British Ww1 Small Box Respirator Bag

British "Small Box Respirator" gas mask carrying case (World War I model) that belonged to a prisoner of war in Burma. This canvas case has two snap fasteners that secure the top flap. The inside of the flap bears the inscription “R SIGS 1850237” (Royal Signals followed by the owner’s serial number) as well as the “Broad Arrow” mark. The interior is compartmentalized to hold the filter housing and the face mask. The shoulder strap has been re-sewn. The item shows significant signs of wear from service. Ideal for display on a mannequin evoking World War I.

Note -
the serial number indicates that the item was reused during World War II. Serial number 1850237 corresponds to *Signalman* Thomas Healy of the Royal Signals (Fortress Company, 5th Division). Healy was taken prisoner of war by the Japanese in the Far East during the Malaya and Singapore campaigns; he was wounded on February 1, 1942. He was subsequently reported missing on February 15, 1942, the day the British garrison in Singapore surrendered to Japanese forces. His prisoner-of-war record, compiled by the Japanese, confirms his capture in Singapore on that date. Healy thus endured approximately three and a half years of captivity at the hands of the Japanese. The release questionnaire he completed lists his periods of internment at Changi Camp, Selarang, and Changi Prison (Singapore). Interestingly, this document also contains his personal comments on the behavior of his fellow prisoners, offering a particularly intimate account of his experience as a prisoner of war. After the Japanese surrender, Healy was released on September 2, 1945, and returned to Great Britain. He was demobilized on March 28, 1946. His application for postwar medals has been preserved, as have the documents relating to his captivity and the records concerning his war injuries. The bag shows the marked wear typical of rare and valuable personal belongings that a prisoner of war would have managed to preserve.