‘Emperor’s Birthday – So Generous’ – Calendar Illustration for April 1946
Emperor’s Birthday – One Tin of Pineapple for Ten Men! On the 29th April 1942 the Imperial Japanese Army gave 1 tin of pineapple per 10 prisoners of war in honour of the Emperor’s Birthday Thank you: State Library of New South Wales,...
Changi P.O.W. ‘Coat Of Arms’ (15th. Feb 1942)
Coat of Arms At some stage of his captivity Des produced this pen, ink and water colour unofficial Changi ‘coat of arms’. Close examination of this image reveals some interesting features, such as the Sydney harbor bridge and the white...
‘The British POW Guard, Which Guards The Jap Guard, Which Guards The British POW’s! Towner Road POW Camp (1942) ‘
Towner Road POW Camp 1942 ‘The Japs have decided that we must be ‘wired in’, so it has been done by our own soldiers in our own way and in our own time under our own supervision’ Source: Down To Bedrock (the diary & secret notes...
‘Jungle Warfare!’ Wrecked 25 Pounder (1945)
Des’ ink wash painting takes a humorous look at what can only be described as desperate times as the Allies retreat a and engage the enemy in the jungles of Malaya with inadequate equipment. It is well documented that the jungles were an...
About Des Introduction
Born in the Lancashire mill town of Burnley the year after the First World War ended, Des grew up the second of 4 children. While attending Secondary Boys’ School and Technical College, he developed an interest in art and music. On leaving school he trained as an analytical chemist and worked in the chemistry lab of an artificial silk factory.
The Artwork
Examples from Life as a POW
