[Ephraums family 1942-1954]

Prior to the outbreak of the war with Japan the Ephraums family lived on Narborough Estate, Sungkai Perak, Malaya where Mr Wilfred Charles Ephraums (father) was a manager of a 2000 acre rubber plantation. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour and then invaded Malaya it was decided that the women and children would make their way to Singapore and then try to get passage to Australia. Mrs Margaret Ephraums, an accomplished amateur cinematographer, recorded the family's experiences from the evacuation from the rubber estate to life in Australia as refugees and eventual return to Malaya post war. Scenes show: Selemban, Malaya 1942 resting and having tea with the RAF escorts on enroute to Singapore. Kwinana, Western Australia, 1942 pumping water for the house. Painting the school in the bush at Wellard on the Peel Estate where Mrs Ephraums was teaching. Playing with school children. Milk truck, which was the only means of transport back to Fremantle. Perth Zoo. Wellard WA 1943, feeding magpies, taking water to copper and playing around. Bay View Mansions 1944, playing marbles in the bedroom. Inside flat Charles's birthday party. Charles and John Taylor outside the mansions. Fremantle wharf farewelling passengers. Loading sheep on ships at Geralton. View from onboard ship and on board. Derby jetty and surrounds 1946. Boat drill and on board ship and deck games. School sports at Christ Church Grammar. WACA ground, England versus Australia on the lawn at Bay View mansions. Narborough Estate, Malaya, 1947. John and all piled into his MG. Indian wedding with child bride and older man. Mother's geese and goslings. Charles, Mr Wildred Ephaums and John Taylor at rifle practice. Swimming in jungle pool at gapi with friends. Haborough Estate, 1948 Ephraums - Watts wedding, some of the guests indoors. Labour force on the estate. Alistair, Pansy and Donald. Mobilising some of the labour force and training them as special constables to combat the communist insurgents led by Chin Peng who was ironically awarded the OBE by King George VI for his services behind the lines during the Japanese occupation of Malaya. Watts Ephraums wedding. Back to Australia loading sheep at Derby. Malaya Tony in pram. 1949, Pansy, Alastair and Donald. Sampan going down Perel River, Tristans (?) and another Indian wedding. Tu vali (?) festival with labour force. 1950, England, wheeling Peter in pram also Dulwich village. Guilford Grammar School. On the orchard at Sawyers Valley. Peter walking, Tony in pram. 1952 back to Australia, on the orchard. Charles with Tony. John in vegetable garden with Peter. Trip to Perth then Christmas 1952 the children opening presents. 1954 down at Jandip Park and Beach. Meeting the train at Mt Helena. Pushing the Land Rover to start and at mother's place. Peter and Tony in fancy dress.