Book: 1941-42
We begin with a glimpse of glamorous Singapore shortly before the Japanese attack: articles announcing high-profile stage productions sit alongside Jack’s military service papers.
But soon, across a series of memoirs, lectures, military orders and newsprints, the events of the invasion unfold. British Malaya is lost after the fall of the Northern defences, and then, despite the bravery of Allied forces, Singapore is historically surrendered in February 1942.
Particularly harrowing is Jack’s recollection of the panicked massacre at Alexandra Hospital, followed shortly after by an anonymous account of the chaotic, bloody fighting at Kranji. Then, scribbled on the back of old medical paper, we find snippets of life inside Changi POW camp. Miraculously, a glimmer of light returns: in the form of ‘The Chunkel’, a magazine written and illustrated by the prisoners.
As we turn the pages, we find uplifting articles, dramatic short stories, and witty cartoons – all of which inspired further plans for concerts, scripts for raunchy plays, and even a hand-drawn pin-up or two.
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Page 01 / 1941-42
Hand-written introduction to the book collection. -
Page 02 – 03 / 1941 – 42
Letter discussing journalist and filmic accounts of POW Changi camps. -
Page 04 – 05 / 1941 – 42
Application form for joining the Territorial Army. -
Page 06 – 07 / 1941 – 42
Application form for joining the Territorial Army and precis of lecture given by Lt. Gen. Sir Lewis Heath. -
Page 08 – 09 / 1941 – 42
Precis of lecture given by Lt. Gen. Sir Lewis Heath -
Page 10 – 11 / 1941 – 42
Precis of lecture given by Lt. Gen. Sir Lewis Heath -
Page 12 – 13 / 1941 – 42
Precis of lecture given by Lt. Gen. Sir Lewis Heath and a cutting from the New York Herald - August 1941. -
Page 14 – 15 / 1941 – 42
A Cutting from the New York Herald and record of northern defences against three Japanese attacks (the Malayan campaign), Dec. 1941. -
Page 16 – 17 / 1941 – 42
Article for a camp magazine called ‘The New Order’. -
Page 18 – 19 / 1941 – 42
Article for a camp magazine called ‘The New Order’. -
Page 20 – 21 / 1941 – 42
Account from the Japanese attack on Alexandra Hospital. -
Page 22 – 23 / 1941 – 42
Account of the first hundred days in the Changi hospitals. -
Page 24 – 25 / 1941 – 42
Detailed list of nurses working in the hospital. -
Page 26 – 27 / 1941 – 42
A brief resume of the functions of the base depot medical stores. -
Page 28 – 29 / 1941 – 42
A brief resume of the functions of the base depot medical stores, Malaya. -
Page 30 – 31 / 1941 – 42
A brief resume of the functions of the base depot medical stores, Malaya. -
Page 32 – 33 / 1941 – 42
‘Massacre’ An account of the Alexandra Hospital Massacre. -
Page 34 – 35 / 1941 – 42
‘Massacre’ An account of the Alexandra Hospital Massacre. -
Page 36 – 37 / 1941 – 42
Car insurance certificate and rugby fixtures card. -
Page 38 – 39 / 1941 – 42
Car insurance certificate and rugby fixtures card. ‘Order of the Day’ issued by General A. P. Wavell, 10/02/42, encouraging British forces not to surrender and the announcement about ‘The Scrounger’ camp magazine. -
Page 40 – 41 / 1941 – 42
Front page of the 'Syonan Times', Tuesday February 24. -
Page 42 – 43 / 1941 – 42
Inner pages of the ‘Syonan Times’, Tuesday February 24. -
Page 44 – 45 / 1941 – 42
Inner page of the ‘Syonan Times’, Tuesday February 24 and ‘You want to be a doctor?’ by ‘Medical Student’ (Jack Milnes Wood). -
Page 46 – 47 / 1941 – 42
Articles ‘My Greatest Thrill’ by ‘A Pilot’ and ‘Endurance’ by Hank F Quin. An Evening Standard Correspondent that includes personal account of the Battle of Kranji. -
Page 48 – 49 / 1941 – 42
‘Endurance’ by Hank F Quin. An Evening Standard Correspondent that includes personal account of the Battle of Kranji and a critique of ‘The Purpose of Art’ , an article by musician Reginald Renison. -
Page 50 – 51 / 1941 – 42
A critique of ‘The Purpose of Art', an article by musician Reginald Renison and ‘Hyde Park Forum’, an article on “soap box orators” by L W K. -
Page 52 – 53 / 1941 – 42
‘Endurance’ by Hank F Quin. Evening Standard Correspondent. Includes personal account of the Battle of Kranji. -
Page 54 – 55 / 1941 – 42
