Thrale history
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National publicity. The late Queen Mary (picture 132) took a particular interest in them when Her Majesty opened the Exhibition in London. These pictures are in themselves the finest tribute in the world to the immortal courage of every prisoner in Jap hands, whether he lived or died. There are no other pictures from life of the Japanese P.O.W. Camps set to a story, and this is the only known record of an Artist pursuing his calling under such circumstances with such crude materials. It is not necessary to give you a detailed description here—we are taking you by his picture route to Singapore—Thailand and the Railroad of Death—back to Singapore and liberation. The catalogue story is written in the first person, in reminiscent collaboration with the Artist.
In addition, many millions more who have never seen the Exhibition have listened to radio descriptions in all parts of the world. Mr. Thrale in his 1947 B.B.C. broadcast on the Home Service announced the purpose: "Good from Evil." This was followed by broadcasts on the Australian Broadcasting Service and the Women's Hour of America, as well as on our own Western, Northern, and Welsh Region Programmes.
But it is not wholly an art exhibition. Mr. Thrale would rather call it an exhibition of the heart. And so it is, for Charles Thrale did not suffer and paint in vain among the thousands who spent wasted years in Japanese prisoner-of-war camps. Theirs was a sacrifice which allowed us to retain freedom; now it is the duty of each one of us to safeguard it—IF WE ARE TO HAVE PEACE IN OUR TIME.
And each in his separate star,
Shall paint the thing as he sees it
For the God of things are they are,
And each for the joy of the working.
Tersworth, Oxford.
OBITUARY
I should like to pay tribute to my late friend, Mr. W. E. Clark. who died suddenly on the eve of his largest enterprise—the opening of the Exhibition on the South Coast.
Mr. Clark—known as Wally to his friends—was the Hon. Sec. of the Oxfordshire District R.A. Assn., and to him I owe much of the success this Exhibition has been. He was loved by all who knew him. Yet he desired no worldly recognition, but was content to devote his life to the cause of charity.
Early in 1941, when Mr. Clark's Regiment sailed for the Far East, he developed a serious illness at the last moment and was unable to accompany them. Unfortunately, few of them returned.
On hearing this news, he resolved to devote all his available energies to helping to support the dependents of those men who had given their lives while serving. Through his able management thousands of pounds have been raised in support of this worthy cause.
CHARLES THRALE.Please note we have withdrawn from the Exhibition all the horror that you know existed in the Far East Prisoner of War Camps. I think it is far more important to make people think rather than horrify or frighten them, also we must consider the feelings of those thousands of next of kin of those who did not return.
Latest figures from War Graves Commission are 96,040 British, Commonwealth and Allied graves of P.O.W. are being looked after by the Commission in the Far East.
For those who wish to read of the horrors of the camps, we recommend Lord Russell of Liverpool's book, "The Knights of Bushido."
| Owner of original | ABT 1964 |
| File name | documents/tree01-I1623-charles-thrale-exhibition/1964-charles-thrale-exhibition-programme-04.html |
| File Size | 3.85 KB |
| Media ID | 1105 |
| Dimensions | n/a |
| Folio version | v15.0.0.38 (B241216-032904) |
| Linked to | Charles Thrale |
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