CHAPTER 26
Sime Road Camp, Singapore
It was a vain hope that living conditions would be better at the new camp. Sime Road was far worse than Changi and, with overcrowded huts and inadequate facilities for the number of inmates, malnutrition and disease were rampant.
Before the war, the Sime Road site had been the headquarters of the RAF.
When the war began, it had become the Combined Army the guards here are stricter than the ones at Changi,’ Dorothy whispered as they set off to follow the others. ‘It really doesn’t do to make them angry. I presume you’ve come from Changi, too?’
‘Yes, out of the frying pan and into the bleedin’ fire, by the looks of things!’
Dorothy gave a sad smile. ‘I’m afraid so. But we’ve come this far and hopefully we won’t be here too much longer.’ Her voice brightened as she continued, ‘You heard about the Normandy invasion? “D-Day” they’re calling it.’
Maureen nodded. ‘Yes, we heard about that in the Red Cross messages. How do you get your news here?’ Maureen asked.
‘Some of the chaps have built a radio and have managed to tune in to the BBC. Highly risky if the guards were to find it, obviously, but it hasn’t half boosted morale! The Jerries are on the back foot now, it can’t go on for too much longer.’
‘Let’s hope you’re right!’ Maureen said. ‘I can’t bear the thought of another Christmas dinner of bleedin’ hard rice and watery porridge!’
Dorothy smiled. ‘Maureen, I need to ask you something. I’ve been trying to get in touch with a friend of mine back at Changi, one of the doctors I worked with at the hospital there.’
‘That’s where I’ve seen you before!’ Maureen said. ‘You were in the hospital when I took young Billy in!’
‘Yes, that would be right. I was working there until we moved here in May. Well, I’m anxious to find out about a colleague of mine, Dr Archie,’ she began. ‘I haven’t heard from him and I just want to know that he’s alright.’
‘Dr Archie?’ Maureen nodded slowly. ‘Tall chap, blondish hair?’
Dorothy nodded.
‘Yes, I remember him, he was good with Billy. Nice chap and a good doctor.’ She was quiet for a moment and looked thoughtful.
Then she shook her head and continued, ‘Listen love, I’m not sure I can help you.
My friend Brenda was in the hospital just last week, her chest was bad.
She said the doctor was a young Scottish chap. ’