Ex-POWs Receive Changi Lock


21 April, 2005

Western Australian war veterans have been presented with an historic artefact from Singapore's infamous Changi Prison.

Changi was a notorious prisoner of war camp run by the Japanese during World War II.

Returned and Services League (RSL) clubs around Australia are each being presented with a prison lock as a symbol of the two countries' common past history.

The locks were not actually used in the prison during the war but during the time afterwards when the prison was used for civilians.

At a ceremony in Perth's Kings Park today, members of the Singapore tourism board presented the lock to the West Australian branch of the RSL.

The president of the RSL, Bill Gaynor, says the lock is of great significance to war veterans.

"To a lot of them, particularly those who were incarcerated in Changi, this will bring back memories of their time in that prison," he said.

"It's going to be a living memorial because it will be on permanent display at our headquarters."

Mr Gaynor says the gift is a step in the right direction towards the acknowledgment of the sacrifices of many Australian soldiers in the war.

"The ultimate would be an apology and I did notice that the Japanese Prime Minister, it was reported in the press, that perhaps he was looking in that direction," he said.
©ABC, Perth, Australia




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