is unbelievably destructive and will eat through almost anything. A wooden or bamboo hut will suddenly collapse having
been eaten through at the base of the uprights. A pair of leather boots left on the ground for a day or two will be eaten completely away.

(18)

(d) Monsoons. Two or three months of ceaseless rain. Sluggish streams suddenly become torrential rivers,
and mountain paths raging streams.

(e) Typhoon - China Seas. One moment a calm sea and a blue sky - the next a terrific wind which whips the
sea into mountainous waves, and a blinding rain.

(f) Manual Labour. A Chinese child of about 5 yrs. of age can carry
two 4 - gallon cans of swill slung across his shoulders on a pole. A Japanese woman will carry for an unlimited
distance as much wood as can be roped to her back. This quantity is such as to make her practically invisible. Huge baulks of timber for bridge building in
Thailand were either drugged along by an elephant or carried by 10 P.O.Ws.

(19)

Customs of the East.

(1) Funerals

Nearly all Japanese are cremated on dying and their ashes buried in a little wooden casks.
A monument is erected and food as well as flowers is placed at the base.

The chinese funeral ceremony is one of joy and is more like an English wedding.

In Thailand a sum of money is buried with the dead person - a cent for each year of age.

Rain Dance.

In Thailand when rain is overdue a ceromony lasting 3 or 4 days without a stop is practised. Drums are beaten and instruments played incessantly and natives in weird masks prance about until exhausted.

(20)

POSTAL SERVICE

Letters posted in England in July 1942 reached me as P.O.W. in Thailand in May 1944.
The last letter received up to July 1945 was dated January 1943. (2陆 years with no news of home)
In 3陆 years as P.O.W. I have received a total of 20 letters from mother and wife together.

(21)

Endurance

(1) At the commencement of the construction of the Thai - Burma Rly a few hundred P.O.W. had to trek through
the jungle following an almost invisible track to reach the
part of the jungle they had to clear. The distance covered was about 100 miles and took 8 days. Full kit had to be
carried and at times the track became a mere swamp into which one sank knee deep. The only food eaten was plain
boiled rice. A few men died on the way and others too weak to go further were left behind. On arriving at their
destination 50% of the men were ready too die of exhaustion, but a camp had to built and the following day
work amounting to slave labour commenced on building the track. Needless to say a large proportion of the men did not live to see it finished.

(22)

Working Camps in Thailand

On arriving in Thailand we were shown a piece of virgin jungle and told to build a camp, having to sleep in
the open until completed.
The materials used were bamboo and atap for roofing.
The bamboo had to be cut in the jungle, the atap being the
only material which had to be obtained from a village. No nails were used in construction, joints being tied together
with a fibre made from strips of the bark of a tree. A camp
to hold 1,000 men took less than a week to build.

(23)

CURE for INSOMNIA.
We had finished our section of the Thai - Burma Rly. and we were given orders to move further up Country to
help with another section.
The monsoons had started and heavy rain fell unceasingly. With our bedding and belongings strapped to
our backs and a ball of rice for haversack ration we started
on our 10 mile trek along a jungle track. Most of the way
we were knee deep in mud and by the time we reached Kanu we were exhausted and famished. Imagine our dismay
when we found only a few tents already overcrowded and no shelter or food for us.
With one accord we dropped our kits in the mire, flung
ourselves onto the muddy ground and with the rain beating heavily upon us, fell sound asleep not to awake for another
8 hours, half submerged in puddles. Our breakfast was rice and salt.

(24)

ENGINEERIG FEAT.
One of the wonders of the Thai - Burma Rly. was the way in which wooden bridges of incredible height and
length were erected.
The most remarkable was the Arrow Hill Bridge which was literally stuck on the side of the mountain of
about 陆 mile in length and over

(25)

200ft. high it took only 5 weeks to complete.
All timber used was cut locally and dragged to the site by elephants. Here it was manhandled into position
by P.O.W. and native coolies.
Due to its precarious appearance, (everyone said it was impossible for an engine to cross without its collapsing), the P.O.W. in the first trucks over had a very anxious 5 minutes
and a sigh of relief went up when the other side was reached.
Hundreds of these bridges were flung up, speed and not safety being the motto, but while many of them swayed
from side to side or sagged in the middle I do not remember hearing of one that collapsed.
After the completion of the Rly. the most dangerous looking of these bridges were transformed

(26)

into earth embankment. Thousands of coolies built these up looking exactly like ants building an Ant hill as they went backwards and forwards with their baskets of earth.

Dental Treatment ?

Medical supplies and hospital facilities were very bad in Thailand and Dental equipment was practically nil.
I had a bad double tooth and at last visited the Dutch Dentist.

I sat in a home made wooden chair. An orderly came silently behind me and put his hands firmly on my shoulders. 鈥淥pen your mouth and let me see the trouble鈥�, said the Dentist. 鈥淵es, I see,鈥� he said picking up a pair of pincers, 鈥渋t is very decayed and will have to come out鈥�.

I looked at him a little startled as he positioned himself, and I felt the orderly's

(27)

grip tighten on my shoulders. A though suddenly struck me and the Dentist's next words conformed my fears. 鈥淵ou know I have no cocaine鈥� he said, 鈥渟o this will hurt a little鈥�.

鈥淥h! 鈥� I replied opening my mouth wide in this exclamation. The next moment the pincers were in my mouth gripping the bad toothe. My head went backwards and forwards and from side to side with the motion of the Dentist's wrist. I tried to rise in the chair but was held too firmly; I tried to cry out but could only gurgle.

My neck was stretching with the pull of the pincers when suddenly the dentist exclaimed 鈥渋t's out!鈥� I rinsed my mouth out and with a sickly grin at the orderly
staggered into the open air. Five minutes had passed and I thought it had been an hour.

