Civilian Internment : Diary of an escape from Singapore in Feb. 1942, after the fall of Singapore to the Japanese

Oppenheim, H R

Civilian Internment

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Diary by Oppenheim describing the retreat of the army to Singapore, the city's surrender and his escape initially by sail boat to Sumatra, Sri Lanka and then Bombay (69 pages). The diary is anonymous, but Mortimer Hay, who also participated in the escape, has identified its author as Oppeneheim, based upon internal evidence and comparisons of its manuscript with Oppenheim's handwriting. For Hay's account see RCMS 103/12/4. The file includes a note regarding the diary's provenance by Hugh Bryson. This is an original diary. There is a copy stored at RCMS 103/12/3.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>H.R. Oppenheim was a chartered accountant who worked for the firm of McAulife, Davis & Hope in Ipoh when the war against Japan began. He served in the Light Battery of the Artillery Section of the F.M.S. Volunteer Forces.</p>