Thrale history

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swift glance I seemed to see her entire character. I hurriedly made a sketch, and completed the picture in the next four evenings. Now, I had a picture of my daughter—and terrific comfort. It has so happened that the vision "I saw" and the daughter "who was" were at that time nearly identical. I cannot explain it. Some say I am psychic! I don't know. (Paints were borrowed from a Dutch Airman).

40.—SURVIVORS FROM THE RAILWAY OF DEATH. This party was known as "F" Force. Each party leaving Singapore for the railway was given an identification letter. "F" and "H" Forces suffered more heavily—they were the last parties to leave Singapore, and were made up entirely of sick men. At this stage, the British successes in Burma were forcing the Japs to evacuate the P.O.W.s who had almost completed the railway. They were now getting forced labour from the Malayans. (Brown from sediment from medicine. (Pink (what's left of it) from brass polish):

41.—"F" and "H" FORCE HOSPITAL. CANCHANBURI, SIAM. (Exterior). The hospital at Canchanburi. The paints for this picture were borrowed from a Padre who had just arrived with a special R.A.M.C. party, who had volunteered to come along to fight the epidemics. This grand party also looked after the natives—the death rate among whom was so high as to warrant communal burial pits.

42.—INSIDE THE WARD. "F" and "H" Force Hospital, Canchanburi. All the huts were the ubiquitous Bamboo buildings, and the patients lie on Bamboo platforms raised from the ground. This hospital was built in a Paddy field, and the ground was constantly wet. At the foot of one of the patients can be seen a cylindrical Bed Pan. The Pans were Bamboo stem hollowed out, and were reviled by all, but it was "Hobson's Choice." This patient, who was an Aussie, died three hours later.—Amoebic Dysentery. I was lying opposite when I painted this picture, my trouble being Dysentery. (In black from boiled rags. Red from book covers).

43.—MAIN HIGHWAY, SIAM, THE SALWEEN RIVER. There was insufficient water in the hospital camp for washing purposes, and so the sick were allowed to bathe in the river. Those lucky enough to have hidden money away were able to buy Bananas and Fish from Houseboats which traded on the river, and many times I saw these boats sunk by the weight of ravenous P.Q.W.s crowding to be served. (Yellow from Banana skin. Grey from mud of river).

44.—A KOREAN GUARD. This man asked me to draw his picture. At the time all I had was a piece of thin tissue-paper. When I handed the sketch to this man I was rewarded by a smack on the face, and was told he was insulted by having his face drawn on such poor paper. The sketch was thrown at me. (In blue pencil).

45.—THE TOWN OF CANCHANBURI.As seen from the well, from which sick men carried water to the more sick in hospital. (Tissue-paper, blue pencil).

46.—THE FOLIAGE AT THE JUNGLE EDGE. Showing the hawks which were always hovering over death. Paints were borrowed from a