(28)

(PICTURE)

(29)

A CRUISE FROM SINGAPORE TO JAPAN (June 1944)

The Japanese were transferring P.O.W.s from Thailand to Japan, and I was one of a party of 450 who boarded a Japanese cargo boat at Singapore. We were packed on to the fore deck and with a little manoeuvering
all of us managed to squeeze a place to sit down. A compartment was allotted us under the Bridge in which 100 men lying side by side could squeeze. In the event of air or submarine attack all of us had to get in. We immediately + aptly called this compartment the 鈥淪weat Box鈥�.

The first part of voyage as far as FORMOSA was uneventful except for one or two submarine scares.

The next stage however saw the beginning of a glimpse of Hell.

On entering the China Seas rough weather was encountered and it rained continously for days.

(30)

With no place to put our kit it was soon soaked through and we ourselves spent many a night sleeping on the hatches with the rain beating on to us.

When we were nearing Formosa the Captain of the ship informed us that there was a Typhoon ahead and that every man on deck must rope or tie himself someway to the
hatches or other part of the deck. We soon saw the reason for this as no sooner did this Typhoon hit us than the waves washed completely over the deck. We tried to feed
during lulls in the storm but often the rice containers were swamped by a wave and the

(31)

contents spoiled. Two wooden latrines lashed to the sides of the ship received heavy poundings and eventually one of these broke lose and started careering up and down the deck. Before it shattered to pieces one
P.O.W. was jammed against the hatch and his leg smashed. It was a great relief when we at last ran out of this Typhoon and reached Formosa.

On leaving this island there began a period of terror from submarine attacks. In the dead of night shells would whistle in all directions and depth charges
exploded with a terrific roar. The next morning there would be at least one ship less in the convoy. In the last raid before reaching Japan the

(32)

vessel steaming alongside us in the convoy was hit and it was feared many of the P.O.W. on board perished by the hands of their countrymen. (An incidence of the
freakishness of war).

We eventually landed at Mogi.
THE HUNT.

It was night. All was quiet in our P.O.W. Barracks.

Suddenly a scuffle and a sound of blows. Voices could then be heard raised in excitement, joined in by a violent mewing of a cat. This suddenly became an unearthly
shriek,- then silence.
Come the dawn and the explanation of these noises in the night. Two Americans were boiling up a cat ready
to eat.

(33)

Forgotten Men.

On August 1st 1945 some P.O.W. received letters from home in which the following statements were made:-

(1) American P.O.W. released in Phillipines now home.

(2) American Troops going home on Furlough from Phillipines.

(3) British troops from Middle East now home and Demobilized.
What about the war with Japan? Have they forgotten in England that there is one? If so, what about us P.O.W.? How much longer are we to be left to suffer. Our rations are now down from 750 grammes to 510 grammes i.e. we are now feeding twice a day compared with three times a month ago.
If we have to spend another winter here - God Help Us!

(34)

Sometimes even the truest of Christians begin to doubt the mercy of God.

When we see the terrible ravages of War, the slaughter of our friends, and the mangling of women and children, we say to ourselves "Why does He allow

(35)

it? Is there a GOD? Our faith is shaken.

But it is when we actually suffer ourselves that we repent for our doubts and pray for Help. It is then we realize that He has a reason for everything. He alone can
save us and we gain comfort from Prayer. 鈥淗elp us Oh Lord!鈥� is our cry. 鈥淗elp us in this hour of need鈥�.

FAITH?

The doctors thought I was dying; I thought so too.

I was in a hospital tent in a jungle camp in Thailand. I had an internal complaint and was passing blood in my urine. There were practically no medical supplies to be had and all the doctors could do was to give me continuous injections of morphia

(36)

To ease the terrible pains. I could eat practically nothing and grew weaker and weaker until I could hardly move. The camp Padr茅 came to visit me each day, but at first I would say there is no God, and all
I wanted to do was die quickly. After about 10 days when I thought my time had come, I suddenly thought of my Wife waiting for me to return home and of my Mother praying for my safety. I realized then that I wanted to live. And I knew that only God could save me. I prayed. 鈥淗elp me Oh Lord鈥� was my cry, and I suddenly found strength. 鈥淚 WILL live鈥�, 鈥淚 WILL live鈥�, I
kept repeating to myself. Miraculously without
medicines my urine became clear and I started along the slow Road to recovery. My prayer had been answered.

(37)

SINGAPORE TO BAN PONG (THAILAND) BY RAIL.

A few months after being taken P.O.W. at Singpore we were sent over 1000 miles by rail up Malaya to work on the construction of the Thai-Burma Railway.

30 men were packed into one steel box wagon which meant that each man could sit down provided he kept his knees tucked well under his chin. The heat was terrific and during the daytime the sides of the waggons got red hot making it almost impossible to breathe inside.

Four days the journey took and they were four days of hell.

(38)

We were not allowed to get out of the waggon except for a few minutes twice a day to collect a very meagre ration of rice and vegetable water. There were no sanitary
arrangements and one can imagine the awkwardness of hanging out of the door of a box waggon.

The only relief to the monotony and privations of the journey was when we stopped at a station. Here much amusement was afforded by the attempts of natives to dodge our guards and either sell us fruit or
buy our clothing, rings, watches or other such articles in our possession.

When we eventually reached the end of the journey it must have been a horrible sight to see the train disgorge hundreds of unwashed, unshaven, filthy and unkempt men.

(39)

ARE WE SOFT?

When I think of some of the statements made by loving parents in England I cannot now help being cynically amused. Such statements as --------

鈥淒on't go out in the rain without a hat on鈥�

鈥淏e careful you do not get your feet wet.鈥�

were made purporting if neglected to lead to certain illness.

During the Monsoon Period in Thailand it rained continuously for three months. At this time we were working on a section of the Thai - Burma Railway laying the track, and 鈥淪peed at all costs鈥� was the order of
the day.

We had no footware and the only article of clothing were a piece of cloth round the waist and perhaps a home-made hat.

(40)

The work site was about 15 miles from our camp and to get there we arose at 4 a.m. and rode there in open railway trucks. Normally we would return at 8 p.m.
the same evening.

The blinding rain would beat continuously on our bodies as we were driven and bullied into heartbreaking work.

