Changi POW Camp Daily Life


	A Play for Radio By Dorothy Nixon Changi Prison Women's Camp Daily Life: Administration Details kept by Deputy Representative CLICK HERE for more about daily life at Changi POW Camp and an original script about The Double Tenth Torture Incident at Changi Civilian Prison Of War Camp in 1942-44 Notes to Looking For Mrs. Peel Click here for list of POW's and Internees from my grandmother's Changi Diary. Gardening News 1942 Inside garden produced 14000 lbs of vegetables in November; 9000 lbs December,8816 January 1943. Reason for falling off, ground worked out and weather conditions. These figures show greater production than Chinese gardening results. Outside Gardens 2 acre plot, half planted, 1 2/5 cleared. Will be producing March and April, greens. 20 acres plot, 4 acres planted. Remainder will be planted by end April. NO bulls procurable or allowed by Nipponese. Men to pull plows but have taken old motor and may be able to fix up a tractor. Salt tanks have been fixed in Girdle Road. Expected production. 10 grammes a day. This is twice Nipponese Ration. I took Mrs. Logan. Interview as follows Name: Mrs. D. M. Logan Born: Kuala Lumpur Education: St. Margaret’s Harrow and Pension at Mt. Olivet Switzerland Age of Child: One Year Nine Months Husband: In POW camp. Gordon’s Corporal Are you happy here? No! Why? Husband not here and do not like prison What about food? I am not ill, but not good food and not enough. What about child? Better food than us. But not enough. Could do with more food. I was asked if I was a doctor. No, merely Women’s Deputy Representative. I said I did not wish to be interviewed. Retired gracefully. Expenditure Central Fund. Total to end December 1942 Total to end December: 443,000. Food 64%. 283,000 Tobacco and Cigarettes: 57,000 Medical Supplies: 30,500 Mattresses Bedding: 23,000 Electrical equipment, tools. 16,800 Sundries (razor blades, toothbrush) 32,000; 442,300 March and April: food per head per day 23.22 cts. November and December 50-60 cts. Food Details: Eggs: 37,000 Fruit and Vegetable, 21,000 Sugar, salt and g Malacca 7,000 Milk, 37,000 Margarine and Butter 23,000 Canned fish, 48,000 Bully Beef and Soup 37,000 Dried Fruits 22,000 Pineapple 6,500 Cheese 8,000….. 246,500 28.1.43 Naito sent for Mrs. Mulvaney. She called me and asked for name of active members of any Red Cross Society. Especially international. Rank and experience details, especially of war time work. Last war, this war. I was with her at this time. I asked Mrs. M. to put notice in queues and a notice was put on board by me. I discussed this matter with Mr. John and Mr. Jarret and they could see no reason to refuse these particulars. I went with Mr. M. to hand these particulars to MR. Naito. I took Lady Thomas and found journalists. She refused to be interviewed. Dr. Hopkins to return today. Committee meeting 8 2 43 1. Minutes of second meeting correct? 2. Arising. A) dogs. Approached men and asked about kennels.. Did not consider important. No timber now available. Must reserve every bit as several other building schemes at hand. Men’s sanitorium, etc. b) baggage. Answer Rendel about roof waterproofing and bamboo available. Hospital patients luggage: Read letter a (Mrs. Davidson) Letter B from HC Chairwoman. Communication from Dr. Worth. Too late to digest. 3. Communication with Men’s Executive Committee a) to approve charge for beds, stretchers up to maximum of 51 dollars. B) 1,000 put aside for repairs and new dentures at rate of 21 per tooth and repairs up to 10/. Cases to be paid out of this decided by Dr. Hanna and Dr. Boger and Dr. Worth on the women’s side for the women’s cases. 