Maxwell, Duncan Struan (Brigadier, b.1893 - d.1969)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of NX12610 Brigadier Duncan Struan Maxwell MC, Commanding Officer 27th Australian Infantry Brigade. Collection consists of an original handwritten diary kept by Brigadier Maxwell while a prisoner of war. The diary is written in the form of a continuing letter to his wife. It covers the period 15 February 1942 (following the fall of Singapore) to 30 January 1943 and is the fourth in a series, with the probability of others following. Two other diaries are held by the Army Museum in Sydney.

Although this diary starts in December 1942, the bulk of it seems to have been written after his arrival in what is believed to have been Taiwan POW Camp No.4 Karenko. It appears one of the previous diaries covered his earlier time in Changi in more detail. This diary is very descriptive covering topics such as the march to Changi, the journey from Singapore to Taiwan (formerly Formosa), daily routine, the camp, food, animals, weather, and reminiscences of home. He mentions sharing his accommodation with Lieutenant General Sir Lewis Heath, a British Army officer commanding the Indian III Corps. The camp is described as containing 330 prisoners - 185 American, 127 English, 12 Australian and 6 Dutch.

The diary was originally indexed as an address book with the diary entries being written on the blank pages; as such there are also a number of names and addresses as well as two prayers written in the back.

Brigadier Maxwell returned to Australia in 1945 and retired from the Army in 1946. He served in both World Wars. He resumed his career as a medical practitioner in Sydney after the war.

Also included in this collection is a typed transcript of the diary.