Unit diaries relating to service of Geoffrey W. Fennell - Wallet 1 - Part 14

wood, as we had no idea how long we should be in the place. The Barracks looked 
like an enormous anthill and the Square itself was packed with vehicles, cookhouses, 
little tents and shelters, as all the men could not possibly find accommodation 
under cover. We found a large clump of dark blue pullovers of Navy pattern, but 
found much more to concern us! As none of the latrines were working, summat had 
to be done pretty quickly so gangs of men with picks and shovels were put on to 
dig trenches 16 ft long x 16 ft deep x 2 ft wide, and also square urinal 
pits 16 x 16 in the asphalt square. Naturally they could not be dug in a moment!
That evening, at 2100 hrs, there was a Conference  called by the IJA which the Area 
Commanders and Regimental Commanders attended. At the preliminary conference, as 
a matter of interest, the following was mentioned:

1.  The water point would open at midnight and drawing times were allotted.

2.  No doors were to be used as firewood as they might be wanted later to use for 
fly proof latrines.

3.  Picquets were to be posted at first light to prevent men urinating all over 
the place.

4.  The Digging of latrines was to go on during the night.

5.  Reveille would be at 0800, a bugle would also go at 1200 and 22.45.

6.  The Roof gardens (!) would be allotted to units.

7.  No washing or feeding inside the building, but this was relaxed later.

8.  Floors to be cleaned up by 1100.

9.  No urinating over the balconies! Night buckets to be provided.

10. All rice to be washed down drains and not left about.

11. All live poultry to be eaten by 1100 hrs tomorrow.

12. Don’t throw cigarettes about.

The 11 Div Canteen would open 10.30 - 12.30 and 14.30 to 16.30.

13. When it got dark, it was really a sight worth remembering. Hurricane lamps were 
everywhere and the noise of thousands of voices was most impressive. Sing songs 
had started up in various places. In the middle of the square the digging was 
going merrily and the heap of earth gradually growing bigger and bigger.
About a quarter to nine, Major Fennell started to go across to the Guard Room 
and it was like crossing a Town Square on Market Day, what with trying to avoid 
tents, ropes, cookhouses, piles of stuff not to mention the danger of falling 

16 ft into a hole which has already being filled with P!
In front of the Guard Room was a table with a large candle on it, and just before 
nine somebody drove up in a large car and came towards the table. We could not see 
him very plainly but he had a little interpreter with him.

Col Holmes, the Commander, was in front with the three Gunner Area Commanders, Lt 
Cols Jephson, Harris and Tawney, and the Australian Col Gallagher (Black Jack!).

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The visitor then advanced to the table and addressed us as follows through the 
interpreter, and it was slow enough to be taken down verbatim by Major Fennell.

“I am Lt Colonel Okamu. Up to now I have had no direct connection with prisoners, 
as I have been in charge of arrangements to stop escaping. For this reason I have 
not met any of you before. I am going to give you advice on the condition of 
prisoners. By looking at me you will see that I have more experience of Army life by 
virtue of age (Silly old bugger!). The reason for this happening is that you have 
refused to sign the declaration.

There must be strict discipline in the Army. I think you are to blame for not 
stopping the trouble. The procedure is discipline and regulations. If you object, 
then you are to blame. You obey the regulations of other countries, so must obey 
regulations of my country. So I think you will agree to our proposal to sign the 

declaration. When you get your form again, there will be no cause for Court Martial. 
If you pomise to obey, you obey and no fear of being Court-martialled. If you don't 

compel men to sign, then they think they might escape.  The four men who were shot 

today, it was their fault.  But responsibility lay on the Commanding Officer.  Looking 

at this miserable thing today, if you don't warn men to sign,  then I fear you have no 

capacity.  If I were CO in this group, I would take the whole responsibility and 

persuade them. I would throw away property and reputation for my men.  I believe 

officers must sacrifice for their men so their men must sacrifice for their officers. 

I think officers must sacrifice something for men in this event.

