A peek inside Joey the ventriloquist doll

Joey the ventriloquist doll from Changi POW camp, owned by Tom Hussey, was used to entertain prisoners of war in Changi from December 1944 until their release.

This is the third “Joey” doll owned by Hussey during his service in the Second World War. He brought his first Joey to the war, but it was lost or destroyed during the fall of Singapore in 1942. The second Joey was made in Changi camp but had disintegrated by 1944 due to the tropical environment and harsh living conditions at Changi and on the Thai-Burma Railway. This third Joey was made in Changi in 1944 and was donated to the Memorial in 1947.

Last year we had an opportunity to closely inspect the doll’s construction by removing its jacket.

Head

Joey’s features were designed by cartoonist and artist George Sprod and the doll was made in a wood workshop in Changi.

The paint used on the doll was made from chalk and peanut oil. The red hair peeping out from under Joey’s cap is Hussy’s own hair. Joey’s mouth moved up and down and there is a ring at the neck to support the mechanism and stop the mouth moving too far down. The eyes probably moved from side to side, but are now static.

Body

Joey was made from materials found in Changi camp. His shoulders are carved wood and his arms and legs are jointed. Two hoops create the barrel shape of Joey’s torso which is supplemented by a piece of thick cardboard from an American Red Cross ration pack. The cardboard is in amazing condition and looks almost new. This feature was added in 1945 before Hussey left for home in mid-September. The legs and arms were articulated, made of carved wood, and were painted up to the joints.

Clothing

Joey’s outfit is made from a white, tropical civilian suit and two nurse’s celluloid cuffs joined together. This outfit has been signed by hundreds of prisoners. The signatures can be seen on an image taken of Joey and Tom in September 1945. They are still present today but have faded greatly since 1945.