Rosary beads made from seeds : Sergeant J P Adam, 2/18 Battalion

Rosary beads made from small red polished seeds linked by fine wire. The rosary begins with a commercially produced crucifix made of wood edged with brass. The figure of Christ is pinned on top of the cross with a scroll at the head and a skull at the feet. The rosary continues up with a series of five beads to join the rosary centre. This centre is made of moulded plastic shaped into a heart with three small holes through which the chain is secured. The rosary continues with five sets of ten Ave beads at regular intervals, separated by a wider gap and a Pater bead. The Ave beads are used to pray the Hail Mary and the Pater beads to pray the Our Father and Gloria Patri in between each set.

Made by NX57440 Sergeant James Phillip Adam of 2/18 Battalion while he was a prisoner of war attached to H Force at Hintok on the Burma Thailand Railway. He worked on the Pack of Cards Bridge and at Hellfire Pass. Adam was mentioned in despatches in 1943 by the commanding officer of H Force, Lieutenant Colonel H R Humphries, for 'bravery and leadership...an example to his comrades which has enabled many of them to overcome their trials'.
The beads are made from native seeds which Adam collected, wire, and a commercially produced crucifix. The red heart appears to have been made from melted down red plastic, possibly from a toothbrush handle.