Susan van der Wal-Meyneken
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At the outbreak of the Far East war in 1942, Suus was a third
year medical student in Batavia (Jakarta) on Java
Ω.
She planned to continue her medical career in the Dutch East
Indies. At the outbreak of the real European war in 1940, all
Germans were interned and her father became commandant of the
internment camp in Northern Sumatra. When the Asian war broke
out in December 1941, the internees were transferred to Ceylon
(Sri Lanka) and Surinam; her mother and father returned and he
joined the Royal Dutch East Indies Army
Ω.
After joining up they were initially based in Madiun in the
East but after the Japanese landings they had to return to
Batavia. They stayed for a time in friend’s house whose husband
was a military doctor. The Japanese requisitioned the house and
they had to move out
Ω.
She and her sister joined the others and got used to living,
without servants, together with a number of other people, in the
same house
Ω.
Although fearful of what the Japanese might do to the women, in
fact nothing happened although rumours circulated of extreme
measures taken against those caught thieving. They were however
required to celebrate the Emperor’s birthday while being
prohibited from celebrating that of Princess Juliana
Ω.
They were fortunate in always being in camps on Java so
transport was available and there were no long journeys by rail
truck to be concerned about
Ω.
Food however, although readily available at the beginning,
gradually became scarcer and cooking was centralised to ensure
the same quantities were available for each house. Nevertheless,
fear of losing out caused people to monitor the situation
closely and as hunger took hold, to show the selfishness which
results. Some, however, were able to maintain their principles
throughout
Ω.
The absolute absence of privacy, the inability to be on your
own, was a very great loss.
At the beginning of the war Suus worked on washing for two
families, but as the war progressed she was better employed as a
nurse in the hospital in whichever camp they were based. Her
younger sister accompanied her in this work; her mother in
preparing food and her elder sister in administration
Ω.
Being in a hospital, this work extended around the clock
Ω.
Roll call was taken twice a day and could sometimes take all day
depending on who was overseeing the count. The Camp Commandant,
Captain Sonei, was known for the brutality shown to camp
members, for even minor infractions
Ω.
Conditions in the hospital were of course very difficult with
dysentery being a very serious problem. Medicines and
disinfectants were almost non existent and special food they
needed was unavailable for babies and small children
Ω.
Despite the hardships suffered, and, as it turned out, the
unfounded, fears the women had about being attacked by the
Japanese, Suus remains convinced, all these years later, that
the racism that existed on all sides was a wrong that has to be
recognised and resisted
Ω.
Recorded September 2007
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