All of you are of mature age. Don't you still cling to your property?  I would throw 

it away from me.  I can't hope to persude you to understand what I say and do the 

necessary thing. How long these miserable conditions last depends on you. Our 

way is our regulation and same all countries. If you do not do something to improve 

the lot, your men will try to escape being innocent. It is very sad. Some of you 

expect that troops will come from USA and Home to rescue to you.  But it will not be 

so because the greater part of the USA Navy is sunk and also the British Navy. 

Do you expect that any troops will rescue you?  I fear and believe your hopes will not 

be fulfilled so no-one will escape from here. You will test my statement about the 

Japanese Navy when you get home and read it in the papers. Propaganda wireless is 

untrue. Beginning of August, 40 Warships were sunk in the Solomon Islands, and in 

the second battle more were damaged.  In the near future more bigger battles and the 

result the same. From Pacific to Africa there is nothing to stop the Japanese Navy. 

I am sorry you will try to escape and rescue will not come.   It is a dream and will 

not arise. So you must consult and take responsibility to avoid miserable things to 

men who are innocent.  

Tonight and tomorrow consult and do something to change as conditions are unhealthy 

I am already an old man and offer this advice to you.  I am now ready to ask any 

questions.''

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Col Homes then made the following points:
a. Our King forbade officers to give their parole and it was against our 
National honour to do so.

b. The men had not been intimidated and it was possible for anyone to sign 

if they wanted to.  By 14000 to 4 they were against it.

c. The discipline was excellent otherwise how could the move have been 
conducted in the fine way it had been.

d. Men had already been warned that at the present time it was foolish to 

try and escape.

e. All POWs would be prepared to sign a certificate that they understood the 

penalty of escaping was death.

f. Permission was asked to write a letter to the Japanese General explaining 

our code of honour regarding this.

g. He thanked Col Okamu for having come to explain matters but again 

repeated that under no circumstances would he sign the certificate voluntarily.

We all said “Hear, hear” and Col Gallagher, the Australian Commander, clapped 
Col Homes on the back and said “Well done, old Boy!”
On the way back, it was seen that the latrine digging was getting on well. Some 
of them had got quite deep, and the diggers had to work by hurricane lamp. As 
it was by now 2230 most of the men were asleep huddled up in every sort of 
position and it was only with some difficulty that the verandah could be reached 
at all. Fortunately it was the top storey and so was quite airy.
Next morning, we all got going about 0830 but washing was out of the question as 
all available water had to go to the cookhouse. The men got rice, jam and rice 
cakes for breakfast, but it was very late, as we got a late time for drawing 
from the well. As we did not know how long this business was going on, and 
whether we should get any more wood, it was decided to cut meals down to 2 
a day at about 10.30 and 18.30, until we knew the answer. Reckoning in tables 
and forms and shelves etc etc, we thought we should have enough wood for 5 days 
and we were well off for food, much better than most, but then we were a Regular 
Regiment!
After breakfast there was a COs conference and a Special Order of the Day by 
Colonel Holmes was read and was:

 “The Commander British and Australian Troops, Changi congratulates all officers, 
NCOs and men on the splendid manner in which yesterday’s difficult move was 
carried out, and the cheerfulness and good discipline being shown by all ranks 
in the present difficult circumstances. The Commander, Changi wishes everyone to 
realise that he is making continuous efforts to obtain an honourable settlement 
with the Japanese, by which the present conditions may be brought to an end.

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Meanwhile he knows that he can rely on all ranks to continue to display the 
fine example shown yesterday”.

After that, several points were discussed. The Chief Doctor reported that there 
were already 4 cases of diphtheria and 40 cases of dysentery, and, in spite of 
all precautions, an epidemic was almost a certainty. At the Area Commanders 
conference held at 9 am, the above had been considered and it was realised that 
once a real epidemic started it would be practically impossible to stop.
We had made a gesture against signing voluntarily and made it quite clear that 
any signature obtained would be only obtained under duress, and therefore 
comparatively valueless. Under The Hague Convention, the Japs would not have been 
allowed to put us in these inhuman conditions, but they did not sign the Convention.

