| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | PR01167 |
| Collection type | Private Record |
| Record type | Collection |
| Measurement | Extent: 1cm; Wallet/s: 1 |
| Object type | Document, Map |
| Maker |
Unknown McCartney, Sydney |
| Place made | Malaya, Singapore |
| Date made | 1942-1945 |
| Access | Open |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copying Provisions | Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction. |
McCartney, Sydney (Private b.1915 - d.?)
Description
Collection relating to the Second World War service of VX45838 Pte Sydney McCartney, 2/29th Australian Infantry Battalion, Singapore, 1942-1945.
Collection consists of five documents collected by Pte McCartney while he was interred as a prisoner of war at Changi Goal. Documents contained in the collection are:
- One copy of a letter dated 15 February 1942, written by Lieutenant General A.E. Percival, General commanding Malaya, explaining that surrender is imminent and briefly explaining the reasons for this.
- One partial account of the actions that occurred on 15 and 17 February 1942, discussing the treatment of a hospital, likely the Alexander Military Hospital (these first two documents are written on the back of half-torn POW cards of unattributable origin).
- One written account of atrocities committed by Japanese soldiers attacking the Alexander Military Hospital in Singapore on 14 February 1942, including details of the killing of doctors and nurses despite them surrendering.
- One hand-drawn map of the Thai-Burma Railway naming many of the small towns and areas along the route, c.1945 (written on the back of a POW card belonging to a British Pte Albert Ernest Wyatt, 18th Division)
- One anonymous report entitled 'Report on Conditions of PW in Thailand, May to December 1943', which is written as a report to Japanese authorities and outlines the history of POWs sent from Changi to Thailand to build the railway, their treatment by Japanese soldiers, how this treatment goes against international conventions with regards to the rules of warfare that both Japan and Australia had ratified, and recommendations for improving the situation.