At midday we would wait for our rice to come out to us by train but instead news would come over the field
telephone that the rains had caused an earth cutting to collapse and we could expect no relief until it had been
cleared, nor could we get any food.
Day became night and hungry tired and miserably wet we would be forced to toil on.
鈥淭he railway must go through if

(41)

it means the death of every P.O.W.鈥� was the maxim laid down by an official. Actually about 30,000 did die before the line eventually was completed.
The night broke into another day and by now we were working mechanically almost unconsciously. The short rest periods of about ten minutes had to become
more frequent and many men had to be awakened to recommence work.
It was actually 4 o' clock in the afternoon before our relief actually arrived and we started on our return
journey after 36 hrs of hard work in unabating torrential rain. There were our past two days meals waiting for us
at camp but most of these were sour and uneatable.
We were too tired anyway to worry about food and after a few mouthfuls soon fell sound asleep.
Tomorrow was another day.

(42)

Red Cross Comforts.

The following is what we have received since taken
P.O.W..

September 1942 Singapore Few odds
+ ends from South africa
May 1944 Thailand 鈪泃h Parcel (about
1 tin of meat) American
November 1944 Japan 1 Parcel

December 1944 Japan 1 Parcel

March 1945 Japan 1 Parcel

May 1945 Japan 陆m Parcel
American

Up to the time of writing, i.e. August 1945, we have received an average 1 parcel a year; less what the Japs took.

鈥淟OSE UGLY FAT鈥� says the magazine advertisement.

my weight 1942 10st. 3lb.
1943 9st. 4lb.
1944 8st. 1lb.
1945 6st. 12lb.
DIET: RICE BUST 3 TIMES A DAY.

(43)

New Year Celebrations

No matter what the circumstances, the Scots certainly make sure of a New Year celebration.

January 1st 1943 saw us at Tamarkam P.O.W. camp

in Thailand. Some two or three hundred Gordons and Argylles celebrated this day in no uncertain fashion.

Some bottles of a fiery mixture which was made by the natives in a nearby village and called whisky was smuggled into camp, and such was its nature that in no time many men were either insensible or in the state of mind that they did not care what they did.

Led by a piper blowing lustily on his wailing instrument

(44)

a long procession formed and marched singing and shouting through the camp. Before the bewildered guards could gather their wits the column had passed through the Japanese quarters into the Office Building. Here a
befuddled Scots officer at the head of the procession with much ceremony wished the Camp Commandant a Happy New Year and kissed him resoundedly on the cheek.

By an amazing stroke of luck the incidence was passed off as a joke and the men dispersed to bed.

All was not quiet for long though, for suddenly the stillness was broken by the crack of a rifle coupled with the loud shouting of a guard.

(45)

It appeared that some men were chasing the sentries but had faded into the night without being identified.

In consequence of this the whole camp was stood to attention on the parade ground until such time as the culprits came forward.

We stood like this for 8 hours before three men came forwarded to be punished in typical Japanese fashion.
Hiku System.

In Kanose, Japan, a village of about 4000 inhabitants, there are no shops and everything has to be obtained
from one central store.

(46)

Supplies of any nature from foodstuffs to clothing are very scarce and everything is issued on a ration basis, the cost of which in the case of workmen is deducted from their wages at the factory.

Only the most necessary articles are available and rice, beans, vegetables, fish and various seasonings are practically the only foods.

Meat, Sugar, milk, butter, Jam, confectionery of any nature, and eggs, or other foods common to the English housewife are unheard of.
Whale blubber in very limited quantities substitutes for meat, though once or twice a year a horse is killed
and rationed out between the whole village.

(47)

CRIME and PUNISHMENT

30 men who had formed the congregation at a Church Service were severely beaten by guards for singing "God Save the King" at the end of the service.

A P.O.W. was put on half rations for being overheard saying he was hungry.

Soon after being taken P.O.W. at Singapore every man was required to sign a form promising not to attempt escape. On refusing to sign all P.O.W.'s numbering up to
many thousands were herded into a small compound allowing about 1陆 feet of space per man. Practically no food was given and sick and wounded were treated the same. After a few days the senior British Officer present
decided that

(48)

because of the suffering of the sick and the many deaths which would soon occur it was best to sign stating that owing to the circumstances the pledge meant nothing at all.

Many P.O.W. in Thailand were badly beaten for being unfit for work.

A P.O.W. stole a handful of Potatoes, in consequence of which a whole camp of 300 men were put on half rations for 7 days.

Two Officers and six men attempted to escape in Thailand. After 1 month they were recaptured and bayonetted.

(a) For striking a sentry, a British Officer was put in the camp jail with practically no food for one month and beaten up every day.

(b) Another British Officer who committed the same offence was told not to do it again.

(49)

IMPORTANT DATES

June 1944 Germany Invaded

June 1945 Germany Surrendered

August 8 1945 Russia and Japan at War

August 15 1945 Japan Surrendered "?"

CARBIDE WORKERS - JAPAN

After 2 years of hardships, toil and slavery in many Tropical Countries as P.O.W., after continuous travel and never knowing whether the morrow would see us alive, our
our life as P.O.W. in Japan became a drudgery.

We were sent to work stoking electric Furnaces in a Carbide Factory. The heat was terrific and the work very heavy. Food was rationed and amusements of any kind unheard of.

The actual Factory was in

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a very delapidated condition and at the present time, a year after we first arrived, most of the furnaces had either blown up or were out of action owing to lack
of equipment. We were very lucky actually to have only 3 men killed by a vat of white hot carbide spilling over them.

Soup was practically unknown, tabacco scarce, and we had no boots, shoes or socks.

We wore home made rag socks and strapped a piece of wood to the soles of our feet for footwear.

The climate goes from one extreme to another. A short but very hot summer is followed by a long winter of almost artic severity. Snow to a depth of practically 10 feet covers

(51)

the factory to make it invisible from the air and lasts from November to April. During this time there is no communication with the world outside the valley. Our clothing was inadequate for this terrible cold, and as we
had no fires many men fell sick with pneumonia. Luckily they all recovered with the aid of Red Cross Milk.

