Roy Smith

Today we remember Roy Smith, who was captured by the Japanese when Singapore fell.

Roy Smith audio file (MP4 23.87 MB)

Roy Smith audio script

75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War

Audio actuality

“Fellow Citizens, the War is over” — (The Hon J B Chifley, Prime Minister of Australia)

On the 75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War, Australia Remembers Roy Smith, captured by the Japanese when Singapore fell.

The ex-Changi POW could never erase the memories of that Black Friday on February the 13th 1942, when some 15,000 Australians were taken prisoner — many of whom would die.

Roy Smith

The 81 Bombers come down and they bombed Singapore Island. And the civilian population who hadn't been trained in that there, they used to just panic and run everywhere, which was the worst thing to do. Because as a bomb lands, it don't go that deep — it just explodes up and outwards and all the shrapnel flies through the air. It just decapitates people … just cut them down.

The water supply for the Island had been cut off. The general in charge, General Percival, contacted the Japanese for cease fire, or the general of the Japanese, a chap called General Yamashita, he came down and they allocated out where the different people would go. On the Tuesday, we were marched out to the end of the island, which was known as Changi. Well, that was where all the Australians were taken to.

Saturday, August 15 marks the 75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War. Let’s pay our respects to that amazing generation of Australians.