Jim Smith’s Backpack

Local man Jim Smith volunteered for the RAF. He was posted to the Far East and spent his 21st birthday on a troopship to Singapore.

On 8 March 1942 Jim, along with thousands of others, was captured and became a Japanese prisoner of war. His captivity lasted three and a half years. Prisoners were used as slave labour to build infrastructure and chances of survival were bleak. At times Jim’s life hung by a thread.

When Java fell the Japanese captured large stocks of Dutch army kit. Items like this backpack were given to the Allied prisoners. For three and a half years of captivity this canvas bag held all of Jim’s possessions – his books, papers and photos.