In the run up to the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day Here are my Great Grandfather’s Diary entries in the lead up to the surrender of the Japanese, whilst he was a POW in Changi, 1945.
2nd August - ‘Weight about the same, but very weak condition, Hope released soon’
11th August - ‘Have GREAT News, hardly believable yet. Tummy still bad’
12th August - ‘Great excitement at camps, Rumours galore.’
13th August - ‘Still exercising precaution’
14th August - ‘Extra 50gms of Rice. ““ 20gms of oil. Issued on the QT “ The Excelient’
15th August - ‘Kent Revally at 8.30’
16th August - ‘ Nothing Official yet’
17th August - ‘Pretty well certain.’
18th August - ‘These days of uncertainty have a telling effect’
19th August - ‘Rumours run wild but biding till time.’
20th August - ‘nothing issued by Gen. Saito’
21st August - ‘Still anxious’
22nd August - ‘Another day of whispering but OK’
24th August - ‘Outside camp Outram Road prisoners return, Now 12,000 food=clothing pouring in. Cig issue. Cables sent 21/8 V. happy attending in Pow…Troops well behaved up till now.
25th August - ‘
26th August - ‘ all good news now. Fish 1g
27th August - ‘31 years service today, feeding on Red+ parcels 1 to 20, Butter and cheese issue extra’
28th August - ‘Sime Road + rest camps. 1st Liberator over, pamphlets dropped …… to POW’s. Tummy much better, but not…’