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Although there were Red Cross food parcels occasionally, these were much fewer and further between than for POWs in Europe. Some food was passed through the wires by Chinese women—some from the Wanchai bar district—loyal to their menfolk, often at great personal risk to themselves. As with most members of the armed forces during the Second World War, great dependency was placed on cigarettes. In prison camp, they also served as a form of currency. In spite of Spartan living conditions, gambling took place, sometimes for cigarettes or for Red Cross food parcels.
Constant hunger brought out the worst in people. There was unfairness, selfishness, and stealing. Yet there were many staunch characters, and mutual support was vital to see an inmate through. Three or four men bonded together stood a better chance of survival than the loner. There were few suicides, but many just "gave up the ghost" and ended it all. We are told there was no evidence of religious conversions as conditions in camp worsened. The number of deaths among British Army Indians is recorded as being higher than for Canadian or British soldiers, partly because conditions in their camp were worse. Pressure was put on Indians to enlist to fight against the British. That so many resisted was a demonstration of strength of character and loyalty to the British cause.
Illnesses such as diphtheria, dysentery, and malaria were ever-present, together with a shortage of medicine and medical facilities. Operations were sometimes carried out without anesthetics. Some inmates' hair turned white overnight, while others lost their sight. One prisoner even set himself up as a "bone crusher," breaking limbs on demand so that fellow prisoners could be given time off from work.
Accustomed to a Western lifestyle, differences in culture exacerbated the situation. European POWs did not enjoy a diet based on rice. Nor did they care for Japanese or Chinese tea without milk and sugar. A number of prisoners believed moxibustion, where pressure points on the body are stimulated not by needles but by burning mugwort, was a form of torture, although the Japanese may not have always administered treatment with the comfort of the patient in mind.
Mention is made in the book of a POW, although no name is given, who complained while on parade to the Red Cross that prisoners were
420
Although there were Red Cross food parcels occasionally, these were much fewer and further between than for POWs in Europe. Some food was passed through the wires by Chinese women-some from the Wanchai bar district - loyal to their menfolk, often at great personal risk to themselves. As with most members of the armed forces during the Second World War great dependency was placed on cigarettes. In prison camp they also served as a form of currency. In spite of spartan living conditions gambling took place sometimes for cigarettes or for Red Cross food parcels.
Constant hunger brought out the worst in people. There was unfairness, selfishness and stealing. Yet there were many staunch characters and mutual support was vital to see an inmate through. Three or four men bonded together stood a better chance of survival than the loner. There were few suicides but many just "gave up the ghost" and ended it all. We are told there was no evidence of religious conversions as conditions in camp worsened. The number of deaths among British Army Indians is recorded as being higher than for Canadian or British soldiers partly because conditions in their camp was worse. Pressure was put on Indians to enlist to fight against the British. That so many resisted was a demonstration of strength of character and loyalty to the British cause.
Illnesses such as diphtheria, dysentery and malaria were ever present together with a shortage of medicine and medical facilities. Operations were sometimes carried out without anesthetics. Some inmates' hair turned white overnight while others lost their sight. One prisoner even set himself up as a "bone crusher" breaking limbs on demand so that fellow prisoners could be given time off from work.
Accustomed to a western lifestyle, differences in culture exacerbated the situation. European POWs did not enjoy a diet based on rice. Nor did they care for Japanese or Chinese tea without milk and sugar. A number of prisoners believed moxi-bustion, where pressure points on the body are stimulated not by needles but by burning mugwort, was a form of torture although the Japanese may not have always administered treatment with the comfort of the patient in mind.
Mention is made in the book of a POW, although no name is given, who complained while on parade to the Red Cross that prisoners were
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