Australian recovered prisoners of war interviewed by Pilot Officer Jock McPherson, RAAF Combat Broadcast Team, at Changi, Singapore following the surrender of Japan in 1945

Places
Accession Number S00015
Collection type Sound
Measurement 28 min 59 sec
Object type Oral history
Physical description sound disc (lacquer); brand unknown; 78 rpm; mono; 16 inch
Date made August 1945
Access Open
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copyright

Item copyright: Commonwealth of Australia copyright

Copying Provisions Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction.
Description

Disc 1 Side 1: Pilot Officer Jock McPherson, as a member of the RAAF Combat Broadcast Team, records from a RAAF Catalina aircraft on its approach to Kelang airport, Singapore. The plane is met by four Australian ex-prisoners of war who record messages home: NX26282 Signalman Athol Shepherd of Casino NSW; VX62744 Sapper Len Hunt of Mitcham, Victoria; NX36645 Signalman Gordon Cruickshank of Griffith NSW. McPherson speaks of Changi Gaol; the conditions under which prisoners of war existed; Recovery of Allied Prisoners of War and Internees (RAPWI) and arrangements for repatriation. See also photograph 116989 showing McPherson recording the interview with these men.

Disc 2. Interviews with Australian-recovered prisoners of war at Singapore shortly after the 1939-1945 war including messages from NX73615 Private Bert Caulfield of Warren NSW who mentions Gary and Gordon Keegan of Warren; VX43156 Private Jack Kinnert of Essendon Victoria who mentions Arthur of Richmond; QX23290 Private Bob Redpath of 59 Frank Street, Maryborough, Queensland who mentions Norm Brokie and Tom Hitchman; VX39214 Private Jack Taylor of 45 Herbert Street, Northcott, Victoria, 29th Battalion, who mentions Sergeant George Murphy of Arthurs Creek, Sergeant Joe Ward of Wanthaggi, Norm Klein of Swan Hill, Corporal Kennedy of Albury; NX24520 Signalman Harry Barnes of Brisbane who mentions Stan Ryan-Smith, Hal Mangle, Arch Drysdale, Bill Rutherford, Fred O'Dowell, Ben Franklyn of Townsville, Colin Barber, Jack Townsend, Colin Tucker, Gordon and Weekes of Caboolture, Lieutenant Biggs; WX16981 Bill Howson of Panghorn Street, Wembley, Western Australia, 2/4 Machine Battalion; TX5279 Sergeant Bert McCall of Devonport, Tasmania; NX31567 Corporal Nelson Arthur of Annandale NSW who speaks of building and hiding radio receivers in the prison camps, and mentions Corporal Geoffery Bingham of Petersham, Jock Simms of North Sydney, Col Weinberg of Rose Bay, his brother Beresford "Berry" Arthur ; VX25581 Lieutenant Noel May of Queenscliff, Victoria who mentions Dick Pockley of Sydney, Josh Wick, Mickey Moore of Queensland, Bill Aspinal of Horsham; VX54312 Owen Mathews, 8 Division Signals.

Disc 1 Side 2: Leo (surname unknown), 2/2 Pioneer Battalion, interviewed by Stan (surname unknown) about his period as a prisoner of war of the Japanese from 1942 to 1944.

  • Listen to Australian recovered prisoners of war interviewed by Pilot Officer Jock McPherson, RAAF Combat Broadcast Team, at Changi, Singapore following the surrender of Japan in 1945