Allan, Sheila (Civilian, b.1924 - d.2022)

Transcript of diary (plus several pages of original) of teenage girl describing movements with family through Malaya to Singapore, air raids, surrender, internment in Changi prison for women with step-mother, camp administration and activities (including concerts, arts and crafts, and production of newspaper called `Weekly pow-wow'), illness, camp politics, school, move to Sime Road Camp, illness and death of Australian father in civilian mens camp, dangers of keeping a diary, Japanese surrender, post-victory events and flight via Labuan and Morotai to Australia to live with aunt. Includes postscript to diary describing return to Changi and Sime Road camps in 1992, also minutes of camp meeting, Christmas and birthday cards, condolence letters, poems and a short story, concert programmes and post-internment messages regarding diet and repatriation. Highly descriptive account of a young woman's feelings and experiences as a civilian prisoner. Diary was published under the title `Diary of a girl in Changi 1944-45".