4. C) free issue eggs once weekly only to conserve finances on recommendation of finance and medical committees. Available funds to be spent on rice polishing, ground nuts, pulses and dahls. Better nutritional value for the money. D) letters have been sent to Nipponese authorities asking for release of MRs. S and M.2) arrangement s to be made for visit to this camp of International Red Cross and enclosing letter to Swedish minister in Tokyo. E) Read letter c. Communications with Nipponese Askings: 21.3.43. Permission for M. Caalem to go to Men’s Camp for tuition 4 days per week. (granted) 26.1.43. Armband for M. Caalem. Granted Toilet paper and kotex added to list of essentials for new innernees (yes) Boys to have haircut fortnightly in men’s camp. (granted) 21.8.43 Mrs. V McIntyre to meet husband on 28th anniversary. (No) Lorry or ambulance to collect perambulator outside Yes 29.1.43. Piano tuner to be allowed t visit. (yes) Lecturer for Men’s Camp weekly (granted) 1.2.43. Mrs. Webb’s Kettle and iron returned. YES 2/2/43/ Concert of classical music 17th or 18th February. Granted 11th. 3.2.43. Use of lavatory next to new office. (granted) Personally handed. 6.2.43. Mrs. Ennis send parcel to RH Scott (granted) Read letter re: Incident of 5th February (Mrs. Whyte). Ruling given stamped and signed. Mrs. Mulvaney and I were called to office and asked if we would like to build another attap hut, discussion outside walls. We looked at available space and I approached W. Johns and W. Rendell about fatigues. Mrs. M and I discussed fatigues with fatigue officer. Mr. Naito suggests Chicken farming and anything else we could suggest. Some food prices in store, February 1943 Cigarettes 30 cts. Soya sauce 50 cts a bottle Special crackers green tin, 4/30 5 lbs mamalade 8/50 Small jams. 1/50 Large cream crackers. 7/80 10 percent added everything. UP to 50 percent on foods. Profits to Central Fund. Committee January 25, 1943 Agenda Arising 1) Clothelines. Put in hand 2) General meeting. A floor vote taken. Large majority in favour of postponing all general meetings until position of new internees clarified. Floor representatives to carry on for further months. 3) Dr. Smallwood and mothers using corridors with young babies? 4) Baggage Room Protest HC 5) Dogs Kennels? 6) Cable to Canadian Prime Minister.Communication from Men’s X. Committee. Communication on Finance Question Time Asked Nipponese Number of new internees. Do not know (Today told 900) Number of Children . About 92 Hut to be built in East Garden for 100 new internees Asked if could be built outside, but within barbed wire. They said NO Points of Interest. Brandy to be made into rectified spirits for hospital use. Rose garden between 2.30 hour and 3.30 hour “Children’s Hour.” Lectures and Entertainment Feb 1, Lighter side of the law.. Adrian Clarke Feb 8 TUNIS McIverney 11th Classical concert in Rose Garden 15th Television NS Alexander 22nd. English wit and humour. WG Osborne March 7, Walk outside walls within barbed wire 22 Bathing Party 29th Nigeria. Aitken 6 Lectures on Design by R. Walker. Preliminary to classes on art. Tuesdays and Thursdays. 4-5 pm. Walk outside Walls Wednesday, Saturday and SUnday, 6-8 pm. First time out Monday. An exchange was made for men Sunday for Monday. Women, whole area excluding east of main gate and area north and south of eastern wall. No internee shall go outside wire. Must not speak to prisoner’s of war and non internees. Meal Times Schedule of Routine Times for Information of New Internees Meal Hours Breakfast 8:30 Tiffin 12:45 Afternoon Tea 3:50 Supper 5:45 Lights No lights to be switched on until 7:30 Lights Out 10:pm Silence Hour 2:30 to 3:30 Low talking only after 10 pm Silence 10:30 Showers 7:15 to 8 am 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm Hours Water from Boiler Bath and washing 7:15 to 10:am; 11:30 to 2Pm Tea coffee 10:30 to 11:30 am Cold drinking 8 am to 2 pm; 4 to 5 pm Camp shopping days, orders through camp representative Agenda One Minutes Last Meeting Dogs Fatigue for move East Upper Nuisance in School Room Notices put up about Ironing Baggage 2. Proposal of Dr. Worth: Library corner to be used as dressing station for ARP purposes. Library would like to move to other side next Iron. Married men’s committee asked w. Johns to ask if sick internees can be visited by relatives. This is being put before W. Asahi.