Challenging the myths surrounding the Changi prisoner of war camp

On 15th February 1942, over 97,000 British and Commonwealth troops and local volunteers were surrendered to General Yamashita of the 25th Imperial Japanese Army. His devastating driving charge through Malaya and Singapore crushed the undertrained, unprepared and under-equipped polyglot army in less than ten weeks. Yamashita’s victory severely dented the British Empire’s prestige and left her fighting forces exhausted, humiliated and disillusioned.

The surrendered personnel were separated into two groups. Around 45,000 Indian Army troops (less their British officers), were told to assemble at Farrer Park on 17th February. They were gathered to hear speeches encouraging them to join the Indian National Army to fight against the British oppressor and gain independence. The alternative was torture, beatings, death or imprisonment. Some British officers encouraged their men to defect. Most did.

Liberated Allied prisoners lying in a corridor and looking out of cell doorways in Changi Prison, Singapore. Image: Wikimedia Commons/State Library of Victoria

As the Indian troops were being addressed, their largely white Anglo-Saxon counterparts, were beginning their long hot march from their barracks to Changi, the large British army base in the isolated north-eastern corner of Singapore. It had been re-designated a Prisoner of War camp and for the lucky ones, would be their home for the duration.

Changi had only been completed in 1941, and was one of the most modern and best equipped British military bases in the world. It covered 24km2 and included sports facilities, two cinemas (one of which was air-conditioned), a garrison school and a golf course. There were landscaped areas, and it enjoyed ‘one of the finest natural settings of any military base anywhere in the world.’ Although extensively damaged during Yamashita’s feigned attack from the east, Changi was a haven of peace for over 52,000 hungry and weary men who trooped in and settled into their divisional areas. It was to become a place which some called heaven.

So how did Changi morph into a supposed hell-camp where Japanese guards regularly tortured British and Australian POWs during their three and a half-year’s captivity?  

Largely from popular but inaccurate TV dramas, film, YouTube videos and Wikipedia entries. Add to this a collective loss of memory and a willingness to use Changi as shorthand for all Japanese atrocities in the Far East. This view has been challenged by historians and museums for over 25 years but it’s hard to dispel. Nevertheless, those of us who know the truth cannot give up for the sake of the former POWs, their descendants and friends.

Myth #1 – Changi was a hell-camp.

No it was not. Other camps were, but not Changi. In fact, Changi was ‘one of the most benign of the Japanese POW camps.’

Whilst the Japanese maintained control over the whole camp, it was British and Australian officers who were responsible for enforcing discipline and the daily organisation within their divisional areas. Therefore the POWs had a degree of autonomy and importantly, could move freely within these areas and it was their own military police/provosts who dealt with infractions.

Drying and trimming soles by Des Bettany. Courtesy of “Don’t Ever Again Say, It Can’t be Done: the story of Changi Industries”  by Capt. John G Clemetson 

Senior officers wanted to restore military discipline and, for the majority, care for the physical, mental and spiritual needs of their men. Therefore once immediate needs, like food, shelter, water, hygiene and sanitation were met, consideration turned to enriching activities to improve their situation and maintain morale. Some of the earliest initiatives came from local volunteer forces for whom Malaya was home. For instance, former rubber tappers and planters who used their expertise and knowledge to establish Changi Rubber Factory.

This was followed by other factories producing items such as brooms, glasses and prosthetics. A book-binding factory which repaired books leant by the numerous camp libraries and universities sprang up in all divisional areas. In addition, there were dentists and barbers, sports competitions, theatres and religious services.

Australian Imperial Force (AIF) concert party entertaining troops in Changi. 1942. Courtesy of Australian War Memorial

Myth #2 – Japanese regularly tortured / beat the POWs

The Japanese largely stayed out of the divisional areas and patrolled the routes between them. A few Sikh guards occasionally intruded to abuse or humiliate POWs. Indeed, after this happened once too often, there was a request for the return of the Japanese guards. Nevertheless, the Japanese did apply collective punishment swiftly and brutally for disobeying orders or lack of respect. For instance, swimming privileges were withdrawn when some of the POWs were rude when the Imperial Japanese Navy sailed past. All POWs, less those with infectious diseases, were crammed into the Selarang Barracks without shelter and with a reduced water supply, for refusing to sign a ‘will not attempt to escape’ form. Those who attempted to escape or were found beyond the camp wire were executed.

Myth #3 – only British and Australian POWs were held at Changi

Whilst the majority were British, many other nationalities were represented. For instance, around 25-28,000 Dutch East Indies (KNIL) troops passed though or stayed in Changi. Americans, New Zealanders, Italians and Malayans such as David Marshall, who became Singapore’s first elected Chief Minister, were inmates.

Dutch East Indies Army (KNIL) POWs in Changi. August 1945. Courtesy of Australian War Memorial

Myth #4 – the POWs were there for three and a half years

Changi was the largest POW camp in Southeast Asia and it was used as a marshalling yard and transit camp. Although a few thousand POWs spent their entire captivity in Changi, like some Indian Army officers, most were temporary residents who were shipped off as slave labour to work in different areas of the Japanese South-East Asia Co-prosperity sphere. For instance, to mine for copper in Taiwan, to construct runways in Borneo, to work as stevedores in Japan and to be used as machinery to build roads and railways in Thailand and Burma. These were the locations of the hell-camps. Where POWs were regularly beaten, tortured, starved, denied medical treatment and worked to death in appalling conditions. No wonder Changi was viewed as heaven by comparison.

In May 1944, the POWs moved from the former army base to the nearby civilian gaol. Conditions worsened as acute overcrowding and food shortages were added to the long-term problems of malnutrition, tropical diseases and dietary-related illnesses and inadequate medical supplies.

Nevertheless, the widely held view that Changi symbolised all that was terrible and tragic in the Far East is incorrect. It is also unfair to the POWs who, despite starvation, illness and despair, battled daily to improve their lives and those of their mates. This required incredible determination, sacrifice and courage, yet their efforts have been smothered by the deadening blanket of victimhood. Changi’s POWs were not victims. They were victors who survived against unimaginable odds. We need to examine what they did, rather than what was done to them, and see Changi as their ultimate success.

Liz Coward is a Friends of the Museum docent at Changi Chapel and Museum and is co-author of Blood and Bandages – fighting for life in the RAMC Field Ambulance 1940-1946

Banner image: Allied prisoners of war celebrating their liberation from Changi Jail, Singapore. Source: Imperial War Museum London

Asia Media Centre