The work site was a very dangerous place to be. The ground was soft and
easy to dig, but for that reason the tunnels were very unstable. A cave-in
could happen at any time. Fortunately only one serious accident happened
when Harry Irvine's leg was broken when the roof caved in on him.
easy to dig, but for that reason the tunnels were very unstable. A cave-in
could happen at any time. Fortunately only one serious accident happened
when Harry Irvine's leg was broken when the roof caved in on him.
Some of us were sent out to cut trees for props to shore up the tunnels.
On the grounds of the University of Hong Kong, with primitive Japanese
saws that cut on the pull stroke, we cut some beautiful ornamental trees
and hauled them back to the work site.
On the grounds of the University of Hong Kong, with primitive Japanese
saws that cut on the pull stroke, we cut some beautiful ornamental trees
and hauled them back to the work site.
The logs were bound together and erected at the mouth of the tunnel in a
ramshackle frame. It didn't look very professional and no doubt would not
have been very effective in the event of a cave-in.
ramshackle frame. It didn't look very professional and no doubt would not
have been very effective in the event of a cave-in.
The tunnels went straight into the hill for about thirty feet, then drifted to
one side at ninety degrees for another twenty or so feet, then straight in
again.
one side at ninety degrees for another twenty or so feet, then straight in
again.
The purpose of this zig-zag pattern was probably meant to confuse any
intruder, but the effect on us diggers was nothing less than uncomfortable
and very dangerous.
intruder, but the effect on us diggers was nothing less than uncomfortable
and very dangerous.
Conditions at the end of the tunnel were bad. It was hot and there was
very little air. Five minutes there was the most a man could take.
very little air. Five minutes there was the most a man could take.
The lighting system was primitive, but enough to cast a dim glow at the
end of the five-foot-high hole.
end of the five-foot-high hole.
Tunnelling
Sunlight
A mirror was set up at the mouth of the tunnel, reflecting light in to the first
corner, where a second mirror caught the reflected light from outside.
corner, where a second mirror caught the reflected light from outside.
At the next corner, a third mirror caught whatever light was reflected from
the second one, and directed it to the work face.On a bright, sunny day, it
was somewhat effective, but on a dull day you can understand that it left a
lot to be desired.
the second one, and directed it to the work face.On a bright, sunny day, it
was somewhat effective, but on a dull day you can understand that it left a
lot to be desired.
Using a pick to scratch down the earth was backbreaking in that low hole,
and wearing only a fandochi, the heat was intolerable. The loose earth was
carried out in baskets, coolie style, to be dumped out side the cave.
and wearing only a fandochi, the heat was intolerable. The loose earth was
carried out in baskets, coolie style, to be dumped out side the cave.
I could never understand how a "coolie" with a bamboo pole across his
or her shoulders, with a basket at each end of the pole, could carry as
much as two of us. I found that, in my weakened condition, one basket of
earth,filled to the brim on a pole between me and another POW, was all
that I could take.
or her shoulders, with a basket at each end of the pole, could carry as
much as two of us. I found that, in my weakened condition, one basket of
earth,filled to the brim on a pole between me and another POW, was all
that I could take.
You'll get used to it!
Things in the "lines" had more or less stabilized by this time. Perhaps we
were getting "acclimatized" to conditions, but hunger and disease in the
form of beri beri and pellagra still persisted.
were getting "acclimatized" to conditions, but hunger and disease in the
form of beri beri and pellagra still persisted.
Roll call was still taken regularly twice a day, but on top of that we were
frequently called out in the middle of the night, sometimes in pouring rain,
on some pretext or other.
frequently called out in the middle of the night, sometimes in pouring rain,
on some pretext or other.
Usually it was because our captors suspected that there was a radio in the
camp, or that someone had concealed a pair of wire-cutters. The sick, the
halt, and the blind were not excused these parades, but that provided us
with an excuse for the sick person carry a small stool to sit on while roll
call was being taken. Strangely enough, the Japs permitted this.
camp, or that someone had concealed a pair of wire-cutters. The sick, the
halt, and the blind were not excused these parades, but that provided us
with an excuse for the sick person carry a small stool to sit on while roll
call was being taken. Strangely enough, the Japs permitted this.
News from the Real World
We had in our camp, some survivors of a Dutch submarine that had been
captured in the vicinity of Java. Some of these men were geniuses. They
always seemed to have a radio which they had built in the camp.
captured in the vicinity of Java. Some of these men were geniuses. They
always seemed to have a radio which they had built in the camp.
They were able to make a radio out of the merest bits of junk they were
able to find or something they were able to make to substitute for radio
parts.
able to find or something they were able to make to substitute for radio
parts.
Sometimes they were found out, and I remember specifically, a huge
Dutchman who was severely bloodied because he had been found in
possession of that most illegal of objects, a radio.
Dutchman who was severely bloodied because he had been found in
possession of that most illegal of objects, a radio.
The Dutchmen discretely shared the news they managed to pick up on the
air waves, with a select number of fellow-POWs, because to broadcast it
in camp would probably have resulted in a surprise search, always a
dangerous situation.
air waves, with a select number of fellow-POWs, because to broadcast it
in camp would probably have resulted in a surprise search, always a
dangerous situation.