The Days Menu in Japan

Breakfast: A small bowl of rice.
Boiled Seaweed. Water

Tiffin: A small bowl of rice
A piece of fish. Water

Tea: A small bowl of rice
Potatoe and onion soup.
Water (If we have any
potatoes or onions)

(52)

The Day has Arrived (or has it)August 15th 1945 - a day of excitement.
In the morning work parties go down to the factory as usual. At midday guards rush out of camp and fetch all these men back. No reason is given. Rumours run wild.
Japan has surrendered they say. Excited Groups of men get together.
Is it true, they they say. After nearly four years of misery, hunger and slavery are we free at last. It seems almost unbelievable but everything points to the fact that we shall soon be going home.
The day ends and we prepare for bed. No definite news has been given but everyone is convinced it is all over.
It is impossible to describe

(53)

our feelings, but everyone is happy and we feel like singing with joy.
Free! Free! the word creates turmoil in our heads.
For the next few days or weeks the suspense will be almost unbearable.
I thank God I am alive and well.
Good food, clean clothes, soap and Home! The prisoners dream come true.

STRANGER THAN FICTION Aug.19th 1945

Five days ago we knew that the Japs had surrendered.
But we, in our camp tucked away in a valley miles from anywhere, are still virtually prisoners. The Japs guards are still armed and although they keep well away from us they still tell us what to do. We have heard no

(54)

news and have yet had no contact with our own armed forces which should now be occupying Japan (We hope).
Food is very short here and we are only getting a little rice, beans and potatoes, with hot water to drink.
We cannot leave the camp and with nothing to occupy our minds we can only sit and wait, getting more fed up each day.
We are free, we know and yet we are still prisoners.
It is a remarkable situation to be in.
Patience is a virtue but after nearly four years of slavery it is very trying to know that freedom and real food is just out of our reach. Roll on the next few days. I am occupying my mind by reading a five year old American newspaper for the third time.

-----------------
We have a gramophone but only one record known as "Boom". Someone says, "shall we have the gramopphone on?" "Yes" we say. "What do you want to hear, boys?" "BOOM" we all say and "BOOM" is played for the 10,000th time.

(55)
Japanese Punishments (Tortures)

1) Holding a ball of ice in the hand for two hours.

2) Holding an iron bar above the head for five or six hours without moving.

3) Standing to attention in the tropical sun without a hat on all day, and without food or water.

4) Being beaten into unconsciousness with the end of a rifle butt.

5) Having no food for 3 days and only one meal of rice and salt a day for the next 30 days.

6) If wounded, striking the wound with a stick or kicking it until the victim fainted.

7) Holding up Red Cross Comforts which they knew the starved P.O.W. were crazy to get hold of, i.e. in fact dangling them in front of us just out of our reach.

(56)
CAMP OF DEATH

While marching up country to go to another section of the Thai Burma Rly., we passed a camp of P.O.W's who to look at were merely human skeletons. It is impossible
to describe the horrible condition of these men but most of them were so weak from starvation and ill treatment that they could hardly move.
Their spirits were so broken and morale so low that death was the only thing they welcomed. The camp originally consisted of 500 men but at present it had 250 left alive.
Cholera, Dysentry and Beri Beri were claiming 5 or more victims each day and an officer in the camp stated that at the prevailing death rate every man in the place would be
dead within two months AND HE PUNCTUATED THIS STATEMENT WITH THE REMARK 鈥淭HANK HEAVEN FOR A HAPPY RELEASE鈥�.
It appeared that of the 250 survivors only about 50 were capable of the

(57)

lightest form of work but the Japanese demanded so many of them to go out to work that men who could not walk had to be carried or assisted to the site by those who could. Their work was drilling holes 3 feet deep into the mountain side and the tools were a hammer and a long chisel. It was a pitiful sight to see very sick men attempting
to lift these hammers, only to be beaten and kicked if their strenght should fail them. It is almost unbelievable to think that white men could be treated in this barbarous fashion in the middle of the 20th Century.
The food these men received was a small bowl of rice in the morning,- a small bowl of rice with a very tiny piece of dried fish in the afternoon, and again a small bowl of rice in the evening.
Most of them were too weak and exhausted to worry about personal

(58)

cleanliness and were in a filthy condition. And people back home in England think that now we are prisoners we are out of all the dangers of War.
We are at least safe and alive and must only have patience until the war ends, they say.
War is a picnic, a holiday compared with being a P.O.W. of the Japanese. Let me get back into action
any day.

THE VICTORS.

When the Japanese captured Singapore the first thing they did to ensure that the Chinese population caused no trouble was to execute a large number of them and hang the heads in small cages at the junction of various roads just as a warning.

(59)

B.B.C. News

Every so often in the various P.O.W. camps the Japanese would spring surprise searches and go through
the camps with a toothe comb (THEY THOUGH), but the British were much too wily for them and many men still
had revolvers, grenades, compasses, etc., even 2 years after capitulation.
The most dangerous thing to have and most difficult to hide and maintain was a wireless set.
On Singapore Island where there were big P.O.W. camps sets were numerous and the news regular.
But in Thailand where most camps were small affairs consisting of a few bamboo huts and located way into the jungle, wireless sets were very scarce and news hard to dissect from rumours.
However, at a Base Camp a number of officers managed to keep a set going and news was passed

(60)

right the way up Country, mainly by P.O.W. drivers of lorries carrying food to the varies camps.
Unfortunately, these Officers must have been over-confident for the Set was discovered by the Japanese and
the consequences of a dreadful nature.
Eyewitnesses tell of terrible tortures and punishment to many officers even if only suspected. The moans and cries of these beaten and mutilated men were so horrible to hear
that men sleeping in nearby huts had to move away so that at night they could not hear them.

