8th Aust Division (Australian Army)

Collection of manuscript material originally written and collected by Australian servicemen, with the idea of being used in a book publication after the war. The stories cover the period 1942 to 1945 and were written by 8th Division prisoners of war (POWs) of the Japanese during the period of captivity. They were collected by NX69235 Sergeant (Sgt) Charles David Griffin (known as David Griffin), who spent time as a POW in Changi prison. Contributions from various authors including Sgt S F Arneil, Capt J W Bennett, Major R S Bucknell, Hector Chalmers, Major B L W Clarke, A R Downer, C David Griffin, C E M Gunther, Capt N H Hill, L T Hodge, J Kemp, Capt Peter Madden, R G Matthews, Sapper Matthews, A Thompson, Gnr Beadman, Pte D Wall, P G Miller, Capt T W Mitchell, R N Moffitt, R C Morton, Lt E J Oraines, Sgt Parle, WO1 A H M Purdon, Cpl S Lad, F C Roche and Major C P Tracey. The stories cover such topics as hygiene, POW politics, workshops, and incidents of particular note such as the Barracks Square incident. Sgt Griffin returned to Australia after the war, and later became Sir David Griffin when he was knighted in 1974 for public service.