Prisoners of War
All troops captured at Singapore, many tens of thousands of British, Indian, Malay and Singaporean troops and 22,000 Australians became Japanese prisoners of war (POW). They were sent mainly to Changi POW camp in Singapore where they suffered terrible treatment.
Japanese Imperial Army soldiers had been taught with Bushido beliefs that an enemy who surrendered dishonoured their country and family. As a result, allied prisoners received whatever treatment the Japanese thought fit to give. Japan had not signed the Geneva Convention on POW treatment expected for prisoners. POWs lived a life of work, beatings and torture, were deprived of food and medical attention, and suffered arbitrary death.
Japanese Imperial Army soldiers had been taught with Bushido beliefs that an enemy who surrendered dishonoured their country and family. As a result, allied prisoners received whatever treatment the Japanese thought fit to give. Japan had not signed the Geneva Convention on POW treatment expected for prisoners. POWs lived a life of work, beatings and torture, were deprived of food and medical attention, and suffered arbitrary death.
Changi POW Camp:
Changi was a British peacetime garrison situated on the north-eastern tip of Singapore. It served as the headquarters for POWs on Singapore during the Japanese occupation. The Changi complex held as many as 70,000 POWs, usually with five men in a room originally built for one person.
The reason for this prison was because the Japanese decided to build an airstrip here. The prisoners were used to construct the airstrip. Work on the airstrip was very hard - they were forced to work ten to twelve hour days in the sun and humidity.
The harsh conditions also caused illnesses such as malaria, beriberi, dysentery and infections from wounds, which increased the death rate among the prisoners. Coupled with the terrible treatment they received and despite their physical condition, POWs were forced to work for food and groups of POWs at Changi were constantly sent to other camps in the Japanese-occupied areas to work. Failure to work to a Japanese soldier's satisfaction meant beatings at the very least. Disrespect often resulted in torture and brutal death such as beheading.
Changi was a British peacetime garrison situated on the north-eastern tip of Singapore. It served as the headquarters for POWs on Singapore during the Japanese occupation. The Changi complex held as many as 70,000 POWs, usually with five men in a room originally built for one person.
The reason for this prison was because the Japanese decided to build an airstrip here. The prisoners were used to construct the airstrip. Work on the airstrip was very hard - they were forced to work ten to twelve hour days in the sun and humidity.
The harsh conditions also caused illnesses such as malaria, beriberi, dysentery and infections from wounds, which increased the death rate among the prisoners. Coupled with the terrible treatment they received and despite their physical condition, POWs were forced to work for food and groups of POWs at Changi were constantly sent to other camps in the Japanese-occupied areas to work. Failure to work to a Japanese soldier's satisfaction meant beatings at the very least. Disrespect often resulted in torture and brutal death such as beheading.
Thai-Burma Railway:
In 1943, Japan's military needed to supply its troops who were fighting the Allies in Burma so decided to build a railway to link Thailand with Burma. About 60,000 Allies POWs and 200,000 Asian labourers were forced to build 420km of track by hand through dense jungle. The parties would begin construction on the ends of the railway and work towards the middle, creating a total railway line. Constant physical labour, lack of food and the unhealthy tropical environment caused the deaths of at least 2800 Australians, as well as more than 11,000 Allied prisoners and perhaps 75,000 Asian workers. Illnesses spread quickly in the terrible conditions. Illnesses such as Malaria, dysentery and cholera were common amongst the prisoners along with gangrene caused by tropical ulcers that could not heal. The Japanese set a cracking pace by working prisoners in shifts of 24 hours on and off. Men who were sick with tropical diseases were forced to work as long and as hard as healthy men. The guards were no disciplined by their superiors and were free to beat the soldiers with whatever implements they had at hand, including rifle butts, shovels, bamboo poles and crowbars. They were often beaten for minor infractions.
In 1943, Japan's military needed to supply its troops who were fighting the Allies in Burma so decided to build a railway to link Thailand with Burma. About 60,000 Allies POWs and 200,000 Asian labourers were forced to build 420km of track by hand through dense jungle. The parties would begin construction on the ends of the railway and work towards the middle, creating a total railway line. Constant physical labour, lack of food and the unhealthy tropical environment caused the deaths of at least 2800 Australians, as well as more than 11,000 Allied prisoners and perhaps 75,000 Asian workers. Illnesses spread quickly in the terrible conditions. Illnesses such as Malaria, dysentery and cholera were common amongst the prisoners along with gangrene caused by tropical ulcers that could not heal. The Japanese set a cracking pace by working prisoners in shifts of 24 hours on and off. Men who were sick with tropical diseases were forced to work as long and as hard as healthy men. The guards were no disciplined by their superiors and were free to beat the soldiers with whatever implements they had at hand, including rifle butts, shovels, bamboo poles and crowbars. They were often beaten for minor infractions.
