ROLL ON... a Changi PoW Remembers. The Secret Diary Kept by Corporal Joseph Nutter R.A.M.C.

By Joseph Nutter

Corporal Joseph Nutter was only 21 when he enlisted in the British Royal Army Medical Corps (R.A.M.C) in 1936, to train as a Nursing Orderly. He left a note on the mantel for his mother, advising her, “Gone to join the Army !”
He spent three years in Britain and India prior to his transfer to Singapore in 1939. When the Japanese invaded Singapore in 1942 Joe was working at Alexandra Hospital. He scrambled to the top of the hospital’s lift-well and concealed himself along with two other R.A.M.C. medics. Their freedom lasted just three days. Their lives were spared on capture, only to be interred in Changi POW camp. He recorded in a secret diary of four small books the conditions and events between February 1942 and July 1943. Entries were recorded daily, meticulously written in his copperplate handwriting.
They include the Selarang Barracks incident and a forced march of 170 miles to the Burma railway. He was frequently called upon to assist in surgical operations without proper medical equipment and facilities. These horrific episodes for which he was not trained were in addition to his normal duties and responsibilities in the field of first aid, health and hygiene.
During his 31⁄2 years as a POW Joe experienced several ailments himself, including diarrhea, beriberi, malnutrition, malaria, dysentery and skin diseases.
He never returned to England, having migrated to Australia in 1945 after liberation.
This book replicates Joe’s diary verbatim, with added annotations, explanations and illustrations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Warrior Publishers
• Release date: Mar 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005304072

Joseph Nutter

Corporal Joseph Nutter was only 21 when he enlisted in the British Royal Army Medical Corps (R.A.M.C) in 1936, to train as a Nursing Orderly. He left a note on the mantel for his mother, advising her, “Gone to join the Army !”He spent three years in Britain and India prior to his transfer to Singapore in 1939. When the Japanese invaded Singapore in 1942 Joe was working at Alexandra Hospital. He scrambled to the top of the hospital’s lift-well and concealed himself along with two other R.A.M.C. medics. Their freedom lasted just three days. Their lives were spared on capture, only to be interred in Changi POW camp. He recorded in a secret diary of four small books the conditions and events between February 1942 and July 1943. Entries were recorded daily, meticulously written in his copperplate handwriting.They include the Selarang Barracks incident and a forced march of 170 miles to the Burma railway. He was frequently called upon to assist in surgical operations without proper medical equipment and facilities. These horrific episodes for which he was not trained were in addition to his normal duties and responsibilities in the field of first aid, health and hygiene.During his 31⁄2 years as a POW Joe experienced several ailments himself, including diarrhea, beriberi, malnutrition, malaria, dysentery and skin diseases.He never returned to England, having migrated to Australia in 1945 after liberation.This book replicates Joe’s diary verbatim, with added annotations, explanations and illustrations.

Book preview

This publication is dedicated to Joseph Nutter of the R.A.M.C. so that his descendants will know of the horrific atrocities he and his comrades experienced as Prisoners of War of the Japanese, for three and a half years between 21 February 1942 and 5 September 1945 in Changi, Singapore, and the Burma Railway.

Joe’s Campaign Stars, Clasps and Medals.

Instituted in recognition of service

in the war of 1939 – 1945

1. Indian General Service + Clasp 1937 - 1939

North West Frontier of India

2. General Service Star 1939 - 1945

3. Pacific Star with Burma Clasp

4. Defence Medal

5. Victory Medal

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Acronyms/Abbreviations

Introduction

Diaries:

Diary – Book 1. 186 Days

21 February 1942 - 19 August 1942

Book One begins with Joe’s capture and imprisonment in Changi. Here he documents the filthy conditions, lack of food, the sickness and deaths, and how he coped with the situation. On a positive note he mentions the formation of POW entertainment groups to raise the troops’ spirits. He holds onto the idea that the capture of the British forces and their allies will cease soon and it won’t be long till they are free. But at end of Book One Joe had been a POW for 186 days.

Diary – Book 2. Selarang Barracks Incident

20 August 1942 - 11 February 1943

Book Two continues with the daily record of the appalling prison conditions, the lack of news, the movement of troops in and out of Changi, and of visits by military and other personages. He records what is to become an acknowledged event of the times, known as the Selarang Barracks Incident that arose from the POWs refusing to sign a promise not to attempt escape. By the end of Book Two he had been a POW for one year.

Diary – Book 3. F Force – the March to Burma

12 February 1943 – 26 May 1943

Move to Burma Railway Camps 1 May 1943 - 26 May 1943

Book Three again records life, conditions and the uncertainty of food. It also mentions some of his duties as a R.A.M.C. Corporal. He notes a rather unpleasant medical inspection using a glass rod. This third book ends with Joe detailing his move by train and long march to the Burma railway. By the end of May 1943 he had been a POW for about 474 days (16 months).

Diary – Book 4. Glass Rod and Cholera

27 May 1943 - 2 July 1943

This final book is very short. It covers even worse food rationing, the relentless deteriorating health conditions and the deaths on the Burma railway. Joe stops recording after 17 months. It will be almost another two years before he is liberated.

Afterword

Endnotes

Select Bibliography

Appendices

Liberation Questionnaire

Joe’s Official Service Record

Application for Permission to Remain in Australia

Biographies

Books by Warrior Publishers

Singapore POW Camp Locations 1942-1945.

Acknowledgements

My sincere thanks to:

My father, Joseph Nutter, for his resilience to record the daily events of his imprisonment.

My daughters Erin and Lauren for their support, patience and understanding whilst I endeavoured to complete this book.

My brother, Dr. Paul Mathews (nè Richard Nutter) who produced the first transcript and collaborated with me in researching additional information for this publication, as well as taking on the tasks of editor and document layout.

My brother Gordon Nutter who obtained Joe’s Army Service Records, his medical history and his medals and, for accompanying me to the Thai-Burma Railway Centre where we