War Time In Burma
The war in Burma began in January 1942. The Japanese invaded by crossing the river Salween after having already fought their way through China, Hong Kong and the Philippines. Rennie joined the British Navy and left Rangoon to board the ship he was assigned to. Meanwhile, my grandmother, her sisters and her father were all caught by the Japanese and transported to a internment camp in Northern Burma. Because of Andrew Francis’ business and close relationships with the British, he and his family were a particular target and their house was ransacked by Japanese soldiers.
My grandmother and great auntie’s tales of the life within the internment camp are sparse but interesting. I know that they were all very ill with stomach upsets. I know that many of the women in the camp were raped and beaten by Japanese soldiers and some of them even gave birth whilst in the camp to the resulting offspring. I also know that some of the women struck up fully consensual relationships with the camp guards, and Burma has always been a melting pot of different cultures and social groups. I also found out that whilst they were in the camp, the man who would turn out to be Edna’s future husband was also being held. His name was Charles Duroiselle.