Changing Relationships of Australia
Britain:
From 1788, Australia had depended on Britain for military defence, though from 1870 the Australian colonies had to raise their own troops. This dependence was broken in 1942 when Australia forged a new alliance with the United States, as Britain was not able to provide military support in the Asia-Pacific. Australia maintained a dual alliance after the war with both Britain and the United States. This shifted in the 1960s hen Australia began to depend solely on the United States for military support.
The United States:
Australia has fought wars in alliance with the United States - including Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan - and the United States has military bases in Australia. The ANZUS treaty forms the basis of the Australian-US alliance. The three greatest benefits to Australia of the alliance with the United States have been, in order:
- Military protection - important because of Australia's geographic isolation and vulnerability
- The provision of intelligence and equipment
- Gaining greater regional influence due to links to the powerful US government
There have been several costs of this alliance, however, including Australia gaining an international reputation as a 'puppet' of the US.
ANZUS Treaty:
The Australian, New Zealand, United States security treaty: a military alliance between the US and Australia, and separately between Australia and New Zealand
United Nations:
The UN is an international organisation founded in 1945 to work towards world peace and cooperation. Australia is generally seen as a good international citizen. Since 1945, successive Australian Governments have supported the work of the United Nations and its agencies in its quest to control the arms trade and prevent the expansion of weapons of mass destruction and to deal with the narcotics trade, refugee crises, the spread of AIDS, international terrorism, environmental degradation, piracy and slavery.
From 1788, Australia had depended on Britain for military defence, though from 1870 the Australian colonies had to raise their own troops. This dependence was broken in 1942 when Australia forged a new alliance with the United States, as Britain was not able to provide military support in the Asia-Pacific. Australia maintained a dual alliance after the war with both Britain and the United States. This shifted in the 1960s hen Australia began to depend solely on the United States for military support.
The United States:
Australia has fought wars in alliance with the United States - including Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan - and the United States has military bases in Australia. The ANZUS treaty forms the basis of the Australian-US alliance. The three greatest benefits to Australia of the alliance with the United States have been, in order:
- Military protection - important because of Australia's geographic isolation and vulnerability
- The provision of intelligence and equipment
- Gaining greater regional influence due to links to the powerful US government
There have been several costs of this alliance, however, including Australia gaining an international reputation as a 'puppet' of the US.
ANZUS Treaty:
The Australian, New Zealand, United States security treaty: a military alliance between the US and Australia, and separately between Australia and New Zealand
United Nations:
The UN is an international organisation founded in 1945 to work towards world peace and cooperation. Australia is generally seen as a good international citizen. Since 1945, successive Australian Governments have supported the work of the United Nations and its agencies in its quest to control the arms trade and prevent the expansion of weapons of mass destruction and to deal with the narcotics trade, refugee crises, the spread of AIDS, international terrorism, environmental degradation, piracy and slavery.
Impact on Soldiers and Civilians
At the end of the war, Australian soldiers began returning from all over the world in various states of health. These men needed to be rehabilitated and refrained from civilian work. Many returned soldiers suffered from not only physical injuries and disabilities but also mental illnesses. One of the most common mental issue suffered by returned soldiers was post traumatic stress disorder. This disorder affected soldiers for many years after their return and, still affect soldiers today. Returned soldiers were granted government assistance to ease the difficulties of living and working, and received war service, repatriation and disability pensions.
The war had made many wives widows and children fatherless, and they also needed help. Government assistance included war widows' pensions, which had been introduced in 1942 (although they'd existed in NSW from 1926). Organisations such as Legacy, which targeted this issue, also assisted families.
The war had made many wives widows and children fatherless, and they also needed help. Government assistance included war widows' pensions, which had been introduced in 1942 (although they'd existed in NSW from 1926). Organisations such as Legacy, which targeted this issue, also assisted families.
Significance of the War
The war cost thousands of Australian lives and six years of Australia's peacetime existence. The Australian War Memorial lists the death toll from September 1939 to June 1947 as 39,649, two-thirds the number that died in World War I. Approximately 23,000 were wounded. War led Australia to develop a more independent national identity, Australia declared war on Japan independently of Britain. In defiance of British Prime Minister Churchill's efforts to have Australia troops sent to Burma, Prime Minister Curtin insisted that they return to fight against the Japanese in New Guinea. Australia developed a new relationship with the United States. In 1942, Federal Parliament passed the Statue of Westminster Adoption Act, resulting in Britain no longer having the right to make decisions on Australia's behalf.
Activities:
b) Disease
c) Treatment
- What was the Changi POW camp used for?
- Look up the definitions for the following diseases that POW soldiers experienced and explain how these diseases may have effected soldier morale:
a) Malaria
b) Berberi
c) Dysentery
d) Cholera
e) Gangrene - Using the above information, explain the treatment of POW soldiers in reference to:
b) Disease
c) Treatment