We were then told that Col Homes was to see Col Okamu at 10 am and to try and 
persuade them to alter the wording of the certificate and at any rate to put the 
demand in writing in an official order and get them to say what would happen if we 
did not sign. At the same time, official War Artists who were in the Camp would be 
instructed to depict the conditions which, though not quite as bad as the Black 
Hole of Calcutta, were nevertheless not too good! Unit Commanders were asked if 
they approved of what had been done, and the unanimous answer was “Yes”, and 

everyone was very glad that a firm stand had been taken against signing voluntary.
This news was then passed on to all officers and men. The men were all lying 
about reading and playing cards and various “monopoly” sets were in use, also our 
old friend Jutland. Our Signal Section, being mostly Scotsmen, had produced a 
Monopoly set of their own with a decided Glasgow flavour, and St Enoch Station and 
Queen St took the place of Euston and Kings X, but what Park Lane was I forget! 
Owing to buying some tinned fish from the Canteen, there were to be 3 meals!
During the afternoon there was another conference at which Regimental Commanders 
were told that Col Homes had seen Col Okamu at 1000 hrs and had presented him 
with an amended form which read:

“Under Orders of the Japanese Army, I promise not to escape under any circumstances 
and I fully recognise that if I do so I incur an extreme penalty”. The object of 
this amended form was to show that it was signed under duress, but the actual word 
was not used as the Japanese interpreter was very poor, and he would probably get 
it all wrong, not knowing the word.

We were told that the Chief Legal adviser to Malaya Command had been called in by 
the Japs and asked for the meaning of all sorts of words, which made one think that 
they were toying with some sort of amendment. Col Okamu had said that the wording 
of the form had come from Tokyo, though it was pointed out that the forms had 

obviously been printed locally! However, he said that nothing could be done without

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reference to Tokyo. He said that he would go back to the General and give him 
the latest developments. He stressed the fact that he was an old Soldier and 
was trying to help us, but the general impression was that he was an affable 
old scoundrel and quite ruthless!

Other items at the Conference were that there was no news about supplies of 

Firewood. There were enough rations for the whole Force for 2 days, Full Scale, 
and 1 day’s Hard. The ration was to be 15 oz Rice and 8 oz flour. There would 
be an issue of 5 cigarettes per man during the afternoon (Loud Cheers!).
That evening there was a large concert held in the Square organised by a joint 
committee of Australians and ourselves. All the female impersonators turned up 
and it was really a very good show. It finished up by singing Land of Hope and 
Glory and the National Anthem, and was really a most inspiring effort.

Two jokes heard during the darkness are worth of record.
1.1st voice     Hows’ta gettin on Bill?
2nd voice       Ahve falling int - - - - shit ‘ole, ahm lying on a ma - - - face and ah’d  
(about 16ft      sooner be lying on a --- woman!
down)             
2. Voice is very broad Scotch (could it be a Gordon!) -“I always wanted to tell 
the Colonel I’d like to shit in his bloody barrack square, and now I’m bloody well doing it!”
At about 1000 hrs, on Sep 4th we were told that the amended form had been 
presented to the Japanese at 0800 hrs, and that Col Okamu had again said that 
the form had been sent from Tokyo and could not be changed. It was then decided 
to ask the IJA to produce an order in writing ordering all officers and men to 
sign. Col Okamu was asked what would happen if the form was not signed in view 
of the appalling conditions, and he answered that Rations and Water would be 
reduced, and if illness broke out it was no concern of theirs. (The sick from 
Roberts Hospital would also be moved into Selerang). He was then asked if we 
should go back to our areas if the papers were signed and he said “Yes”. The 
following points had also been brought up. In spite of signing, a few might try 
to escape in the future. Unit Commanders would do what they could to prevent 
it but could not be held responsible. On being asked whether the IJA would 
differentiate between men caught up-country and obviously trying to escape, 
and those found outside the wire scrounging, it was agreed there would be a clear 
distinction.
Unit Commanders were then asked to think it over and give their opinions as to 
whether we should sign or not. The unanimous opinion was that it was our job 
to keep fit and well, and ready to cooperate with any rescuing forces later. We 

