| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | AWM2021.7.307 |
| Collection number | PR05245 |
| Collection type | Digitised Collection |
| Record type | Wallet |
| Item count | 10 |
| Object type | Diary, Notebook, Papers |
| Physical description | 222 Image/s captured |
| Maker |
Feakes, George James |
| Place made | Netherlands East Indies, Singapore |
| Date made | 1932-1946 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copying Provisions | Digital format and content protected by copyright. |
Wallet 1 of 1 - Diaries and papers relating to the Second World War service of George James Feakes, 1942-1946
Description
Collection relating to the Second World War experience of George James Feakes, civilian POW, Singapore and Dutch East Indies, 1942-1946. Feakes was an Australian engineer based in Singapore, whose job it was to sabotage communication devices at the fall of Singapore. He was captured while escaping Singapore aboard the HMS Grasshopper.
Wallet 1 of 1 - contains five diaries and miscellaneous papers relating to the Second World War service of George James Feakes:
Diary 1 is a purple covered notebook with “Diary of G. J. Feakes (1)” written on the cover upon a white sticker. The diary spans the period 4 February to 7 April 1942. Topics include: the Japanese bombing of Singapore and Feakes’ escape aboard the HMS Grasshopper with other civilians; the Japanese aerial bombardment of the convoy consisting of HMS Grasshopper and HMS Dragonfly; travelling through Sumatra in an effort to make it to India or Australia; news of the injured being picked up by a Red Cross ship; and news of those who were captured by Japanese forces in Padang.
Diary 2 is a tan-coloured Dutch receipt book used as a diary with “Bon-boekje” (receipt book) and a picture of an eagle printed on the cover with “[Diary continued] (2)” written in pencil on the cover. The diary spans the period of 12 July 1942 to 28 April 1943. Topics include: the mistreatment of Feakes and other internees while in Padang; Feakes’ stay in hospital for rheumatism; the camaraderie of internees; malnutrition causing failing eyesight; movements between Pandang military and civil prisons; and the lack of presence of actual Japanese soldiers guarding them.
Diary 3 is a tan-coloured Dutch receipt book used as a diary with “Bon-boekje” (receipt book) and a picture of an eagle printed on the cover with “Diary continued (3)” written in pencil on the cover. This diary continues with many of the same themes, however it shows Feakes getting consistently weaker. Topics include: the black market; rumours about war news and possible prisoner swaps; Feakes’ constant concern for his family; food and malnutrition; and destruction caused by an earthquake and aftershocks.
Diary 4 is a small brown faux-leather covered 2-ring binder with inserted pages creating a notebook. Prior to internment, the notebook appears to have been used to keep track of Feakes’ finances and other related details such as life insurance dating from approximately 1932. The notebook begins with several pages of different south-east Asian recipes for dishes such as nasi goreng and ox’s tongue. Following the recipes is a diary spanning the dates 3 March to 29 August 1944. Topics include: the severe shortage of food rations provided for the internees; the limited number of letters received by internees; the lack of Red Cross supplies; and the illnesses and deaths resulting from malnutrition.
Diary 5 is a small black, faux-leather covered diary with “Walker’s Diary 1935” embossed on the cover. The diary largely contains notes about investments from the pre-war period, and a large amount of recipes given to Feakes by Dutch prisoners of war interned with him. The diary contains a few entries, spanning the period 16 October 1944 to 30 April 1945 while Feakes is interned in Bangkinang. Topics include: postcards that Feakes received from his wife during his internment; the severe lack of food; the deaths from beri-beri and dysentery; and Feakes hope to one day be reunited with his family.
Also included are:
3 x loose passport pages with recipes written on them, including rabbit pie, pancakes and ‘special tiffin.’ One page contains the last few entries of Feakes’ diary, spanning the period 12 July to 14 August 1945.
1 x yellow fabric-covered “Australian Military Forces Soldier’s Pay Book” with “Aust civilian internee” and Feakes’ name written on the cover. The pay book contains two entries, dated September and October 1945, following Feakes’ liberation from Bangkinang Camp.
1 x receipt dated 25 May 1945 for a donation that Feakes made to aid “British Civilians interned at Padang, Sumatra.”
1 x envelope with “internment sketches / originals, done by Bartholomew (internee)” written on the cover.