The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Collection relating to the Second World War service of Brigadier Arthur Leslie Varley. Collection consists of 6 original hand-written diaries kept as a POW on the Burma end of the Burma/Thailand Railway. Covering the period 1 December 1941 to 26 March 1944, they describe conditions, rations, illness, executions, work and movements. Also included in the collection is a typescript of the diaries, which doesn't commence until 12 May 1942.
These diaries were secretly compiled by Brigadier A L Varley (22nd Australian Infantry Brigade) when he commanded "A" Force, a group of prisoners of war including Australians, Americans, British and Dutchmen, working from Thanbyuzayat towards Three Pagodas Pass on the Burma portion of the Burma-Thailand road and railway in 1942-43. Varley, who had served also in the 1914-18 War, was drowned in 1944 along with many other prisoners when the ship Rakuyo Maru, in which they were being transported to Japan, was sunk in the South China Sea. The diaries were buried in Singapore for safe keeping before embarkation and were recovered after the war.
Diary relating to the Second World War service of NX35005 Brigadier Arthur Leslie Varley, 22nd Australian Infantry Brigade. This diary, referenced as diary 4, covers the period from 2 September 1943 -
Diary relating to the Second World War service of NX35005 Brigadier Arthur Leslie Varley, 22nd Australian Infantry Brigade. This diary, referenced as diary 1b, covers the period from 19 June 1942 - 7
Diary relating to the Second World War service of NX35005 Brigadier Arthur Leslie Varley, 22nd Australian Infantry Brigade. This diary, referenced as diary 2, covers the period from 7 December 1942 -
Diary relating to the Second World War service of NX35005 Brigadier Arthur Leslie Varley, 22nd Australian Infantry Brigade. This diary, referenced as diary 3, covers the period from 27 May - 27 August
Diary relating to the Second World War service of NX35005 Brigadier Arthur Leslie Varley, 22nd Australian Infantry Brigade. This diary, referenced as diary 1a, covers the period from 12 May - 18 June
Portrait of Brigadier Arthur L Varley MC, Commanding Officer 22 Brigade 2 AIF. The artist, Jim Collins, was a member of A Force, one of the work parties forced to construct the Burma-Thailand Railway.
