‘We Have A Spy’ – Changi Limb Factory (1945)

limb spy IWMWe Have A Spy

Metal Lathe

‘There is not a man who has lost his right arm who cannot write as well with his left and do certain other work as efficiently a before, while to those who have lost a leg this has been an invaluable period of training in the use of his artificial limb. On behalf of the latter a tribute must be paid to the limb factory people who, with practically nothing to start from, managed to create an organisation for the work of which there can be nothing but praise.’

‘In addition to the above there was the regular parade every morning of the men who had lost a leg above the knee. This particular kind of amputation necessitated a longer artificial leg and one which was consequently much more difficult to wear. It was natural that these men should find walking with crutches much easier that using the artificial leg, and the result was that they were inclined to overlook practicing with the latter. To overcome this a parade was held every morning when all these fellows stalked mechanically along the road in front of the depot like so many robots. It was these in particular (to which) the name of the ‘Panzer Division’ was facetiously given (and) which afterwards came to include all those with artificial legs.’

Source: Rex Bucknell, ‘The Panzer Division’, in Lachlan Grant (ed.), The Changi Book, Published by New South in association with the Australian War Memorial, 2015, pg. 156, 158

‘A lathe … was constructed from salvaged head and tailstock, saddle and tool rest. This considerably enlarged workshop scope. Lathe work … consisted of hinges for artificial limbs, manufacture of pieces of woodwind instruments, repair of rice crushers, manufacture of cases and moulds for cricket and baseballs, winding of transformers, and manufacture of baseball bats. The lathe was driven by a one – horsepower motor, the transmission being truck fan belts.’

Source: Unknown Author, ‘The Tinkers of Selarang’, in Lachlan Grant (ed.), The Changi Book, Published by New South in association with the Australian War Memorial, 2015, pg. 189