Murchie, John Langford, (Private, b.1919 - d.?)

Illustrated memoir, "Been There! Done That! My War Experiences", written by VX60772 Private John 'Jack' Langford Murchie, who served with 22 Brigade, 8 Division and became Prisoner of War after the fall of Singapore in 1942. Murchie writes about his enlistment in Bendigo with the 8th Division in 1940, the voyage to Singapore on the SS Zealandia, and events leading up to the fall of Singapore in Feburary 1942. He became a prisoner of war at Changi and describes in detail the layout and conditions of the camp, including relationships between the Japanese commandments and the men. Murchie was later sent with D Force to Thailand to build the Burma Thailand Railway, and in 1944 was transferred to Japan, as part of a working party. Murchie escaped with two other soldiers from Camp 17 Omuta in 1945.