MORDAUNT, Margaret (Mrs)
Prisoners-of-War (POWs),
Accession Number 002615
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 4
Total Reels
- Ghalpanah Thangaraju
Interviewer
- 01:13:47
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 4
Metadata
- 14 Feb 2002
Recording Date
- 00:24:16
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Lived in Singapore before war. Could have returned to Australia when war broke out but father thought Singapore would not fall. Assembled in Raffles area; told to march to Changi Prison. Older people like her mother taken there by truck. Reaction to news of British surrender. Description of march to Changi Prison camp. Description of camp and other inmates. Her father bayoneted by Japanese. Women organised lessons for children. Sewed the three Changi quilts. Spent time reading. Food and cooking situation. Later moved to Sime Road camp. Red Cross parcels not given to prisoners-of-war (POWs) but kept by Japanese.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 4
Metadata
- 14 Feb 2002
Recording Date
- 00:17:59
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Description of clothing situation in camp. Cloth given by Japanese. Women sewed them into dresses. Allowed to bathe at the beach. How letters between men and women prisoners-of-war (POWs) were smuggled in shoes. Generally good morale in camp. How she kept up courage to go on. Her mother was sick. Description of medical facilities. Latrines were open ground ones. Showers also in open. Description of lighter moments in camp. Treatment by Japanese guards. Atrocity committed by Japanese. Her feelings towards Japanese today.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 4
Metadata
- 14 Feb 2002
Recording Date
- 00:27:22
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Helped school teacher conduct classes for younger children. Had informal prayer sessions since no minister or padre. An inmate started a newsletter but was stopped by Japanese and punished. Various punishments meted out by Japanese. Men at Selarang camp shaped wooden animal figures for camp children on Christmas Day. Comparison between Sime Road and Changi Prison camps. Reasons for move from Changi Prison to Sime Road. Camp had few Sikh guards. Some Sikhs interned there because they did not join Japanese. How they learnt of Japanese surrender. Reaction to news. Description of surrender ceremony. How she kept going.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 4
Metadata
- 14 Feb 2002
Recording Date
- 00:04:10
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Had difficulty adjusting to normal life after war. Elaboration on how war has affected her till today. Has better understanding of human nature now.
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