Evacuation of first Australian POW by sea from Singapore

Scenes on Singapore wharf as the first Australian prisoner of war (POW) from Changi and other Singapore POW Camps arrive to embark on HMAS Manunda, a Hospital Ship, to be taken to Australia. Approximately half the POW are stretcher cases, the rest, walking cases but some of these could only walk from the ambulance to the companionway with assistance from the reception personnel. A few POW are seen carrying articles made during their long imprisonment, one stretcher case, QX12079 Gunner Thomas Alfred Hussey, 2/10 Australian Field Regiment, can be seen holding on to a ventriloquist's doll he had made and a walking case, NX68416 Driver Alexander Leonard Pearce, 2/3 Australian Motor Ambulance Convoy, carried a banjo made by one of his friends. Also identified: Major Rose; Major General W E Tindall, Director of Medical Services (Allied Land Forces South East Asia) talking to medical officers at the Ship's side.