Another case though was of a more pleasant nature. This was in Japan itself. The Japanese staff had a small Wireless Set to pick up
the local propaganda. It happened to need repairing one day and as one of the P.O.W'.s in camp was a

(61)

Wireless Technician in the RAF. He was told to repair it. This he did! But before returning it, with the aid of a few spare parts already in his possession, he fixed the set
so that he could pick up New Delhi Station in India and in the middle of the night listened to the news.
Such was this P.O.W'.s Knowledge of Wireless though that that he could tamper with the set so that after about a week it would break down and be returned to him by the Japanese for further repair.
This went on for many months without the Japanese realizing that they were furnishing us with regular news of the War situation, from the British Propaganda point of view. Unfortunately, they eventually replaced this set with a new one which up to yet has not needed repairing.

(62)

BAD NEWS!

August 20th 1945. After five days of suspence our Officers at last asked for the Camp Commander to explain our situation and his first words came as a terrific blow.
鈥淭he War is NOT over鈥� he said. We were stunned. Our hearts dropped. It is impossible to to describe our terribly disappointed feelings.
Our hopes had been so buoyed up; we were just waiting any moment to be taken home; We could already
imagine ourselves eating real food.
And now this awful crushing blow. Misery is written on every mans face and once again we say to ourselves - 鈥淗ow long, O Lord: How long?鈥�.
We see just one ray of hope. There must be an Armistice on at least, and we can only presume that
there is a hitch over the terms.
We must keep our heads now more

(63)

than ever before. It is one of the most bitter moments of our P.O.W. life.
Pray God that things are not so bad as we are led to think.
Maybe the Japanese are just trying to keep us quiet until our own troops arrive.
Patience - Patience -, PATIENCE!
AN ATTEMPT TO RAISE GLOOMY SPIRITS
Aug. 20, 1945
If the War is not over - - - -
1) Why are we not working at the factory.

2) Why were we suddenly issued with more soap than we received in the whole of last year.

3) Why was all canteen stock taken back to the Village Store.

4) Why were our leather boots issued to us suddenly.

5) Why did the Japanese Camp Commander allow us to destroy

(64)

a lot of our kit.

6) Why didn鈥檛 the Japanese Staff raise hell when we passed them without saluting.

7) Why were we suddenly given a gramophone and more records.

8) Why have there been no air raids over Japan this last week.

Japanese Camp Commander鈥檚 Speech to P.O.W. Kanose Camp.

August 21st 1945

鈥淭he present situation is that an Armistice has been declared and terms are being discussed but no agreement has yet been reached. Therefore it is still possible that
fighting may recommence at any time.
We are still Prisoners and will be treated according to the Geneva Convention.

(65)

Factory work will cease but we must work on gardening and wood collecting.
We must obey all Japanese orders and are liable to punishment for breaking any regulations.
Food is scarce and we must expect short rations to continue.
If an Armistice is signed and agreed upon we will still be in this country for four or five months from the date of signature.
Thirty Armed Japanese troops will be billetted in the camp to maintain order.鈥�
Therefore the main question at the moment is - Is it to be War or Peace?
Whatever the answer we are still to be prisoners for a few

(66)

months longer! We must patiently await developments and
endeavour to keep ourselves fit and well for our return home!

Please God let it be soon!

Armed Guard take over.

August 22nd 1945 30 Japanese Soldiers arrived in camp this morning and took over from the civilian guards who went back to work in the factory.

THAT UNBREAKABLE SPIRIT!

We had been P.O.W. for 18 months and at this period were suffering and dying by the hundred due to the mad efforts of the Japanese to force a railway throug Thailand into Burma.
We were lining up outside our camp

(67)

ready to go to work and Major Lees, a fiery Scots Officer of the Gordon Highlanders was to accompany us.
We were a very ragged and illkemp bunch - most men just wore a loin cloth, none had footwear, and only a few had hats made out of old rags. After months of exposure to
the tropical sun, our skins were very brown, some almost black, and it is doubtful whether any European would have recognized us as white men.
As we lined up, gangs of coolies with whom we laboured at the work site, began to straggle by, some going in front of us, some just breaking through the ranks.
Suddenly there was a bellow and a loud roar of indignation. Major Lees brandishing a bamboo stick and
blocking the path of these natives was forcing them to walk round the rear of our party.

(68)

鈥淗ow dare you walk in front of British Troops you black devils,鈥� he was bellowing. 鈥淕o round the back of them as you did before in Singapore and Malaya.鈥�
And such was the force of his will that not one dare do
otherwise.

NOTE

This same Officer Major Lees, received much manhandling from Japanese guards and Engineers for endeavouring to improve the conditions of P.O.W.
Many times he was struck down in an effort to prevent a P.O.W. from being beaten up.
Once he received a severe beating for allowing 鈥淕od Save The King鈥� to be sung after a Church Service.
But he always had a cheery word for the men, and it is doubtful whether during those almost unbearable
months in Thailand whether any other officer held the respect of the men that he did.

THE MOST ANXIOUS DAYS
OF MY LIFE

Almost Starving - no Tobacco - no Amusements.
1945

August 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26

(Every day a week)

26th August.

A slight Revelation. We are handed over to our own officers and told we can expect to be on our way
home within a month.

END OF BOOK I

5775461

CPL. LANE, J. L.

5 Norfolks

P.O.W.

Japan

BOOK II

漏 August 2003

(1)

August 23rd 1945

Today is the 8th day since the War appeared to be over and I am beginning to think that things are not running as smoothly as we had hoped.
Food gets scarcer each day and we shall soon be on the verge of starvation.
Can it be that there really is a possibility of fighting being resumed. There is a definite element of doubt.
The uncertainty and suspense is terrible and I can now quite imagine the feeling of a man in the death cell awaiting the hangman's noose.
With no work to do and no books or amusement to occupy our minds, our only thoughts are food and what is to happen to us.
Oh for some real news of the situation and not just rumours and suppositions.

(2)

Aug 23rd (Contd)

Today we were issued with various items of clothing.
Also on the roof of our barracks the letters P.O.W. have today been painted in huge characters. It appears as if someone is expected to inspect the camp shortly and hurried arrangements are being made to conform to the Geneva Convention for treatment of P.O.W. after nearly
4 years of War.

