Hoten pow camp, mukden, manchuria - Prisoners of War of the ...

This Plan and the following sketch was drawn by the late Arthur Christie (Mukden No 1210)
and provided by his son Maurice. See references to Arthur Christie’s book “Mission
Scapula” and Maurice Christie’s website.
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• There were 2 American doctors with their group and it was decided that
Des would look after the Infectious Diseases hut/ward. His Hospital hut
was suitable for 40 patients, but, there were about 90 in it. Many were
extremely ill. He had a number of British and American medical
orderlies, of whom the senior orderly was a British Sergeant Russell. The
Hospital Hut had a wood Russian heater (called a “Pitchca”). However,
there was a shortage of wood. What wood they got was stolen by the
chaps.
• Des Brennan kept a diary which he hid from the Japs by putting it
under/in the mattress of the sickest patient.
• The outside temperature went as low as minus 40°F and the temperature
in the hospital hut was minus 20°F.
• Des Brennan notes the Yanks in poor shape with no clothing worthy of
the name, no heating, no medicines, no bed pans- the toilet was out in the
snow.
• On the tape the following words spoken by Des Brennan say a lot about
the desperate nature of things, without explanation.
o “Oh, Dear”
o “How the hell could we cope!”
o “You would have no idea.”
o “Heart breaking to tally up the dead.”
o “Wonderful work done by the orderlies.”
o “Don’t be silly. Don’t give up.”
o “Oh Dear! What a place”.