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were now being made to sign at the pistol point. Disease was a certainty and 
the health of many might be permanently affected, and anyhow we should be in no 
fit state to help later. The removal of patients from Roberts Hospital would

cause many deaths. It was decided that provided a written order was received 
from the IJA, the Commander should issue a similar one ordering all ranks to sign. 
The Area Commander went off and told Col Holmes of the opinion arrived at.
The rest of the day was spent wandering round to see old friends, and many of the 
Regiment found people in other areas they never even knew were in Malaya. 
During the day there was a very heavy shower of rain, and the whole place was 
full of naked people having a real good wash as soap in those days was quite 
plentiful! Some unfortunate people were rather slow on the uptake, and found 
themselves covered in soap, and no water to take it off, as the rain stopped 

suddenly!
At 1800 hrs there was another Conference. We were told that during the day 
Lt Okasaki, the Liaison Officer, had brought over IJA Order No 17, in which we 
were ordered by General Fukuji to sign the forms. The Area Commanders had been 
called over at 1700 hrs, and we were shown this order. The Medical Officer 
reported that there were now 10 cases of Diptheria, and dysentery cases were on 
the increase and would remain so. Col Holmes had again been told that the 
question of illness was of no interest to the Japanese if the form was not signed. 
They had also mounted a number of MGs.

He therefore issued Special Order No 2 which read: 
1.The requirements by the Imperial Japanese Army issued under Order No 17 of 
31/8/42 that all ranks POW Camp Changi should be given the opportunity to sign 

the certificate promising not to escape has been amended in a revised IJA Order 
No 17 dated 2/9/42 to a definite order that all officers, NCOs and men shall sign 
the undertaking.

2. I therefore now order that these certificates will now be signed by all ranks 
and handed to Malaya Command HQ by 1100 hrs 5/9/42.

3. The circumstances in which I have been compelled to issue this order will be 
made the subject of a Special Order which will be issued later. Every effort 
will be made to broadcast the true facts by giving a full account to the local 
Red Cross representative, and prevent the IJA from making propaganda by pretending 
that the signing has been voluntary.

4. It is expected that the move back to areas will take place tomorrow afternoon, 
and further instructions will be issued later.
On return to the Regiment, this order was read out and the certificates were signed 
under sub-unit arrangements. This was completed later in the evening and handed 
into RHQ for counting first thing in the morning. Imagine the disgust when it was

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found that there was one form too many! After much checking it was found 
that one man had been let out of Detention to come with us. He had been 
reported officially to 11 Div by RHQ but his Battery Sgt Major had already told 
the RA Staff Sgt at Division, who had taken it upon himself to subtract 1 from 
the figures we submitted!
The move was to take place at 1300 hrs, so an early meal was served at  1200. As 
soon as the flag fell a small party was rushed over to keep out marauders and, 
fortunately, our barracks were found to be exactly as we had left it. Other 
areas were not so fortunately placed as Sikhs and Malays had evidently been 
on the prowl. The move back was completed by 1800 hrs Southern Area and 18 Div 
being given preference in order of march, owing to the extra distance to be 
covered. “Anastasia” was observed marching at the head of a company, and was 
certainly not looking as spruce as she did in “The Dover Roads”! 

So ended the Selerang Incident. The general impression was that the IJA had for 
the first time received a really concerted kick in the pants, and the spirit 
shown by everybody had been excellent, and we did feel that the British and 
Australians were now a united force, which might be a very formidable weapon 
in the future. Col Holmes, our new commander, had established a good reputation 
and it was felt that he handled a very delicate situation with firmness and tact. 
You certainly could not say the same for the old Malaya Command!

There were humorous sides to it all. The IJA had wanted to have all the houses 
in view of the sea emptied. During this flap they completely forgot that, 
and put everybody in blocks, from which you could almost see India! All the 
prisoners were let out of detention so that it proved a sort of holiday for them! 
They had to be returned to Temple Hill later, though.
Various statisticians got to work and the following facts emerged for British and 
Australians:

1. 17900 bodies occupied 7 Barrack Blocks.
2. Average space available per man 3ft x 2 ft.
3. Density of population 1900 per acre.
4. 6½ tons excreta produced per day!

