Thrale history

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"POURING OUT THE RED, SWEET WINE OF YOUTH"

1 and 1a.—My story starts whilst I am still free, before I am forced to "Bow" my dignity to the Japanese "Ringmasters." I painted these pictures whilst Outward Bound to Singapore aboard U.S.S. Westpoint—one of them shows the living quarters on board.

2.—ALPHA. After the Battle, Singapore. This sketch was drawn for my Australian friends in 1942, and who paid me one tin of corned beef (value 7d.) for it. He recently heard that my Exhibition was touring the country to raise funds for ex-Servicemen and their dependents and loaned it to me. It came into the Exhibition on December 10th, 1947. The pink tints are from brass polish, green from crushed leaves, and dark - my red blood. The sketch shows our troops marching from Singapore to Changi. It is painted on three pieces of paper previously used for typescript matter which can easily be discerned. The picture was indelibly impressed upon my memory. I sketched it in a Red Cross truck in which I was riding - and coloured it later.

3.—Self Portrait. Some say it is like me, others say ... This I drew while in the 18th Division Area, Changi a pencil drawing tinted with sediment from medicine. Brown, from clay—dark blue from dye from boiled rags and blood tints.

4 and 5.—A God provided the materials through the medium of a Chinese bay, who gave up his box of schoolboy's paints. This is THE INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENT, AT CHANGI, SINGAPORE. P.O.W.s of all races were incarcerated here. Showing 9 P.O.W. types.

6.—CHANGI, SINGAPORE. The Straits of Johore from Roberts Hospital P.O.W. Camp. On the right is the Royal Artillery Officers' Mess as it was when this "impregnable" Fortress opened like an unlatched door in a gale. On the left is the Submarine Base. Green from crushed leaves, tints from boiled rags.

7.—RUMOUR HILL. We gathered here, spent and weary after the day's grind, to discuss rumours and the possibilities of freedom. Not inside me did I feel convinced—it meant just a bed-time fairy story. Painted from clay, bound with rice-water.

8.—CLOSE-UP OF RUMOUR HILL. Showing the "Changi Tree," the highest landmark for many miles. British Troops blew the top away at the start of hostilities to prevent it becoming a range-finding medium. Brown from earth and clay.

9.—SPORTS FIELD AND SWIMMING PAGA IN SINGAPORE (southern area). This became a prison camp.I have scrounged some coloured pencils. This is the effort with the red one.

10.—C, OF E. CHAPEL IN P.O.W. HOSPITAL, SINGAPORE.—The paintings on the wall, and all the fittings, were the work of our P.O.W.s. "Toc H" met here weekly. I borrowed the paints for this picture from a fellow prisoner.