Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
2:28 | While stationed on Singapore in February of 1942, Peter Chopping remembers Britain surrendering to Japanese troops and being taken prisoner. Interview provided by Deborah Ellinger.
After being loaded onto a troop ship and not told where he and his fellow soldiers were headed, Peter Chopping, a British Army doctor, describes how he created a rudimentary sextant to deduce their destination. Interview provided by Deborah Ellinger.
With Japanese troops moving closer and closer to their location, Peter Chopping recalls operating on wounded troops in a Singapore cinema, and learning to judge the trajectory of artillery shells by their sound. Interview provided by Deborah Ellinger.
While being held prisoner at Serangoon Road in Singapore, Peter Chopping describes how he pieced together a secret radio to monitor what was going on in the war. Interview provided by Deborah Ellinger.
Using a secret radio, Peter Chopping recalls learning about the dropping of the atomic bombs while he was held prisoner in Singapore. Interview provided by Deborah Ellinger.
Peter Chopping talks about how a potential Russian invasion of Japan figured into the United States' plan to drop the atomic bombs. Interview provided by Deborah Ellinger.
After being held prisoner by the Japanese in Singapore for three and a half years, Peter Chopping recalls the huge morale boost his fellow soldiers experienced while being liberated. Interview provided by Deborah Ellinger.
