A FEPOW CHRISTMAS IN CAPTIVITY Thailand 1942
The Reverend H.W. Nesling CF
Christmas Choir
P.O.W. Camp, Wampo, Thailand 1942
Conductor Private W. Gordon SSVF
What value would you put on a single sheet of 1940s letter size writing paper? And how small might it be if you made it into a ball? Your life would depend on it not being discovered or if it was lost. In the words of a well-known TV programme “Some things are just so precious or too important to throw away…” This is a story that will resonate with any surviving FEPOW, their family members and, like me, amaze others. In this 80th Anniversary year of the end of WW2, here is the tale of one such item that ended with it being given a special home at our FEPOW Church. It had survived and evaded Japanese guards for 3½ years alongside its FEPOW owner, and then remained with him until he passed away. Having been faithfully kept by his widow, she realised that it had to be preserved somehow as there was a likelihood that it would be discarded in the fulness of time. She found a very special person that had FEPOW interests at heart, who also knew of an artisan restorer to do it justice.
Jane Flower, a well-known FEPOW Historian for many years, and the daughter of a FEPOW, was in touch with me after a Memorial service at the FEPOW Church in Wymondham a few years ago and asked if we might be interested in having a Christmas hymn sheet from a POW Camp in 1942? The scarcity of any captivity related artefacts is well understood, and barely a heartbeat passed before I said YES. Feeling fairly certain that our Parish priest would also agree, we sat back and waited.
Jane wrote to me and told me more: “Padre H W Nesling (CF) was a Chaplain to the Forces (CofE) but, as there were so few chaplains of any denomination, a Christmas service would have been attended by those with or without allegiance to any particular church or faith. The Japanese would not have allowed such a gathering after 1942.
Jane went on to explain, “The widow of a FEPOW gave it to me in the hope that I could find someone to restore the paper and then find it a suitable home as she told me her children would throw it away. It was torn, creased and scrunched up in a ball to hide it from the Japanese. It had been treasured by its original owner. Restoration was needed, and hopefully, find a home for it that was not primarily a museum. I found a restorer who restored it as a gift to the [FEPOW] Church. I do not recall her name (as she wished to remain anonymous), but [she was] certainly the widow of one of the men who signed it.”
The FEPOW Memorial Church, Our Lady & St.Thomas of Canterbury, in Wymondham, Norfolk, was delighted and pleased to accept this treasured keepsake as a triumph of hope in adversity. It was presented to Fr. Denis Gallagher Parish priest after the Annual FEPOW service on 11th May 2025 and will soon be displayed in the Church. On the front of the paper is typed(?) the three verses of the carol Silent Night. [How could they get hold of a typewriter while captive in a prison camp?] It will give Christmas in peacetime added meaning when this carol will be among the Carols sung.
But it does not end here. There is a challenge to be completed. As the archivist I am keen to have the help of the FEPOW community to try and find the names on the back of the paper. Most of the signatures defy interpretation – there are 29 or 30 of them. So, is there a nominal role of Wampo camp POW? Do you know of anyone who was a POW in Wampo POW Camp on 25th December 1942, and who might have attended this extraordinary gathering. It would be good to add their names to the Books of Remembrance here. If you can help with any details, please contact Peter Wiseman by email fepow@wymondhamrcchurch.org.uk
Below are my best guesses so far for the Signatures of choir members
Jack with 4th Suffolk Reg
C.Cuddy 9th R.North Fus.~
Lt. W. Westing [?] capt rcf Rollol???
D[O] Howson Lf
G S ?opde Capt US F????
W.B. Folge Lt I/S Force sten?
H D[O] SUTON 1 Cambs Regt
Pegure Capt Bn R connaisance
V S COOKS 1 Camb Reg
Kendrick Capt 5th Beds & Herts
Saunders FMSVF
?Baguley Recce Corps
E Grendle