Diary of Arthur Leslie Varley, 27 May - 27 August 1943

Place Asia: Burma Thailand Railway
Accession Number AWM2019.22.99
Collection number 3DRL/2691
Collection type Digitised Collection
Record type File
Item count 1
Object type Diary
Physical description 43 Image/s captured
Maker Varley, Arthur Leslie
Place made Burma
Date made 1943
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Source credit to This item has been digitised with funding provided by Commonwealth Government.
Description

Diary relating to the Second World War service of NX35005 Brigadier Arthur Leslie Varley, 22nd Australian Infantry Brigade. This diary, referenced as diary 3, covers the period from 27 May - 27 August 1943, and details conditions, rations, illness, executions, work and movements.

This file includes one of six diaries secretly written by Varley when he commanded "A" Force, a group of prisoners of war including Australians, Americans, British and Dutch, working from Thanbyuzayat towards Three Pagodas Pass on the Burma portion of the Burma-Thailand road and railway in 1942-43. This diary was buried at Singapore for safe-keeping before the embarkation of prisoner to Japan on board Rakuyo Maru and were recovered by the AIF after the war.