William Coates Nicholls
On the 14th. August we have a Probus meeting and this is what I will be telling members about the Far East War. I thought it was probably short enough to interest the children.I’d like to remind members that World War 11 did not end on V.E. Day, as so many people believe, but it finally ended 80 years ago tomorrow, 15th. August, 2025 on V.J.Day, Victory in Japan.
In 1942 the British Forces surrendered the island of Singapore to the Japanese and all servicemen, including Australian servicemen were taken into captivity. My father, a strapping lad, 23 years old, 5’10” tall and weighing 11 stones, was serving in the Royal Navy and stationed as a security officer at the dockyard. Till then the World was his oyster.My father became a P.O.W. After trying to escape on an Australian ship. He told me the captain ought to have been shot, instead of sailing directly south he kept sailing round the islands until they were torpedoed. Dad spent 48 hours in the water clinging to debris before being picked up by a Japanese boat.
Suffering with shrapnel wounds and a bullet in his back, near his spine, as soon as he arrived in Singapore he was operated on. He has always had great praise for the surgeon who removed the bullet and saved him from being in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.Most of the army prisoners were sent north to build the infamous railway but as Dad had previously served in the Royal Navy he spent the first two years of his incarceration on a ship bringing wood from Burma back to the Island. Every time the Japanese did something wrong on the journeys they blamed the prisoners who were beaten unmercifully.He spent the last 9 months in the infamous Changi Jail and each day, 6a.m. to 6p.m. they were marched to the site of the new Changi Airport to do hard labour, digging out the foundations of the new airport with picks and shovels.
Thankfully the USA dropped two atomic bombs on Japan, bringing the war to an end. TheEmperor had been warned that this would happen if he did not surrender, but he refused.Had the bombs not ended the war the Emperor was having a 5000 army trained to go into all prison camps and murder all prisoners on 1st. November.
At the time of the surrender by the Japanese Dad weighed 7 stone and could count every rib on his body. He was almost blind and suffering from several tropical diseases.
On returning home he regained his weight, putting on one and a half stone during the six week sea trip home. His health and eye sight improved by eating lots of Marmite which contains vitamin B and went on to live a good life, passing away at the age of 87, having suffered with various skin cancers, which no doubt were caused by wearing nothing but shorts for three and a half years in Singapore with continuous exposure to tropical sun.Due to his bravery and good luck I am here today and have two lovely grownup sons, two grandsons and two granddaughters. (And two luscious Daughters-in-law).
Mum and Dad tried to have a second baby for 12 years, but were unsuccessful. Mum went for numerous tests but they found nothing wrong. Dad refused to go for any tests, which was unfortunate, but probably the War years had caused a problem. This is not in my talk.
Written by Keith Nicholls