Rayson, Hugh (Major, b.1891 - d.1961)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of NX34706 Major Hugh Rayson, 2/10 Field Ambulance, Singapore, Malaya, and Australia, 1942-1945.

Collection consists of one original memoir in two volumes with two accompanying typed transcripts. One volume relates to Rayson's prisoner of war days, and the other to the period of his release from Kuching to just after his return to Australia. While the volume of Rayson's prisoner of war days relates to his time in captivity, this account was in fact written following his liberation from Kuching, as mentioned in his post-liberation diary.

The 'prisoner of war days' diary spans the period 16 February 1942 to 11 September 1945. As it is a retrospective recount of events, most of the entries are written in blocks of time, or 'periods' as Rayson describes them. The diary documents Rayson’s movements from Changi to Adam Road, then to Sandakan and Kuching, where he remained for a majority of the time in captivity.
Period 1 discusses the five days between Rayson and his unit to surrender their arms to his beginning to move towards Changi Military Barracks. This period only spans one paragraph, largely discussing his withdrawal and how tired Rayson and those around him are after a long period of retreat.
Period 2 spans the period 21 February to 3 April 1942 – A period spent in Changi Military Barracks. It largely discusses the poor food situation and the early onset of nutrient-deficient illnesses such as beri-beri. Also noted in this period is a meeting with his son Private Brian Hugh Rayson (NX73009), who would later die on the Thai-Burma Railway in 1943.
Period 3 spans the period 4 April to 30 May 1942 – with Rayson based at Adam Road and as Senior Medical Officer in the area, he helps to organise patients that are to be sent to Changi for greater medical care than he can provide. Also mentioned is his own health and growing oedema issues, along with the black market that is active within the camp.
Period 4 spans the period 31 May to 20 June 1942 – this short entry discusses Rayson’s time in the Hospital at Changi being treated for his oedema issues, with its poor conditions, yet excellent healthcare. It is during this period that he sees his son Brian for the last time.
Period 5 spans the period 21 June to 7 July 1942 – a period where Rayson is kept on convalescence at Adam Road.
Period 6 spans the period 8 - 16 July 1942. During this period, Rayson, along with his unit are transferred to a Japanese ‘Hell Ship’ and sent to Sandakan. During this voyage, Rayson notes the severe lack of food and space – at one point he makes reference to his friend Major Reginald Errol Maffey (NX70158) (who appears regularly throughout the diaries) fainting but unable to fall down owing to the congestion.
Period 7 spans the period 17 July 1942 to 9 June 1943, when Rayson was interned at Sandakan prisoner of war camp. Within this period, Rayson discusses himself and fellow prisoners being ordered to help build an aerodrome. Contrary to the Geneva Convention, officers, those sick and in hospital and hospital workers were ordered to work. Also noted during this period is the Japanese order that all prisoners sign the non-escape agreement, and Japanese punishment of internees including locking them in a small cage for extended periods.
Period 8 spans the period 10 – 18 June 1943 and sees Rayson moving from Sandakan to Kuching aboard a small steamer – a period that Rayson describes as one of the finest during this time as a prisoner. On this voyage, under the command of a Japanese doctor, Rayson enjoys a period of relaxation, being allowed ample food and the opportunities to buy more food at docks during the journey.
Period 9 spans the period 18 June 1943 to 10 September 1945 – the period in which Rayson was interned at Kuching until the end of his internment period. Rayson begins this period with a description of the camp, and then continues with general overviews of certain aspects of the camp life and incidents of note. These include details about a vegetable garden, supplementing the lack of vitamins provided by the diet they received from their captors; a severe beating by a Japanese officer owing to being unfit to work; camp hygiene; medical ailments affecting prisoners; shortages of medical supplies; and the changing attitudes of their captors as the war was coming to an end.
Period 10 (unmarked) appears to be what is described in volume 2.

Volume two spans the period 29 August to 14 October 1945. This volume of Rayson’s diary is written contemporaneously following the Japanese surrender on 15 August. During this period, Rayson discusses the gradual increase in supplies, including rations, given to him and his fellow internees and the ways that these are being distributes to internees based upon their medical needs. Following the sudden increase in supplies, Rayson notes the effects on himself and fellow internees, including in his personal experience of severely swollen legs. Rayson notes, almost always accompanied by Maffey, his journey back to Australia, stopping at various places including Morotai. Other subjects covered in this volume including his communication with his wife in Australia and having to break to her the news of their son’s death; the joys of being able to eat good food again, particularly bread and butter; the prisoners’ varying treatments from different soldiers on their journey; being informed of medical advancements; and his emotional return to his family, including their plans for the future.

• Memoir relating to service of Hugh Rayson, 1942-1945
• Transcription of Memoir relating to service of Hugh Rayson, 1942-1945
• Diary relating to service of Hugh Rayson, 1945
• Transcription of Diary relating to service of Hugh Rayson, 1945