Aug 24th 1945

Food situation very serious. Today 10 men have gone out to see what they can steal. All they could get was a few onions.
The latest rumour is that American planes are going to drop us food by parachute. What a joke, we could almost laugh.
O God! We are so miserable. The water and electricity supplies have now been cut of in camp.

(3)

Lack of food is making us so weak we can only just lay and mope.
If we only had something to smoke or something to read; anything to keep our minds occupied; anything to stop the thoughts drumming in our brain - the continuous wondering as to how long they are going to starve us; as to what our Governments are doing; as to why they are letting the Japanese treat us like this.
There is no worse form of torture than hunger. To lay down with legs like jelly, a human skeleton with the pains of hunger gnawing at our stomachs, craving for that
handful of rice which will be our next meal in a few hours time. We hear the local Japs are planning to massacre us.
Just let them try it. We are ready.

(4)

CENSORED

What are a few thousand prisoners anyway, when a few words from these leaders of nations can cause the deaths of millions of men, women, and children.
If a dry mouldy crust of bread was thrown in our

(5)

barrack room at this moment many injuries would be sustained in the mad rush for it.
A cigarette end would cause the same scramble.
I am afraid my morale is very low today and my thoughts are taking a miserable and bitter course. Hunger will break the spirits of any man.
God is my saviour. In Him I trust. He will not allow me to suffer more than is necessary. Help us O Lord! Let our return home be soon, very soon.

August 25th 1945

No news. Just lying around waiting for something to happen. Hungry and miserable. I had been looking forward to Xmas at Home, but the chances seem to grow less and
less.

(6)

WANTED

1 Packet of tobacco Value 60 cts (about 9d)

Prospective purchaser willing to give either of the following:-
2 brand new American Army Greatcoats.
or
3 Rations of Chow
or
1 Pair of British Army Boots (New)

Apply American Billet.

Aug 26th 1945

Rations slightly better today. Water and Electricity supply restored. No News. Roll on a long time.

(7)

LATE SPECIAL (Evening August 26th)

Japanese Camp Commander this evening informs our Officers that he is no longer responsible for us as regards discipline. In other words we now come under command of our own Officers and 鈥渁re subject to British Army regulations.鈥�
He now states that we should be on our way home within a month. Very cheering news.
The only black outlook though is that he cannot get us more food especially, as he informs us the civillian rations had been cut again.
Also we still have no tobacco or amusements.
Still, a month or less should not be hard to endure, especially after the way we suffered during the last 3陆 years.

(8)

(picture)

(9)

Aug. 27th 1945x A quiet day. Just waiting, patiently waiting. A pleasant surprise marks this day however. Some
Tobacco arrives in Camp. That is equally as good as an increase in the rice ration.

LATE NEWS SPECIAL (Stromg Rumour)

Moving the day after tomorrow. We're on our way home. Hip! Hip! Hooray!

CORRECTION!!!!

Contrdiction now. We will not be moving for about a week or more says Japanese Camp Commander.
Hells Bells! Another damper to our raised spirits.
Can you wonder why we get so miserable when we keep hearing so many contradictory statements.
I'm browned off again.

(10)

(picture)

(11)

Aug 28th 1945

The latest talk now is that on Sept. 2nd the armistice will be concluded and we can expect to move soon after that day.
What is our position now? Everything points to our being free men, but in my opinion we are being treated like men of a defected nation rather than a victorious one.
I am convinced that the Japanese Camp Commander here is deliberately taking us for a ride, hoodwinking us so as to prevent our demanding better treatment instead
of timidly asking him if conditions couldn't be improved, as we are doing at present.
Every time our officers mention the acute shortage of
food and tobacco, and lack of any

(12)

form of recreation he has some excuse. - Severe rationing and our outlandish position is his excuse. Yet we are only about 30 mile from the big port of Nagata and American
troops are reported as being there.
His pet story to keep us quiet is that Yank planes are
dropping supplies to see P.O.W. camps and that we have been missed because of the difficulty of picking out this
valley from the air. Yet we are right alongside a river and the railway line runs right through the village. With these guiding factors and a map reference as to our exact
location I should have thought a plane would have a comparatively easy task to spot the factory. No! it
makes one

(13)

wonder whether a clever and successful attempt is being made to keep us quiet and prevent us making a stand to receive the treatment to which we are entitled.
If the armistice is completed in 4 days, time then we certainly should not let ourselves remain satisfied with the present starvation diet which the Jap officer certainly
intends to maintain until we are due to go home.
The latest rumour is more within a fortnight yet it
might be a month or more. We have no definite news.
So what about more food and a regular supply of tobacco.
I am sure the American section of this camp are soon going to demand action.

(14)

LATEST JOKE (Rumour only)

The saying goes now that we shall be shipped home in the same way as merchandise and will be
invoiced as so many bundles of rags and bones.

Aug. 28th 1945 (Late Evening)

Further speech by Japanese Officer, the main points of which were:-

1/ Armistice will be completed on Sept. 2nd.

2/ If we have any grievances against the camp staff or guards over previous ill treatment and are thinking of getting our own back, he the camp Commander accepts full responsibility for what insults they have accorded us in the past and desires us to blame him only and if we wish to obtain revenge, to take it out of him.

3/ He stressed the fact that Japan

(15)

entered the war for self preservation and now only desires to build up a peaceful future.

4/ Stated that it would be necessary to keep Japan a strong nation to act as a buffer state between Russia and
Britain and America.

5/ He also stressed the fact that the Emperor of Japan surrendered to the allies.
It is pointed out that the Emperor is looked upon as a god by the Japanese people and is in fact their religion. His word is absolutely obeyed to the letter and
if ordered by him to kill themselves the Japanese people would immediately do so.

6/ Finished up with many honeymoon phrases as to our quick return home. That we shall keep

(16)

fit and well for the rest of our short stay in Japan. That he will do his best to look after our comfort and welfare; and that when we eventually reach England our aims will
be to build a peaceful world. The yellow hippocritical bastard!!! I wonder how much longer we let him live.

