David William Manning as an Able Seaman, HMAS Perth 1941-1942 and as a Prisoner of War 1942-1945, interviewed by Aaron Pegram.

David Manning discusses early life and enlistment, and describes his experience aboard Perth under Japanese naval attack; getting into lifeboats; being picked up and taken eventually to Singapore; attitudes of Japanese soldiers and of indigenous populations; conditions in camp, the necessity for 'scrounging' for essentials such as food, clothing and bedding; friendships formed; observations on members of other Australian forces and of American forces who were also prisoners of war; working on the railway; description of how he avoided being sent to Japan; running the Kanburi camp library; working at at Chumphon on a rubber plantation and avoiding the japanese commanding officer if he were intoxicated; discussing plants with a Japanese guard; description of the day on which he found out war had ended. Persons and places mentioned include: Rohan Rivett; "Doc" Neale; Hugh Pohl; Freddy Mason; Monty Reynolds; Colonel Albert Coates; Colonel Nakatomo; Lieutenant Nito; Horoishi (Korean guard at Chumphon); Jakarta; Serang; Changi; Batavia; Burma; Rangoon; Moulmein; Thanbyuzayat; Kanburi; Taimuang Camp; Nakhon Pathom; USS Houston; 131st Field Artillery.

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