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When the parcel system was agreed upon for the camp, he persuaded the I.R.C. to meet the cost of large quantities of tinned soya beans which he sent to the camp by means of distributing these among the families (2 to 4 tins each month per family) for onward transmission by parcels to the prisoners. This system was still in being at the time of his arrest.
Small sums of money were also sent in periodically through the I.R.C. to the doctors in the camp and when parcels started Dr. Selwyn-Clarke, in his own name, sent two or three parcels each week to the senior doctor which included different kinds of medicines. A list of Canadians wounded during
hostilities was also available and he arranged for parcels to be sent by the lady helpers from time to time to the men listed. Some of these parcels were unfortunately returned as the men had either died or been transferred to Japan. It is known that many of the parcels reached the men and that they were most grateful for them as many cards of appreciation were received by the ladies concerned. Drugs were sometimes routed through the Bowen Road Hospital but this means was not always open.
As an example of one of the diseases rampant in this camp, I would mention the case of a Swede interned there in error for fifteen months. This man was released in March, 1943, and was sent to the French Hospital for treatment. He was suffering from a complaint designated "Electric Feet" and we were assured that many worse cases were known in the camp. This man suffered considerable agony and could not stand without moving from foot to foot. His arms and hands had no feeling and at best he could only sleep for about two hours each night. He mentioned others who could not sleep at all and spent each night walking up and down their rooms.
To sum up this section, I would add that here again the I.R.C. Delegate failed in his duty. Beyond arranging for payment of two small allowances, he did little to help these
men.
H.
ARGYLE STREET PRI SONER-OF-WAR CAMP.
This camp was reserved for officers who were in receipt of allowances and parcels and had a canteen from which they could buy supplies. They were as healthy as could be expected in the circumstances and were not therefore in need of help beyond supplies of medicines which Dr. Selwyn-Clarke sent in by parcels as required.
I.
MA TAU CHUNG PRISONER-OF-WAR CAMP FOR INDIANS.
He was unfortunately not in a position to assist the poor men in this camp to any extent as the Japanese had continually been making efforts to persuade these men (by their own methods) to give up the British cause. What he did for them he kept to himself, but I do know he managed to get supplies of medicines to some of the men.
Before closing this report it is my privilege to honour a man whose name will ever be blessed by the many thousands of persons benefitting from his personal guidance, help (both professional and otherwise), and outstanding courage. I have compiled this report entirely from memory and unfortunately have only been able to include in it such of his many heroic actions as I can at the moment remember. acts of bravery are too numerous to mention in a report of this nature, but I have little doubt that in time they will be more fully appreciated by those who have at present little knowledge of his many kind deeds.
Hi s
It was my great pleasure, for some months, to both work and live with Dr. Selwyn-Clarke, and during this time
he
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