WHEELER, Raymond William
Prisoners-of-War (POWs),
Accession Number 002608
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 2
Total Reels
- Jason Lim (Dr)
Interviewer
- 00:59:37
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 2
Metadata
- 15 Feb 2002
Recording Date
- 00:30:44
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Personal background. Joined Australian Army in 1940. Arrived in Malaya in December 1941. Recollection of battle at Bukit Timah. Reactions upon hearing news of British surrender. Marched to Changi. Sent to work on airfield at Tavoy. Learning about "nastiness of aggressor". Built road from Ye to border with Thailand. Presence of tigers. What he saw in prison at Moulmein. Testing for cholera at Kanachanburi. Recollection of Japanese officer and working experiences in Saigon. Witnessed collision of two aircraft at Saigon Airport. Boarded ship for Singapore.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 2
Metadata
- 15 Feb 2002
Recording Date
- 00:28:53
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Boarded ship for Singapore. Incident when German submarine captain was mistaken for prisoner-of-war (POW) by Japanese officer. Left Singapore for Japan on 6 September 1944. Convoy was attacked on 12 September. Jumped ship and remained in water for six days. Rescued by American submarine. Recuperated at Saipan and returned to Australia on 25 October. Informed Australian intelligence about Death Railway. After failed mission in Borneo, he was sent to Italy in 1945. Returned home in March 1946. What he did after war and why he likes to return to Southeast Asia.
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