A Picture of three POWs

George Aspinall Photo – Songkurai Hospital, Oct 1943, three F Force men.

‘We grew up knowing that the photo of three POWs included my father (he’s the one in the middle), but whenever I mentioned it, I was told everybody thinks “that is their father”. My research kept drawing blanks until our recent visit to Myanmar and a visit to the Thanbyuzayat Museum where the photo was on display showing dad’s VX number 20469 – not a flattering photo, but that was a sign of the times.

When dad was initially sent the Aspinall book he saw the photo and put it away, but mum later wrote in the book, ‘Jack Lonsdale is in the middle!’ In the Barry Dickens book, ‘Ordinary Heroes’ dad is quoted, ‘We always knew what was going on. This guy Aspinall had radios in Changi. He seemed a bit strange to me, every time a Jap plane would crash he would scrounge to pinch parts for the radios and he also took pictures. He slept near me and someone said, “he’s stickin’ stuff under your bed!!”

I said to him, “stick that stuff under your own bloody bed!” This was followed by laughter from the three men.’

Joy Derham, Daughter of Jack Lonsdale, 2/29th