Aug. 29th 1945x

Reported that the first American Delegates to arrive in Japan landed by plane yesterday. (150). Stated to be advance force to arrange for billeting and feeding of approaching allied occupational forces. Gen. Mc Arthur expected to land in two days time for signing of peace terms on a ship in Tokyo Bay.

(17)

Aug 30th 1945

Information received that a P.O.W. camp at Nagato (30 miles from here) is receiving daily supplies of food and cigarettes by plane. This is very disappointing news to us who are very short of tobacco and are being severely rationed with food to think that we are being missed. Food
and comfort so near yet so far..

Believe it or Not.
I have not:-
1/ Heard a wireless set for 3陆 years.

2/ Seen a motor car for 1陆 years.

3/ Eaten bread for 3 years.

4/ Worn boots or shoes for 3 years.

5/ Seen a white woman for 4 years.

6/ Received a letter from home for
2陆 years.

7/ Seen a cinema show for 4 years -

LUCKY JIM!! I am still alive after

(18)

1/ Being bombed, shelled and machine
gunned in Malaya and Singapore.

2/ Having two severe attacks of
Dysentry, a bad dose of Beri
Beri, thirty or forty attacks of
Malaria, and an attack of Yellow
Jaundice.

3/ Being in a camp where nine or
ten men were dying every day of
Cholera.

4/ Running the gauntlet of continuous
submarine attacks from Singapore
to Japan.

5/ Clinging to the hatch on the
open deck of a cargo boat during
a typhoon in the China Seas.

6/ Living on practically plain rice
busb for 3陆 years.

7/ Working at a rate which appeared
almost beyond Human

(19)

endurance in fierce heat and blinding monsoon rains, crashing a railway truck through the jungle of Thailand,
labouring for sometims 36 hours with hardly a break, and eating at irregular intervals food which would not be given to pigs in England.

8/ Being trapped on the side of a
mountain where dynamite was
exploding all around and the air
full of flying rocks and splinters.

9/ Coming face to face with a 10
foot snake in a tent, the
snake beating a hasty retreat.

10/ Being pronounced dead and earmarked
to be thrown on the bonfire when
working party returned.
Fortunately someone decided I
was still alive.

(20)

Aug 31st 1945

On asking Japanese Camp Commander to deliver a letter to Tokyo explaining our serious shortage of food captain James was informed that our rations would be increased from 570 grammes to 705 grammes commencing today. Cheerful news. More tobacco issued today concert
in evening. Dutch celebrate Queen Wilhemina's birthday.

Sept 1st 1945

Received best news yet today. Two days ago American officer in this camp sent a letter to Tokyo for delivery to Allied Delegates explaining the serious food
situation. Today we received a reply from the commodore of a U.S. Flagship stating that we would be got away from here as soon as possible, and

(21)

in the meantime a request would be sent to the U.S. Army Air base for relief supplies to be dropped. Also
stated that some P.O.W. had already been taken on to Warships pending arrival of Transports.

Sept. 2nd 1945

Today our troubles must all be over. Our ration of rice has been incresed to 1 Kilo per day. Also we have received a small quantity of
Red X supplies from another
P.O.W. camp at Nagata. At 12 o'clock the armistice will be duly signed and completed, and we are to hear Marshall
Mc Arthur's speech over the radio. All men are now in a very cheerful frame of mind, and we know for sure it will only be a few days now before we are sailing

(22)

merrily on our way home.
Today heard startling news of new Atom Bomb used by U.S.A. against Japan. Only two of them dropped but
said to have caused surrender of Nippon. Effect was that it took one bomb to completely demolish a town and that it left a ray after the explosion which had a permanent
effect on the stomach of anyone entering within its range.
Hells Bells! What will the next war be like. I should
say that another major conflict would result in the complete

destruction of the world. I hope I am not alive to see it.

(23)

Sept. 23rd 1945

Uneventful day. Only item of interest was that we may receive some more Red X Supplies from another P.O.W. camp tomorrow. It appears we are about the only camp the
food 'planes cannot find, no doubt due to our being tucked away in a valley and surrounded by high mountains. Just our luck!

Sept 4th 1945

Received more food supplies also lots of cigarettes and
chocolate. Whereas a few days ago we were starving we are now getting more than we can eat.
Information received that we must be ready to move at 陆 hrs notice. We are

(24)

to go to Yokohama and from there by troop ship to Manila. Heard today that the two small Atom Bombs
dropped killed 90,000 and wounded 180,000. At that rate one bomber fully loaded could practically wipe out
the world.

Sept. 5, 1945

Moving tomorraw at 7 o'clock. Packed up and ready to go. Soon be home

Sept. 6, 1945

Left Kanose and arrived at Yokohama this evening.
Sent cable home to wife. Leaving by 'plane in morning for Okinawa and from there by plane again to Manila.
These Yanks sure are speed merchants. No red tape about them.

(25)

Sept 7th 1945

Sent hasty letter to wife and mother. Boarded plane and flew to Okinawa. Plane was a B29 Bomber with
stripped Bomb Bay. Took us 5 hours to travel 1000 miles stacked in the Bomb Bay.

Sept. 8th 1945

Waiting for further plane trip to Manila of Phillipine's Islands.

Sept. 9th 1945

Still waiting for a plane. Enjoying a wonderful rest
just lazing on a camp Bed which is a luxury after wooden boards and stone floors. I am eating all day long the food I have dreamt about for four years.

Sept. 10th 1945

Plane journey to Manila this time by C54 transport. Owing to bad weather flew at great height, very cold.

(26)

Plane in front of us developed engine trouble and the boys had to bale out into the sea. Bad luck, but
believed all were picked up safe by a British Cruiser.

Sept. 12th 1945

Still at Manila. Having a very lazy life. Saw first cinema show last night for nearly 4 years, film 鈥淲onder Man鈥�.

Sept. 14th 1945

Still at Manila. Received complete kit today and 40
pesos pay. Also had thorough medical exam.

