大象传媒

Extract from 'Hurricanes over Singapore' by Brian Cull with Paul Sortehaug.
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Some of the pilots when captured were forced to work on the aerodrome. Shortly after their arrival they were presented with a questionnaire about their flying, aircraft, etc. The R.A.F. commanding officer, Wing Commander Edward Steedman, informed the Japanese C.O. that his men did not have to do these duties. The next morning he was taken out and shot.

Some twenty pilots, prisoners, were interrogated by a Japanese Lieutenant who spoke good English. The pilots were taken one at a time into his presence and firstly were beaten but Sgt David Kynman was subjected to particular treatment; his wrists and ankles were tied together behind him, a rope was thrown over a rafter and tied to his wrists and ankles and he was raised off the floor. A lighted candle was placed on the floor below and he was raised and lowered so the flame would burn his bare chest. David was later subjected to further special treatment.

Further to the above extract, David Kynman was a prisoner for almost three and a half years, during which time he worked on the railway (of River Kwai infamy) and almost three years in a coal mine at Fukuoake working twelve hour shifts, seven days a week. Sergeant Kynman, (later Warrant Officer) spoke little of his time as a P.O.W. but recalled the horrors of burying those of his comrades who died in the prison camp, using the one coffin to carry the deceased to the cemetery, returning to the barracks with the empty coffin in preparation for the next funeral.

After the War Warrant Officer Kynman returned to Hull, continued his employment with Priestmans where he remained until shortly before his retirement.
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Added by: Alan Brigham - www.hullwebs.co.uk

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