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WW2 About me

Born in 1930 of British Eurasian stock my first memories are of the nuns in the convent of “The Holy Infant Jesus in Singapore”. Due to the divorce of my parents my two older sisters, brother and I were boarders there. I was two at the time and rarely saw my sisters or parents, the latter especially when the money ran out and they couldn’t afford the fees. Life was very strict for us handful of boys there with emphasis on piety, prudery and discipline, so we were not happy. At age seven I was moved to a boy’s school, St.Patrick’s near Changi run by the De La Salle Christian brothers. Discipline was also strict here but we were left alone to fend for ourselves. Study and sport was the requirement so I got the grounding for my short education here. At age ten the Australian Army commandeered our school so I had to return to my Dad in nearby Katong. He lived in a rented house in a Malay Kampong with my Aunt, his partner. Soon after, the invasion by the Japanese of Malaya and subsequently Singapore we moved to a flat in Hill St. near the convent. Here I witnessed the war and the surrender to the victorious Nippon army. Life became a nightmare for everyone especially those the Japs disliked. Fear and humiliation was the order of the day and when things settled down we had the Kempeitai or (Gestapo) to worry about. I then had to learn Japanese at the Bras Bash road school (St. Joseph’s). It was very basic but useful on the streets at the many check points. Then as food shortages led to starvation I worked for the Jap army at the ex. Bata shoe factory for an extra six katties of rice ration per month. I was thirteen years old. The war turned against the Japs at this point so we were bombed by the Americans and eventually they surrendered to the Allies. I knew nothing of the Atomic bomb at the time or of all the news of Europe. We were very happy to be liberated so I went everywhere to see the ceremonies and relished the moment. Then we had to pick up the broken pieces of our lives and start again so I returned to St. Joseph’s school to continue my education. It was impossible, so after a short spell I sold my books and left. After many setbacks I joined the crew of the Danish ship “MV India” sailing to its home port, Copenhagen. I had eight dollars, the equivalent of one pound. It was a 10,500 ton tramp ship (Freighter) of the East Asiatic Steamship Company of Denmark. Unable to speak Danish I found life at sea lonely and the only reading material was my pocket dictionary. I was very happy to see the world with fine shipmates and enjoy such delicious food in abundance. I put on weight and knew my luck had changed at last. Experiencing all sorts of weather from the stifling heat of the Red sea to the bitter cold of Finland was difficult without proper clothing and life at sea was tough. Frightening storms at sea that injured crew was a worry too. Then comparing post war Europe like Hamburg and Liverpool to the ports and cities of America and Canada was disturbing. The drabness of the one to the abundance and brightness of the other. Eventually after being continuously at sea for a year I had to reluctantly leave: but where? Canada and America turned my request down but with a bit of luck I was welcomed by immigration at Belfast. After a brief rest in digs in Wimbledon I joined the Royal Navy. Serving on various warships and learning a trade I joined British Airways on demob. Marriage to a beautiful caring wife gave me three fine sons and much happiness. At seventy five with a successful operation and radio therapy treatment for prostrate cancer behind I have nothing to regret and much to live for.