Peter John Barnes
My father's New Testament Bible 1939 ed. Has his name in it! Given it on signing up. Father didn't want to be an infantryman but was an air cadet. Wanted to fly bombers. Considered enrolling in the Navy. Declined it- joined Royal Corps of Signallers - learned Morse code. Peter John Barnes (Father) survived WWII. He was evacuated - Weymouth, then Winchester. Father didn't share much of his wartime experiences.
Cigarette case - Father posted to Japan stopped in India. Left in March/April 1945 - Japanese surrendered in Aug 1945. Father remained until 1946. He guarded Italian prisoners of war. Father asked Italian POWs to carve silver-coloured mess tin to create a cigarette tin. Map of India on front and Taj Mahal on; probably carved from memory! Medically discharged in 1946 probably due to tropical diseases.
WWII Japan occupied Burma - occupiers issues their own currency to disrupt & infiltrate existing systems- including financial ones.
In some instances the money was worth more for note taking than to purchase services of goods.
History
Item list and details
See attached filesPerson the story/items relate to
Peter John BarnesPerson who shared the story/items
Martin Peter BarnesRelationship between the subject of the story and its contributor
FatherType of submission
Shared at Godalming Library, Surrey on 22 November 2023.Record ID
97333 | GOD004Usage metrics
