NX72938 Walter Edward Kirley as a Private, 2/20 Battalion and prisoner of the Japanese, 1941-45, [reminiscence]

Starts by correction of recollections of events at Changi in another book. As a POW 'D' Force - talks about receiving Red Cross parcel; 13 March 1943 - first 500 POWs to leave Changi /Singapore by train in steel trucks; conditions on train; stopped at Kanburi (Thai-Burma railway); then to Tarsoe by truck where they heard about building the railway; they by foot to camp near Kenyu and worked on cliff face;death tent at upper Kenyu, cholera outbreak and carrying bodies to the cemetery; May/June 1943' - arrival of F' and 'H' Forces in very poor condition; effects of cholera; describes train ride to camp Tamarkan and building bridge over the River Kwai; Nov 1943 moved to Chung Kai; improvements made by Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop; effect of tropical ulcers; moved to Tamawang June 1944; comments on health of POWs; May 1945 Mergui Road work party; bombing of railway; POWs in Bangkok hospitals after the war - Joe Lynch; home on ship 'Highland Brigade' 24 October 1945. Talks about building embankments; compares conditions in Burma with POWs in Japan; POWs shot and left moats around camps in Thailand; threat of death marches. Side B: final comments on the war, the Japanese and assistance of Thai civilians; humorous stories and nick-names - 'Happy' Harry Smith; praises POW medical staff; enduring friendships.