Cuthbert, Robert Henry (Captain, b.1917 - d.2006)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 133220 Captain Robert Henry Cuthbert, 196 Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, Singapore, Burma-Thai Railway, and the United Kingdom, 1942-1978.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Contains three folders of material relating to Captain Robert Henry Cuthbert.

Folder 1 of 3 consists of one handwritten copy and one typed copy of a memoir written by Captain Cuthbert. The memoir is titled 'Being a Brief Account of 3 1/2 Years', and relates to Captain Cuthbert’s experience of the fall of Singapore and time as a prisoner of war of the Japanese. In his memoir, Captain Cuthbert writes about treating casualties during the battle for Singapore, witnessing the Japanese advance, being wounded, the living conditions at Changi prisoner of war camp and subsequent camps, becoming ill, receiving mail from home, the entertainment in camps, being transported to Thailand and Burma, working in the camp hospitals to treat very ill prisoners who had worked on the Burma-Thai Railway, the Japanese administration of camps, the distribution of food and medical supplies, and the beginning of his journey home.

Folder 2 of 3 consists of one official statement by Captain Cuthbert, dated 12 April 1946. It is titled 'In the matter of Japanese war crimes and in the matter of the ill-treatment of prisoners of war at Anankwin camp on the Siam-Burma Railway'. In his statement, Captain Cuthbert records details of transport arrangements to various camps, living conditions in the hospitals where he served, poor hygiene and sanitation in the camps, poor diets, inadequate medical supplies, restrictions in performing operations, corruption of Japanese camp administration, and beatings by Japanese officers.

Folder 3 of 3 consists of 16 disability pension forms of Captain Cuthbert, dated between 7 February 1947 and 6 January 1978. These forms, issued by the Ministry of Pensions, United Kingdom, award Captain Cuthbert a pension for his disability arising from the gunshot wound he received during the battle for Singapore in 1942.

Captain Robert Henry Cuthbert served as a doctor with 196 Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps in Singapore during the Second World War. In February 1942, he was treating casualties during the Battle of Singapore when he received a gunshot wound to the head. Captain Cuthbert was taken as a prisoner of war of the Japanese, and slowly recovered from his wound in the hospital at Changi Prisoner of War Camp. From mid-1943, Captain Cuthbert served in camps on the Burma-Thai Railway, treating patients who were severely ill from a combination of malnutrition, infected wounds and tropical diseases. Captain Cuthbert was released in August 1945, and returned to his home in the United Kingdom. He later moved to Tasmania, Australia.