´óÏó´«Ã½

Called up into Beds Yeomanry on 18th October 1939 and taken to Chelmsford to sign on and then returned to Dunstable all in one day.

Moved after 3 weeks to Yarmouth and billeted to Garibaldi Hotel. Then to Lowestoft for 6 weeks in private billets. Trained as driver to Col Harris and Col McFarlane of famous biscuit factory. Moved to Ingham in Norfolk and then to Attenborough. I took troops to driving range in Kings Lynn and officers to various places. I then went to Loddeen in Norfolk for driving duties. Moved then to Scotland and stayed in Drill Hall for 4 months. Went on various manoeuvres from there. Moved then to Monmouth and went on exercises and general duties for 4 months.

On 29th October 1941 posted abroad and went on a new ship called The Andes from Southampton to Halifax in Nova Scotia. Arrived in dense fog and ship had foam on back to use in fog so other ships could see it. Halifax houses very colourful. We transferred to American ship, the Wakefield, and sailed to Trinidad with a stop at Cape Town. American ships had bunks in blocks of 4 but on my ship we had hammocks which were very uncomfortable and I laid on mattress on floor and was sea sick for 3 weeks. This trip took 3 months and we were glad of shore leave. Had an escort from Ireland to Halifax/Cape Town. 6 troop ships with about 1500 troops on each. Good food from Americans on stainless steel trays with various compartments — not seen such nice things before. Breakfast at 6.00, lunch at 11.00 and tea at 4.00 and that was it for the day. I used to get bread/butter and jam and wrap in paper to eat later.

At Cape Town bought sack of oranges for half crown and peaches for one and six. Manager of railway station took a few of us for ride round town and back to his house for tea. Sailed then to Bombay and then down to Puna by train and stationed in bungalows for 3 weeks. Had passes from 10.00 — 2.00 pm and went to pictures. Locals made clothes for us and also did our washing. Spent 3 weeks in Puna and then back to Bombay and back to ship — same bed and same hammock!

Sailed from Bombay to Singapore and arrived on 29th January and taken to rubber plantation at Takhok village by Australian trucks. Arrived at 4.00 and it rained for first 3 days and we showered in the rain with soap. Under canvas on wooden beds. Moved to Umyang village still under canvas. Moved to Singapore because Japanese were coming down via Malaya to Singapore. On outskirts of Singapore for 2 weeks. I was operating bren guns and Japanese attacked Singapore via mangrove swamps and overpowered everyone and we surrendered. Japanese captured us all and took us to big house and we had to sit on ground with legs crossed. Japanese sprinkled our hair with oil and we didn’t know why. They then gave us Cadburys chocolate bars which was a real surprise. Lorries had sides of beef and other supplies on and this was taken off to put rifles on lorry. We had blown guns up to prevent them being used by Japanese. The Japanese confiscated all the bagpipes from the Scottish Highlanders and burnt them.

Had to march 21 miles to Shanghai and on way Chinese had laid out fruit and a bit of food but guards hit you with rifles if you tried to pick it up. Were not given any food or water that day until next morning. Laid on concrete floor all night and then moved under canvas. Worked in cookhouse in Shanghai and able to get extra food. In April we had to march back to Singapore to River Valley Road camp with 5,000 POW in each. Better food then and worked in cookhouse. Then taken to Thailand in cattle truck and not much food on journey. Took from Sunday to Friday morning to arrive at transit camp and it was all through jungle and an awful journey.

Had to march 21 miles again to another transit camp and had blisters on feet. Three staging camps until we got to Cambery and then on a barge to Tarso and then had to march again to Tanchan. We were made to work on the Rangoon to Burma railway (River Kwai). Had to make a 60 yd wide clearing for railway thru thick jungle undergrowth and carried tools for 3-4 miles every day to and from work. One solider died for every sleeper laid. Some guards very cruel but others OK. Moved to big camp near Bangkok. We all had malaria, beri-beri and yellow jaundice on a regular basis.

In October 1944 moved up to Burma border cutting wood up for trains. Had to stay until job finished and we worked in teams of 6 and had to build a stack a day. April 1945 moved back to Bangkok again. I often worked in cookhouse which was easier and not so hot.

We were told we would be shot on 29th September and had had to dig our own graves but US invaded and dropped bomb on Hiroshima and the Japanese surrendered after Nagasaki.

They found thousands of Red Cross parcels in a warehouse in Singapore. We didn’t get any news from home and felt very isolated.

Whilst there I had paralysis for six months and had to lay on back. Had 2 injections a day and never knew what had happened and still feel weak down one side. Then posted home in February 1946. I was on 17th ship to leave. Regiment had all been split up over the years. Out of 1200 there were only 3 people from my regiment on boat coming home. Spent 3.5 years in jungle as POW.

Did have some laughs. Sammy the Red from Sunderland who would swear about the Japanese all the way to and from work and made everyone laugh and the Japanese joined in the laughter as they had no idea what he was saying. To amuse ourselves we would put on plays and concerts for each other, much to the amusement of the Japanese who would always sit in the front row of any performance! We made instruments and costumes out of all sorts of things and it was good for morale.

On journey home we had shore leave for 2 days in Ceylon. 50 Wrens came on board at Ceylon and it took 26 days to travel home. Stayed at Port Suez for 2 days and had Ensa perform for us. When we docked at Port Said we had another concert. Had cakes we hadn’t seen since before war.

Arrived back in Southampton on 29th October 1946 exactly 5 years from the time we left. When we arrived in Southampton the WRVS laid on a special meal for us but we were not used to such rich food or the quantity so we all found it difficult to eat.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.