Coloured drawing of Changi Prisoner of War Camp chapel 'Ohel Jacob' by Fred Brightfield
ObjectnummerM2006/056:006
TitelColoured drawing of Changi Prisoner of War Camp chapel 'Ohel Jacob' by Fred Brightfield
Vervaardiger F Brightfield (artist), Fred Brightfield
BeschrijvingHand-coloured drawing of Changi Prisoner of War (POW) camp chapel 'Ohel Jacob', done by Fred Brightfield whilst he was a POW of the Japanese during World War II.
Frederick Francis Brightfield was born in Sydney on 13 November 1904. He enlisted in WWII on 4 November 1940, aged 35. He embarked from Australia, arriving in Singapore in February 1941. He was serving in British Malaya, when he was declared missing in action on 26 March 1942 and he was listed as a POW from July 1943. He spent some of his time as a POW in captivity in Singapore and the last period from May 1944 in Changi jail.
Brightfield was an active member of the prison camp's band and dramatics group known as the "Changi Concert Party" which played an important role in camp entertainment and sustaining morale. He had previously been the timpani player in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra before the war.
He was freed from Changi camp in September 1945 and returned to Sydney in November that year. He was discharged from service on 5 July 1946.
The 'Ohel Jacob' Synagogue was built within the precincts of Changi jail and opened 26 September 1944. It held regular services every Friday evening and Saturday morning, with lectures on Sunday afternoons for the prisoners within the camp. This Synagogue was the largest religious hall or church within Changi prison, able to hold up to fifty men.
This drawing is part of a NAJEX collection of prints of photographs and drawings from the Australian Jewry's Book of Honour World War II, published 1974.
Frederick Francis Brightfield was born in Sydney on 13 November 1904. He enlisted in WWII on 4 November 1940, aged 35. He embarked from Australia, arriving in Singapore in February 1941. He was serving in British Malaya, when he was declared missing in action on 26 March 1942 and he was listed as a POW from July 1943. He spent some of his time as a POW in captivity in Singapore and the last period from May 1944 in Changi jail.
Brightfield was an active member of the prison camp's band and dramatics group known as the "Changi Concert Party" which played an important role in camp entertainment and sustaining morale. He had previously been the timpani player in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra before the war.
He was freed from Changi camp in September 1945 and returned to Sydney in November that year. He was discharged from service on 5 July 1946.
The 'Ohel Jacob' Synagogue was built within the precincts of Changi jail and opened 26 September 1944. It held regular services every Friday evening and Saturday morning, with lectures on Sunday afternoons for the prisoners within the camp. This Synagogue was the largest religious hall or church within Changi prison, able to hold up to fifty men.
This drawing is part of a NAJEX collection of prints of photographs and drawings from the Australian Jewry's Book of Honour World War II, published 1974.
Vervaardiging plaatsChangi, Singapore
Datum 1944
OnderwerpWWII, synagogues, Ohel Jacob, Australian Imperial Force
Objectnaamdrawings
Formaat
- height: 171.00 mm
width: 210.00 mm
Taal
- English
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Fred Brightfield via the NSW Association of Jewish Service & Ex-Service Men & Women (NAJEX)