Charles THRALE Exhibition programme, page 23: Thrale & Thrall family history

Thrale history

Charles Thrale’s exhibition of paintings created during his captivity as a Japanese prisoner of war was first displayed in January 1946, in London. After that initial showing, the exhibition toured the UK for approximately eighteen years, continuing until around 1964.

« page Cover . . .21 22 23 24 25 . . .28 page »

paints were obtained from the Australian Red Cross, who had received some supplies from the only ship allowed to enter Singapore. Perhaps, now I can paint better. (One day I hope to paint a mural such as this).

72—PIN-UP GIRL. Not having seen a white woman for over two years, they asked for a Pin-up Girl. This was my effort to fill this pressing need. Reduced to an animal existence for years, we had not lost the memory of beauty in humanity.

73.—CHANGI GAOL, SINGAPORE. Our rest at an end, we were fit enough again to be used, and we were put to work on the aerodrome. This was an immense undertaking, and all of us were moved from Changi Camp to the Gaol. The civil internees were turned out to make room for us, and went to Sime Road Camp. My picture shows the exterior of the prison, said to be the most modern in the world. My mind questioned whether "modern" could be used in connection with the word "prison". (Red paint bartered from Malayan, on loose-leaf notepaper).

74.—CHANGI GAOL, THE MAIN COOKHOUSE. The water supply had failed here, and holes were bored to take all the sewage. (Red paint).

75.—CHANGI GAOL. "D" COURTYARD. My picture shows the Guard Post, and the top of the 22-foot high wall. No one ever escaped from this prison, and none of us now had the strength to try it.

76.—ONE OF THE CELLS IN CHANGI GAOL. Four prisoners were squashed in one cell, which normally took one convict. The concrete block in the centre was the convict's bed. A convict to the Japs was a higher being than a prisoner of war, out their hatred of us was intense, and I think what our Empire Builders did before the war was really the true cause. An Asiatic latrine can be seen in the foreground. (Note the Japanese artist drawing alongside—when the tables were turned).

77.—ENTRANCE TO CHANGI GAOL. The gate was of steel, and electrically controlled. Look-out post on top, 30 feet from ground.

78.—INSIDE CHANGI GAOL PRISONERS LIVING ON THE GRID. This grid was a steel netting between the floors to allow the air to circulate, and more important to allow the guards to watch all that was happening above and below. In spite of this air circulation, the air became fetid because of the number of men squeezed in. We just had to sleep this way. (Paint from boiled blue cloth, bound with rice-water).

80.—THE LOWER FLOOR THROUGH THE GRID. Two P.O.W.s after work was over. (Yellow pencil on black paper).

81.—BOILER HOUSE, CHANGI GAOL. The boilers maintained steam to cook rice for 4,000 prisoners. The fuel was wood from nearby forest, (Coloured crayons on black paper).

Owner of original	ABT 1964
File name	documents/tree01-I1623-charles-thrale-exhibition/1964-charles-thrale-exhibition-programme-23.html
File Size	2.73 KB
Media ID	1105
Dimensions	n/a
Folio version	v15.0.0.38 (B241216-032904)
Linked to	Charles Thrale