pow days

[Lou Barron]

No John i did not see any executions but they did happen on a beach not far from the jail that was where most of the executions were done .We did witness a lot of savage beatings not only that they had a great delight in belittling us in front of the locals .They also tried to intimidate us with their swords they would wave them in front of us shouting in japanese

[Tony Wilding]

i saw a interesting documentary film about japan, up untill about 1830/1850 japan was closed off from the western world, still lived in the world of shoguns and bushido, were a very cruel race to there own people, they were very rapid in gaining western technology after that time, UK built most of there battleships and others, they had no experience of steel shipbuilding or manufacturing processes, but bought the new ways, very soon they learned and overtook , as good or better, great at copying, they became westernised in technology, but still retained there savage lifestyles, and beliefs, when you have soldiers that consider it an honour to die for the emperor, and surrender is a disgrace, its a formidable foe, to be willing to commit Hari Kari rather than surrender just shows there strong beliefs, hence there disgust of prisoners who surrendered, to the average japanese soldier i dont think they felt they were doing wrong, but when you consider the atrocities of the German extermination camps, a so called civilised Christian nation , i think that was worse. Japan did not recognise the Geneva convention on the treatment of prisoners, i think it was in the mid 70,s the last japs surrendered hiding in the jungles, how fanatical is that.

[Lou Barron]

IT was on one these working parties another amusing incident that i had(i think i might have mention this in a previous post ).It was all go with the fortifications i think the Japs was getting a bit on edge .Anyhow we was building a barricade and they wanted tree trunks some of the trunks had already been chopped down .They still had the nuts in the tree and the guards wanted them so theyb sent me into the centre of the tree to get get the nuts as i had in the tree for a few minutes i felt things crawling up my legs all i was wearing was my G string next thing i felt something biting me around my orchestra stalls i jumped out of the tree yelling my mates and the guards was all laughing but not me it was red ants and boy they can bite .Back to work the place we was working on was near a Malay village so we got food off them not much and it was on one these working partys that we was to witness a savage beating .One of our guys was caught trying to steal a chicken from the Malay village but the guards caught him coming back . So they lined us up to watch while they gave him a savage beating we felt helpless we could not do a thing.Then they made two of our guys to take him back to the jail.You could never understand the mentality of these people one moment they would give you a cigarette then next thing beat S***T out of you

[Lou Barron]

Looking on the bright side of being in Changi Jail more so than the other pow camps where things was pretty bad we did have something to keep i minds of the bad things .That was the concert party and there were other activitys thatwasvery good .The concert party was the main thing it was very professional run and with the help of some of the Japanese officers got most of the propsand otherthings (most probably things that was original British or Australian) the female impersonators was really professional .It was only sometimes that we got to go to the concerts ,The stage was in one of the yards i cannot remember how many could get in to watch the concerts but it must have been several hundred the actors was also very professional evan the Japs came to watch and by all accounts the loved it .But it did not stop the Japs wanting more labour for the working partys .It was no use saying that you was sick you had to be just about dead on your feet.American planes was making a lot of raids Singapore we could see them way up in the sky and we would be cheering the guards would come along bashing us with their sticks but we still kept on cheering .We then knew that things was going bad for the Japs

[Tony Morcom]

How long were you in Changi for Lou?

[Lou Barron]

Hi Tony how long was i in Changi Jail for i could say to b**** y long we went int the jail in early October 1944 and left in early september 1945

[Lou Barron]

It was now that malnutrition was really starting to take effect on us in some form besides malaria ,dysenteryand beri beri i have mentioned about the skin complaints we had.One of our mates Tommy Davies went nearly blind and i believe that others was loosing their sight also .The lice was was another thing that was very prevalant but life went on .When we use to talk in our cell is was not politicsor sex it was food and first good feeds we was going to have some said fish and chips some bacon and eggs some a big steak and some said a bacon sarnie .We also talked about the jobs we was going to do most said going back to sea ,but right now it was digging bloody tunnels and trench .the Japs told us that they would fight to finish and kill all the pows ,but we regarded this as all talk but apparently it was on there orders to do that when the Allies invaded Singapore .We was told this after we was liberated

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Lou



Just as a matter of interest Lou,and you certainly dont have to answer,i will understand,but can you still recall your POW Number!
I ask as you know some Numbers stick with us forever!
eg MNavy Discharge Numbers
RAF Service Record Numbers etc!
Thanks Lou ,you sure have been through a lot mate!
Cheers

[Lou Barron]

Hi Vernon i dont mind putting my story on another post or what ever but a gave a story on the cofepow site .Stories iam writng about is the little every day things that went every day . Ihave my pow number some where ithink it was 5004 but i will check on that

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Lou
Sorry about that didnt realize it was allready on site!
I will ammend the post !
Cheers