‘Endurance’ by Hank F Quin. Evening Standard Correspondent. Includes personal account of the Battle of Kranji and a draft of ‘The Chunkel’, camp magazine, number one, volume one. -
Page 56 – 57 / 1941 – 42
‘The Intelligent Young Man’s Vocational Guide’ by George Sprod from a draft of ‘The Chunkel’, camp magazine, number one, volume one. -
Page 58 – 59 / 1941 – 42
‘Our Short Story: Yellow Curtains’ by Jon Mackwood and ‘The Balance of Life’ by C.Nussbaum from a draft of ‘The Chunkel’, camp magazine, number one, volume one. -
Page 60 – 61 / 1941 – 42
‘Balance of Life’ (cont.) by C.Nussbaum, ‘Personality Parade: Major Fagan’ by Jack Wood and ‘Get a Load of This!’ by Bernard Campion from a draft of camp magazine ‘The Chunkel’. -
Page 62 – 63 / 1941 – 42
‘Protoplasm and Personality’ article with ‘Persiflage’ cartoon by George Sprod from a draft of camp magazine ‘The Chunkel’. -
Page 64 – 65 / 1941 – 42
‘Art Today’ article by Ronald Searle and ‘Drooling at the Flying Dutchman’ by George Sprod from a draft of camp magazine ‘The Chunkel’. -
Page 66 – 67 / 1941 – 42
‘Bill Williams on Swing’ by Bill Williams from a draft of camp magazine ‘The Chunkel’. -
Page 68 – 69 / 1941 – 42
‘Get a load of this!’ and ‘Rope’ articles by Bernard Campion and ‘Young Ronald’ and ‘Yah-sissy!’ cartoons by Ronald Searle from a draft of camp magazine ‘The Chunkel’. -
Page 70 – 71 / 1941 – 42
‘Books in the camp: Henry Esmond and Portrait of his Excellency’and cover and first page of the final copy of ‘The Chunkel’. -
Page 72 – 73 / 1941 – 42
‘Chunkel’ v.2 (cont.) Editorial, Opinion, ‘Bump’, ‘The Balance of Life’ and ‘The Intelligent Young Man’s…’ with George Sprod -
Page 74 – 75 / 1941 – 42
‘Chunkel’ v.2 (cont.) – ‘The Balance of Life’, ‘Yellow Curtains’, ‘Personality Parade’, ‘Get a load of this’ and ‘Protoplasm and Personality’ articles and ‘Persiflage’ cartoon by George Sprod. -
Page 76 – 77 / 1941 – 42
‘The Chunkel’, camp magazine, ‘Art Today’ buy Ronald Searle, ‘Protoplasm and Personality’, ‘Bill Williams on Swing’, 'Dancers' cartoon by George Sprod and ‘Drooling at the Dutchman’ by ‘Kirribilli’. -
Page 78 – 79 / 1941 – 42
‘Chunkel’ v.2 (cont.) – ‘The youth Williams’ cartoon and ‘Get a load of this’ (cont.), ‘Bill Williams on Swing’, ‘Spook Review’, cartoons by George Sprod and ‘Yah-sissy!’ cartoon and ‘Rope’ with George Sprod. -
Page 80 – 81 / 1941 – 42
‘Chunkel’ v.2 (cont.) – Back Cover and ‘Books’, Dates and names – unknown snd ‘Ship Ahoy!’ Hippodrome Programme, April 1942. -
Page 82 – 83 / 1941 – 42
The reverse of ‘Ship Ahoy!’ Hippodrome Programme, April 1942 with dates, names and list of acts and a pin-up sketch by Basil E. Ferron. -
Page 84 – 85 / 1941 – 42
Reverse of pin-up sketches by Basil E. Ferron, Song, ‘The Good Old Days’, by Willis Toogood, Note about ‘Mutual Help Association of P.O.W in Malay’ by W.F.Nicholas and ‘Wonderbar’ programme by Leo Britt. -
Page 86 – 87 / 1941 – 42
Reverse of Song, ‘The Good Old Days’, by Willis Toogood, Note about ‘Mutual Help Association of P.O.W in Malay’ by W.F.Nicholas. and ‘Wonderbar’ programme by Leo Britt. ‘Little White Room’ music score by Willis Toogood and list of poetic styles / techniques. -
Page 88 – 89 / 1941 – 42
Reverse of score on old letter from 1920 (unknown author) and reverse of poetic styles (hand-written names, unknown author) and ‘The Child Photographer’, script (unknown author). -
Page 90 – 91 / 1941 – 42
‘The Wild Photographer’ and ‘Bawdy’s Roman Holiday: Scene 1’, script by Unknown. -
Page 92 – 93 / 1941 – 42
Reverse of ‘Bawdy’s Roman Holiday Scene 1’, on list of Alexandra Hospital staff and ‘Bawdy’s Roman Holiday Scene 2’, script (unknown author). -
Page 94 – 95 / 1941 – 42
Reverse of ‘Bawdy’s Roman Holiday Scene 2’, on list of Alexandra Hospital staff, ‘Bawdy’s Roman Holiday Scene 2’ (cont.) and ‘Bawdy’s Roman Holiday Scene 3’, script (unknown author). -
Page 96 – 97 / 1941 – 42
Reverse of ‘Bawdy’s Roman Holiday Scene 3’, on list of Alexandra Hospital staff. and ‘Bawdy’s Roman Holiday Scene 3’ (cont.). -
Page 98 – 99 / 1941 – 42
Reverse of ‘Bawdy’s Roman Holiday Scene 3’, on list of Alexandra Hospital staff and ‘When we’re free’, song lyrics and plans for show. -
Page 100 – 101 / 1941 – 42
L: Reverse of song and plans, on military letters. R: ‘Bad Wogs and Englishmen’, song or poem. -
Page 102 / 1941 – 42