Sept. 18th 1945

Embarked on U.S.S. Admiral Rodman. An American troopship bound for San Francisco. Mostly America troops on board. About 156 of

(27)

us British P.O.W. and about the same number of Canadians. Ship very crowded, very little room to move.
Voyage expected to take 2 weeks.

Sept. 22nd 1945

Sailing merrily across Pacific Ocean. Sweltering heat below deck. Bunk at night soaked with sweat. Food good.
Cinema show each night. Last night saw 鈥淪ahara鈥� with H. Bogart. Dance band on deck during daytime. Next
stop Hawaii.

Sept 27 1945

Strange but true today is 27 Sept, but when I wake up tomorrow morning it will still be Thursday 27th Sept.
Reason, today we cross the International Date Line.

Sept 30th

1000 miles from San Francisco. Weather lousy.
Raining all day. Sea rough.

Oct. 3rd 1945

Landed at S. Francisco. Went to fort Mc Dowell. Issued with British Uniform.

Oct. 5th 1945
In morning tour of San Francisco by
coach under of auspices of Red Cross. Wonderful City.
No rationing plenty of everything.
At 8 o clock in evening boarded train for New York.
1st class Pullman Sleeper. Very luxurious. Journey about 4 days.

Oct. 6th

Crossed California.

Oct. 7th

Crossed Arizona. Saw Indians in the raw.

(29)

Oct. 8th

Crossed New Mexico into Kansas.

Oct. 9th

Reached Chicago.

Oct. 10th

Reached New York. Saw wonderful Ice show
produced by Sonia Hensa called 鈥淗ats off to Ice鈥�.

Oct. 11th

Went shopping. In evening went to Stage Door Club. Had Portrait drawn.

Oct. 12th

Boarded Queen Elizabeth and sailed for England.
Only 1000 passengers on board, 500 troops and 500 civvies. Terrific size of ship allows every man to have
a cabin.

Oct. 18th

Landed Southampton.

(30)

Oct. 19th

Commenced last part of journry home and eventually arrived at Budworth just before midnight.

Caught!

So desperate did the fellows get for food while working in the carbide factory at Kanose that the more reckless ones would do anything for an extra mouthful.
Word got around that one of the Yanks called 鈥淏ig stoop鈥�
had broken out of camp in the middle of the night and
raided the village ration store and got back with a cut sack
of rice. Two of the English Boys though they would try
their luck but unforunately the Japs had missed the other sack and unknown to us had placed a guard on
the store. Directly

(31)

our two boys tried to break in they opened fire. Poor old 鈥淩ammy鈥� got hit in the leg but the other chap
got clear and back to camp. Rammy was brought back to the Guard Room and after having his wound patched
up was put in a small cell with hardly room to move around. The Kimpi (Jap Gestapo) were called in and
every cruel act possible was done to try and make him tell who the other fellow was with him. He was beaten,
starved and kicked but he wouldn't talk. He was blindfolded and made to kneel while a sword was drawn
across the back of his neck but still he refused to talk.
Somehow the men managed to get scraps of food to him, but he was in a bad shape. Fortunately this happened just before the Japs surrendered and he was

(32)

freed eventually, a physical wreck.

(33)

Ring of Japanese Artillery bombarded inland.
After about two weeks General Perceval arranged and ordered complete surrender.
In other words - ill equipped and unseasoned army were thrown to the wolves.

(34)

British attitude to Jap P.O.W.
Events leading to 鈥渟urrender鈥� 18th Division equipped for Desert Warfare. Mostly conscripts with very little
training.
After embarkation - three months at sea - military command obviously unable to decide where to send us.
Eventually one brigade (53rd) was detached from convoy and sent full speed to Singapore.
Arrived under aerial bombardment, no allied planes in the area and no air cover available.
Disembarked and put straight on to trucks and sent 100 miles to take up position in Malaya.
10 Days to walk back taking up new positions at each stop.
Bombed - but no allied planes. Japanese usingle Jungle and sea to get behind without confrontation. Finally arrived back at Singapore to take up defensive positions there.

35

H. Q. 53rd INFANTRY BRIGADE.

BRIG. Duke
C.S.M. Hardiment

Maj. Broughton
C/Sjt. Copeman

Capt. Wood
Sjt. Middleditch

Capt. Kerrison KILLED
Cpl. Grout

Capt. Woodhouse L/c. Grimes

Lt. Greenwood EVACUATED Pte. Brady DIED

Lt. Witherick KILLED
Pte. Amos

Pte. Flaxman DIED

Pte. Jeckells DIED

S. Sjt. Puckridge Pte. Sellers

Sjt. Dixon DIED?
Pte. Rollings

Cpl. Burton
Pte. Nudds

Cpl. Buckingham Pte. Church

Cpl. Tomlinson WOUNDED
Pte. Lindsay

L/c Waldon DIED
Pte. Powles

Pte. Horton
Pte. Dickerson

Pte. Leech
Pte. Abel

Pte. Link
Pte. Rix

Pte. Ginns
Pte. Hurn

Pte. Sawer
Pte. Daniells

Pte. Roberts DIED
Pte. Farman

Pte. Burrell

L/c. Stimpson

36

H. Q. 53rd INFANTRY BRIGADE.

Cpl. O'Dell WOUNDED
Sjt. Barnes

Cpl. Eastwood DIED
Sjt. Linford

Cpl. Hand
Cpl. Silk

Sjt. Page
Cpl. Lawrence

L/c. Savory KILLED
Sig. Perkins

L/c. Tubby
Sig. Lecount

Pte. Baron
Sig. Gausden DIED?

Pte. Hallam DIED
Sig. Laurence

Pte. Mayes KILLED
Sig. Nugent KILLED

Pte. DUBLACK WOUNDED
Sig. Jones DIED

Pte. Steward C Drv. Perkins

Pte. Steward N

Pte. Greaves

Pte. Bullock R

Pte. Bullock L Sjt. Burton

Pte. Wheatley
Cpl. Nunn

L/c Briars DIED?
Pte. Gilfillan

Pte. Farren
Pte. Anderson

Cpl. Bullard

37

THE END

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