FLOWERS William Alfred
Prisoners-of-War (POWs),
Accession Number 002610
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 9
Total Reels
- Patricia Lee (R1-4), Jason Lim (Dr) (R5-9)
Interviewer
- 04:26:38
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
All rights to the recordings and transcripts on this website, including the rights to copy, publish, broadcast and perform, are reserved. Written permission is required for any use. If you have any queries, please contact nas@nlb.gov.sg
Reel/Disc 1 of 9
Metadata
- 16 Feb 2002
Recording Date
- 00:29:13
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Belonged to Second 9th Field Ambulance. Treatments administered to injured soldiers. Interned at Selarang Barracks on 17 Feb 1942. Helped set up 270-bed hospital at Selarang. Recollections of Selarang Barracks. Friends, desire to return home and the will to survive kept him going. Simple pleasures were playing volleyball and basketball. How alcohol was fermented for use in operating theatres. Boiling "grass soup" for vitamins for patients. Background of Malayan Nurses' Scholarship Programme. Why Australian soldiers considered Selarang Barracks as "home". Recollections of Choa Chu Kang and Lim Chu Kang areas. Details of incident regarding officer, Dr John Parr, in war.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 9
Metadata
- 16 Feb 2002
Recording Date
- 00:30:21
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Australians housed in two general hospitals: Oldham Hall and St Patrick's School in Katong. Description of wounded soldiers at St Andrew's Cathedral and Adelphi Hotel. Ambivalent sense of relief and apprehension when British surrendered. His recollections of journey to Changi. Description of wounded soldiers at Roberts Barracks. How 22 nurses were shot and one survived. Recollections of funny stories told during the war.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 9
Metadata
- 16 Feb 2002
Recording Date
- 00:28:46
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Description of Double Tenth Incident. How he reared chicks and ducks in Changi compound. His recollections of signing of "No Escape Clause" incident. Description of sporting facilities in Selarang Barracks. How soldiers in Selarang received news about end of the war from Roberts Barracks.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 9
Metadata
- 16 Feb 2002
Recording Date
- 00:28:55
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Recollections of Oziyama, Korean guard, who befriended prisoners-of-war (POWs). Description of basketball court in front of Changi Jail. Recollections of basketball match played between POWs and Japanese guards. Description of huts and make-shift hospital at Changi. How his mates kept him going during war. Recollections of his last days after the war in Singapore.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 9
Metadata
- 4 Aug 2004
Recording Date
- 00:30:28
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Joined Australian Imperial Force (AIF) with his friend Bill Noonan in 1940. Initial experiences in 2/9 Field Ambulance Unit, including training at Bonegilla. Travelled to Singapore in early February 1941. Image of Japanese military. Settling down at Port Dickson. Attitude of British residents towards AIF. Friendships with members of Malay Regiment. Impression that there were inadequate number of troops to defend Malaya. Responsibilities in Advanced Dressing Station (ADS). Invasion of Singapore on 8 February. Possible deaths of John Park and Harold Ball. Moved to Manor House, then Oldham Hall.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 9
Metadata
- 4 Aug 2004
Recording Date
- 00:30:40
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Advanced Dressing Station (ADS) moved eventually to St Andrew's Cathedral. Working on the wounded. Bombs that landed on cathedral grounds; injured personnel. Fear of bombing raids. Thought of becoming prisoners-of-war (POWs) did not occur to many. British surrender on 15 February 1942. Sent to Selarang Barracks to help set up hospital for POWs. Removal of wounded POWs to Changi. Moved with some 2/9 Field Ambulance Unit personnel to Roberts Barracks later. Consequence of change of diet to rice. Diseases resulting from bad diet. Sports competitions at Changi. All POWs moved to Changi Prison in June 1944.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 9
Metadata
- 4 Aug 2004
Recording Date
- 00:30:22
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Accommodation in Changi Prison area from June 1944. Impression that Australian prisoners-of-war (POWs) were never lonely. Attitude of Japanese and Korean guards. Australian officers continued to exercise authority over Australian POWs. Responsibilities of Japanese guards. Work parties. Fruits and vegetables available for POWs. Entertainment at Changi. Major diseases affecting POWs. Treatment of leg ulcers. Anecdote of POW who died of beri-beri. Incident concerning Korean guard who fainted in Operating Theatre. How interviewee received "secret" news. How he learnt of end of war. Visit by Lord Louis Mountbatten to Changi.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 9
Metadata
- 4 Aug 2004
Recording Date
- 00:30:32
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Visit by Lord Louis Mountbatten to Changi. Behaviour of guards. Impression that prisoners-of-war (POWs) did not seek revenge. Visited Katong and Dutch Club. Left Singapore on 22 September 1945. No counselling received. Found bacon too salty. Brother returned home five days after him. Returned to work in January 1946. Advice from his Commanding Officer. Beginnings of Australian Imperial Force (AIF) Malayan Nursing Scholarship. Donations sought for scholarship. Contributions of Seth Pond, Dr John Cade, Sir Reginald Swartz and Brigadier Conrad Emert. Role of Australian Red Cross. His future role with Scholarship. Current and future training of nurses.
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Reel/Disc 9 of 9
Metadata
- 4 Aug 2004
Recording Date
- 00:27:21
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Current and future training of nurses. Fond memories of times spent in Malaya before Japanese invasion. Reasons for his support for Malayan Nursing Scholarship. What kept him going throughout his prisoner-of-war (POW) days. Opinion about dropping of atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Impression of different attitudes of combatant and non-combatant POWs towards captivity. Execution of two Australian and two British POWs at Selarang. Incident when Japanese guard beat up Australian POWs before offering them drinks. Reaction towards other POWs who came to Changi from Java.
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