The latrines were filled in, but the scars on the sacred asphalt parade ground 
will remain for ever. (On the “England Maru”, 393 bodies lived in a space 50 ft x 
70 ft)

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The 5 Field Regiment War Memorial

The date fixed for the unveiling of the War Memorial was Sunday, Sept 13th at 
1500 hrs. A lot of work had been put into the site, and 3 Marble slabs had 
been brought from a bungalow in the scrounging area, and the Heading and the names 
of the Fallen had been beautifully inscribed by a professional artist in the 
Lanarkshire Yeomanry. We had managed to get some very nice spiked chains, to 
form a small enclosure round it, during our visit to Selerang so “It’s an ill 
wind . . . . !”
The site of the memorial was at the curve in the road near the Sgts Mess, and 
was the place where all fatigues fell in, and also where most people congregated 
to chat and smoke after dark. It was felt that it was in the very heart of the 
community. Grass sods were put down and a few shrubs and small trees planted, 
and it really looked very nice.
There was some difficulty over the attendance of the Roman Catholics at the 
Service. It had been intended that the Service should be held by Padre Pugh 
the Regimental Chaplain, as the majority of the Regiment were Church of England. 

The Roman Catholic Chaplain refused to co-operate and warned all Roman Catholics 
that they should not attend the service and that a separate service would be 
held for RC’s if required. As this was entirely against the spirit of the 
memorial, in order to avoid unpleasantness, Major Fennell decided to take the 
service himself, and invited the three Chaplains to attend as members of the 
congregation. This was agreed to.
Fortunately the afternoon was fine, and the Regiment were drawn up in close order 
round the memorial with the officers and the 3 Padres in front. The Service 
started by all saying The Lord’s Prayer, then a prayer for all loved ones, one 
for the bereaved relatives and lastly for the fallen themselves in which we 
were asked to remember the killed in the 8th and 22nd Indian Brigades and the 
8th Australian Division. The names of the 29 Fallen were then read out with 
brief details as to where they had died, and, where they had been buried. 
Col Jephson then read “We shall remember them”. The Last Post was beautifully 
played by an Australian Bugler. 2 Minutes’ Silence followed and then Col Jephson 
unveiled the Memorial by taking off the Union Jack. The Bugler sounded the 
Reveille followed by the first verse of “Abide with me” sung by all, during the 
singing of which 4 beautiful wreaths were laid on the Memorial by an officer, 
Sgt, NCO and other rank. The National Anthem was next sung and the parade was 
dismissed. During the Service there was a Guard of Honour on duty at each 
corner of the Memorial consisting of Lt (AM) Horner, RQMS Scotland, Bdr Carson 
and Driver Forster, the oldest soldiers in service of each rank. Everyone 

agreed that the little service had been most impressive. It was decided that if

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possible, the Memorial would be removed to the main cemetery at the end of 
the war as no-one could tell what units would occupy Birdwood Camp.
More Items of General Interest

