The boys built imitation fireplaces. There were three of them in our hut made of painted cardboard and coloured paper. They had even rigged up a fan connected with the electric light and obtained the effect of smoke and flames. The Japanese guards thought this was wonderful and pointed it out to each other. They were like children. Their lives are so drab that the little color the Christmas decorations made pleased them immensely.
The Commandant ordered that no one should disturb us on Christmas Day. Possibly he expected to be let in on some secret rite that all this preparation foreshadowed. Happily we had a Red Cross parcel. The McKnight brothers had held an orchestra of five pieces together. They had very little opportunity and practically no place to practice, but they managed to play creditably. There was an impromptu concert but few had the heart to sing. Our entertainers thought they would try to cheer us with something bright, but it didn’t sound that way.
At the last Christmas the Japanese shipyard authorities as a great contribution to our happiness, gave a Christmas tree about two feet high. It was some kind of a scrubby birch but it was a tree and was received gratefully. It was decorated with paper and put in a position of honour. The Japs thought, ‘ Ha, ha!’ These are queer people. They are like children. Give them a few bits of coloured paper to play with and they are happy. We will humour them, as it is harmless.
Tom Marsh - Chapter 15 - Collaboration With The Enemy
Under our circumstances it was hard sometimes to draw the line between what would be considered collaboration and what the Japs expected of us. All NCOs and men were supposed to work. How hard they worked and how efficiently were largely up to the man himself. He could make trouble for others as well as himself or play along. He could be smart and ingratiate himself with the Jap and receive favors without betraying anyone. He could do the same thing and betray his comrades.
One of the Canadian prisoners I knew in Hong Kong was smart and soon picked up the Japanese language and their customs, especially the one of bowing to a superior. He bowed to them all with a smile. As most of the other prisoners at that time were sulky, the Japs loved it. He was soon given little privileges and was consulted on many matters pertaining to the running of the camp. The rest of us were suspicious of him but he always played it safe. When there was a conflict of orders or a minor rule infringement and one of the boys was up for discipline he, being the only one that understood both sides, was brought in as an interpreter. He always deftly explained away the action or lack of action of the accused. He was so adept in translating their own regulations to the Japs to the benefit of the prisoners that they finally preferred to get along without him. He was far too ready to help and a darn sight too smart for them.
There were a few that carried their fear of what might happen to them to the extent that when they returned home they stood charged with collaboration with the enemy. I was with one of these in Hong Kong. I remember an incident that might give insight to his character. We were on a work party when American planes came over and bombed the docks. The Jap guards were very excited and made our group of prisoners squat down in a circle while they surrounded us with leveled bayonets. Some of the prisoners were openly enjoying the show and praying for some more direct hits on shipping and other targets. The guards were showing their fear and anger and seemed to need little provocation to massacre the bunch of us. The collaborator sensed this as I did. He glanced fearfully at the guards and back to us.
