MyStory

My dad defended Singapore but was captured and placed in Changi as a Prisoner of War by the Japanese. Dad painted many political cartoons of the Japanese and hid these. One day a fellow prisoner asked if he could look at one of the paintings so dad obliged, but became pre occupied with other things not noticing the prisoner had left and left the painting on a table. This was discovered by a Japanese Guard.

Dad was forced to take ALL of his artwork to Colonel Sito, and explain them, dad did some quick talking and was saved by the 'skin of his teeth'. Colonel Sito took the book of artwork and threatened dad with a 'short haircut using his sword' if he did any more like this (would have been beheaded).

The painting shows this from dad's point of view, dad in angry in the background, Colonel Sito with dad's book of art under his arm.

He continued to paint and we have put the 300 paintings onto www.changipowart.com for others to view. These have been in a cupboard for 60 years.

A VERY CLOSE ENCOUNTER!!