Lot 5104

Description

Japanese internment camp in Singapore ID tag, nickel plated tag (64x22mm), Japanese text at left and 39 at right, affixed to torn part of jacket; Singapore Identity Card No. 134939, for Dr Mackay. A.F. (M), Sea View Hotel, S'pore, British age 42 with stamp of Defence Security Registrar, reverse with stamp of Headquarters Malaya Command around 'Curfew Pass', signed by A.F.Mackay and authorising signature, written below, 'Next of Kin, Mrs H.Mackay (mother), 33 Duthie St, Karori, Wellington W3, New Zealand; The Automobile Association of Malaya Membership Card no.917 valid until 19-4-50 and on reverse named to Dr A.F.Mackay, Tampin, and stamped Automobile Association of Malaya, Negri Sembilan - Malacca Branch; Singapore Identity Disc (S.I.D.S.), in enamel and nickel plate (28mm), named to Dr. A.F.Mackay, Male, British, C. of E., 20124, Dunlop Malayan Estates, reverse with recipient's mother's details scratched on, holed at top for suspension ring; also a first edition book titled Singapore: The Japanese Version, by Colonel Masanobu Tsuji, Chief of Operations and Planning Staff, 25th Japanese Army, Malay, edited by H.V.Howe, Military Secretary to the Australian Minister for the Army 1940-6, published 1960, 358pp. Fine - very fine. (5)

On 9 July 1943 official notification was received in New Zealand that Allan Francis Mackay, medical practitioner was a prisoner in Changi, Singapore. In the Auckland Star, 24 September 1945 it was reported that sixteen released prisoners from Singapore arrived at Whenuapai in a RNZAF Dakota transport. One of these was Dr A.F. Mackay of Wellington. Dr Mackay stated that about 80 doctors were interned in Singapore and only about half a dozen worked on hospital duties. He said the rest did coolie work. Dr Mackay, the son of Mrs H.Mackay of Wellington was medical officer for a group of rubber plantations in the Malaya States from 1930 until the Japanese attack. He said that apart from routine face-slapping he saw no atrocities committed at Changi or Sime Road prison camps. Their diet was a starvation one and conditions were badly congested but otherwise they were fairly fortunate and escaped the treatment meted out elsewhere. In another newspaper report, Dr Mackay said of his internment that 'We had to bow to the brutes every time they passed, and if they did not like your looks they hit you on the face.'



Together with a list of medical profession civilian internees or military prisoners in Singapore as published in the British Medical Journal on Nov 10, 1945 and showing the name of A.F.Mackay.