Pte Downie - POW Recordings

Background

From time to time POWs were allowed by the Japanese to send messages via shortwave. While this activity was probably only initiated for propaganda reasons, it did allow POWs to get word out that they had survived, and to mention others who were with them.

Thanks to the generosity of people around the world, but especially in the USA, many of these shortwave messages were captured on disk and then forwarded to the families at the addresses mentioned in the broadcast.

Other examples of this service can be found in CR Trick's memoirs.

Audio Recordings

Click to play (streaming audio)

1943 Recording: (10MB) | 1945 Recording: (2MB)

Images

(click for larger view)	The envelope to the left was sent to Mrs. Emily Downie of 443 Banning St. Winnipeg MB ©Sent November 4, 1943 from B.O. South San Francisco CA	© ©On April 21, 1945 another letter was sent to Mrs. Emily Downie
	1943 Letter Letter of explanation along with a 78RPM record and a steel needle	1945 Letter ©This letter also included a 78 RPM record and a steel needle recommended for playback.
	©This record to the left was home-made by B. O. South of San Francisco CA Images show front and reverse sides. ©It is done on lacquer finished cardboard and recorded on both sides (duplicated message).	1945 Recording This recording, also received over Short Wave Radio from Japan, and recorded by B. O. South contains a recording of James Downie’s voice sending greetings to his family