Next morning came news from our Brigadier that we must all assemble in a nearby building, and during the morning we moved there by foot. The place had been used as a bivouac, and it was surrounded by about an acre of garden, bounded by huge mango trees. The most pleasing sight was our transport officer, lying on his camp-bed, stirring two enormous dixies containing about equal parts of tea and whisky. Troops were sleeping everywhere and in every attitude. On a porch stood as much of our reserve rations as ‘B’ Echelon had been able to find. Most of it had already been run through by either our own troops or Chinese looters, but some was still left.

Singapore itself was in a fantastic state. All Asiatic shopkeepers had boarded up their shops, and practically no Chinese, Indians or Malays were to be seen on the streets. On the other hand, the whole place was thronged with troops, tens of thousands of soldiers of every race, nationality and creed. The first soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army had also arrived, and some had their first glimpse of our conquerors – short, swarthy sentries on every corner, their rifles and bayonets taller than themselves. It became dangerous to walk about the streets with watches or fountain pens – these they seemed to like very much. Down towards the Empire Docks a few baby tanks were trying to restore order among the Go-Downs where coolies had been looting as much as they could carry away for the last ten days. The first Jap staff cars, too, were to be seen on the streets, their klaxons arrogantly and continually blaring as they drove recklessly along. The takeover was just commencing.

At this stage every hospital was full of our wounded, and the whole of the floor of the Cathedral was littered with stretcher cases. Officers and men were continually pushing round trying to identify friends. Everyone was in a desperate hurry to finish their own particular businesses before the Japs confined them. Singapore was in the melting pot.

That evening we had our orders. ‘By five o’clock tomorrow, the 17th, all British and Australian prisoners of war will be in the Changi Area.’ That meant a march of some fourteen miles to the northeast of the island, where the groups of Army barracks were, close to the strait that divided Singapore from Johore State. Ah well, we thought, perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad after all. The Japanese had European legal rights in the East, they were a disciplined and civilised people, and they had assimilated so much of Western culture and ideals . . .