We have been advised to eat more Peanuts, Fresh Vegetables. Rice Husks and 
Whitebait to bring our vitamins up to scratch, so Local Purchase orders were 
amended accordingly. Men discharged from Hospital were still undernourished 
and every effort was made in the dieting to prevent men having to go to 
Hospital at all. Everyone was suffering in various forms from lack of vitamins, 
the most frequent sign being soreness in and round the mouth. The party had 
returned from Kranji and there were a number of cases of skin disease, and also 
the aforementioned “Bukit Timah Bollocks”. Meat was being issued every now 
and then, but each issue had to last about 3 days, and was usually mixed up and 
made into pasties.
Toward the end of September a Diet Centre was started next door to the Canteen 
in 11 Div Area. Lt Col Napier, 80 Anti Tank Regt, was put in charge of it, and 
the funds were got from Canteen profits, and the units paid $1 for every 10 
days that any of their men attended. At first, 20 men could be taken, and were 
men who had been discharged from Hospital and required fattening up. They 
received their extra feed at 11.30 and 16.30 consisting of eggs in various forms, 
peanuts, rice polishings etc. The Regt had 6 vacancies in the first allotment, 
and they soon showed signs of improvement.
On Saturday Sept 19th a Japanese Medical Major-General went round the main 
Hospital, and said he was appalled at the number of cases. He was promptly 
supplied with a revised scale of rations, but nothing appeared to be done about 
it as the scale remained the same.
On Sunday Sept 20th, music lovers were regaled with “The Snow Music” from 
Wagner’s “Siegfried” sung by Lauritz Melchior; Mendelssohn’s “Italian Symphony”;
Paganini’s “Perpetus Momento”, played on the violin by Yenudin(?) in a somewhat 
breathless pace - a duet from “La Boheme”, the Garden Scene from Faust, and 
Tchaikovsky’s No4 Symphony.
The IJA decided that in future officers would receive pay instead of Amenity 
Money at the following rates: $30 for Captains and above, $20 for Lieuts and 
$10.80 for 2Lts. As the IJA provided no money for the running of the Hospital, 
although it was their duty to do so, a subscription of $10 was made by Captains 
and above, and $5 from Lts; the Hospital and the Men’s Messing benefitting by 
$5 and $2.50 respectively.

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On Saturday Sept 26th there was a first rate Concert by the 18 Div, Male Voice 
Choir consisting of about 20 voices. The first three items were “Comrades in Arms”, 
“Drink to me only”, and “Here’s a health unto his Majesty”, sung by the full 
Choir. A baritone, and a really first class piano accordionist, followed, who 
brought down the house. A tenor then sang “A Wandering Minstrel I” and “Take a 
pair of Sparkling Eyes”. Then came one of the best items. Denis East, 
the violinist we had heard before, teamed with the Piano accordionist in a 
Hungarian Rhapsody, with a “Czardas” as an encore. The choir rounded the concert 
off by rendering Brahms’ Lullaby, and the Toreador Song from Carmen.
During the week another party arrived from Java, mostly Anti-Aircraft gunners, 
and Coast Defence. The Commanding Officer gave a very interesting lecture. A 
very strong position called “The Iron Ring” had been taken up in the mountains 
and had been well stocked with provisions and ammunition. Unfortunately the 
Dutch Government, under whose orders they were, decided to capitulate. They 
were probably influenced by the fact that they still had their wives and families 
with them. The Japanese had gone straight on after the Fall of Singapore and 
there had been no chance to evacuate them.
Other arrivals at this time were a mixed party of British and Australians, who 
had been captured up-country and had been imprisoned in the Civil Jail at Kuala 
Lumpur. Amongst them was our old friend Capt Young, R Sigs the 22 Bde Signal 
Officer in Kuantan. We were even more pleased to welcome Signaller Freakes, who 
had been missing since being sent as part of an observation post away on Pengorak 
as described earlier on.
On Thursday, Sept 24th, there was a 3 cornered Musical and General Knowledge Bee 
held in the Div Theatre between teams from 11 Div, 3rd Ind Corps HQ and the AIF. 
Lt Beecroft was in the 11 Div team. It was most amusing, and contained such 
puzzlers as “What is a Dodo, Phoenix and Pterodactyl”. Give meaning of “Eschatology”, 
“Neophasm” etc, also a promotion Exam based on the Major-General’s Song from the 
Pirates of Penzance including “Ravelin”, Paradox”, (?) Don, Marathon etc! 
11 Div won, with 3 Corps second and AIF third. The No 2 of the AIF was a most 
amusing little man with spectacles and very few teeth, who made the most terrific 
guesses!
The Bee had finished with a Musical Section. The first part consisted of concealed 
tunes (ie Walk with the Bishop of London - Lambeth Walk). In the second, a list 
had to be made of the names of tunes played on the piano and finally questions had 
to be answered by the names of tunes, ie “What did Solomon say when making his 
famous Judgement?” Answer “Whose Baby are You, dear”!!
During the first week of October there was a Boxing Display to celebrate the 
opening of “Horner’s Stadium”. The best fight of the evening was between BSM Farnell

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