Ingenious way Perth soldier survived notorious Changi Prison

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A passion for vintage guitars coupled with an online advert has helped uncover an ingenious story about resilience, music and an Australian Prisoner of War.

In tonight’s episode of Up Late, Ben Harvey explains how while trawling the internet for his next passion purchase, accountant Darren Lewson came across an interesting instrument.

Intrigued, Mr Lewson began to research the guitar with the letters JMG emblazoned on its head. Harvey tells how it was made in Bayswater by Jack Maskiell Guitars. Further probing led Mr Lewson to uncover some surprising information about the company’s founder and luthier.

While Sgt Maskiell died in 1966, Mr Lewson is determined the luthier of Changi is not forgotten. This determination spawned a song, recorded on one of Sgt Maskiell’s guitars – which is revealed in tonight’s episode of Up Late.

Sgt Maskiell was a Perth-born soldier who wound up as a POW during World War II.

Page image from the National Library of Australia's Newspaper Digitisation Program - Daily News May 16 1950.
Camera IconPage image from the National Library of Australia’s Newspaper Digitisation Program – Daily News May 16 1950. Credit: National Library of Australia/TheWest

While recovering from having his leg amputated in Singapore’s infamous Changi Prison, Sgt Maskiell had a brainwave. Harvey explains how the then-30-year-old made a rudimentary ukulele. The instrument no doubt helped keep the spirits of his fellow troops up, with Sgt Maskiell teaching other soldiers how to make their own ukuleles.

After the liberation of Singapore and his discharge from the army Sgt Maskiell returned to Perth. There, he founded JMG and like his time in Changi, employed ex-servicemen and POWs in particular. The business was a resounding success, with the guitars becoming highly sought-after by collectors.

Mr Lewson told Harvey that “This man (Sgt Maskiell) of incredible courage, determination and impregnable positivity did not let the war or the harsh brutality of his treatment in Changi Prison remove the music from his heart”.

Lest we forget.

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