Fennell, Geoffrey William Pagden (Major, b.1899 - d.1977)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 4047 Major Geoffrey William Pagden Fennell, 5 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, Malaya, 1941-1945.

Wallet 1 of 2 - Consists of Volume 1 of transcripts of the 5 Field Regiment unit war diaries, written by Major Fennell. The diaries cover the period between May 1941 and October 1942 including the unit training in India, the campaign in Malaya and life as a prisoner of war. Fennell describes the movements of the unit prior to their imprisonment and their surrender to the Japanese. He also makes some suggestions as to where the defence of Singapore went wrong. Fennell gives details of the treatment of the prisoners of war, the rations they were given, illnesses, deaths, activities such as sports and concerts, and descriptions and sketches of each of the camps the unit inhabited.

Wallet 2 of 2 - Consists of Volume 2 of transcripts of the 5 Field Regiment unit war diaries, written by Major Fennell. The diaries cover the period between October 1942 and late 1945, including life as a prisoner of war and the surrender of the Japanese. Fennell details the camps where he was imprisoned including sketches of the layout and the conditions, illnesses, the work undertaken by POWs such as road building and mining, and the journey back to England. He also includes an account of Japanese atrocities, a copy of the POW sanity test, and nominal rolls including deaths, casualties and promotions.

• Wallet 1 of 2 - Transcript of unit diaries relating to service of Geoffrey W. Fennell
• Wallet 2 of 2 - Transcript of unit diaries relating to service of Geoffrey W. Fennell