Camp Solo Event

Solo was a large CONCENTRATION CAMP.
The camp existed of two parts, one part was a former psychiatric hospital and the new section with lots of barracks was newly build for many prisoners. In one of those barracks we slept, my mother, brother and I. Everybody had exactly 45 inches, all lined in a long line. Opposite were your suitcases with your stuff. In front of the suitcases was a large aisle. At the other side it was the same. Every morning we had to take the roll call. In the evening we had to be inside the barracks at 9 o’clock otherwise you were caught and you would be beaten. Sometimes there were important visitors. It were scary, severe Japanese, hung with medals, who came inspecting if everything was allright. A disaster it was. Everything had to be clean and perfectly tidy, we then had to take roll calls for long hours. They loved that.
We played cards on our beds. Next to us Adriaan slept with his mother, who became my mother’s best friend and remained so for the rest of her life.
Once I laughed so hard that I fell backwards with my head on our suitcases. I was unconscious, vomited and had a concussion. I had to lay flat. Exactly at that time the important visitors came and everyone had to be present at the roll call. Deadly quiet I lay there, all alone in the large barrack, frozen with fear. The door flew open and three Japs came in. One walked on the beds on the other side and one on my side with a Samurai swords pricking in everything. I saw his shining boots come closer. I lay there without moving, but made sure that he could see me. Imagine, he could put me to death with that sword. I looked at him tensely as he came closer and closer. Suddenly he was in front of me, standing with his boots on both sides of my body. With his shining sword he started yelling at me (they always did). I was too afraid to cry. He yelled something to the other Japs en started pricking with his sword around me. He also took my doll and pulled her head off and looked inside her. They were looking for hidden jewels and money. I smelled his breath, when he bent over me again. He grinned and barked something to me in Japanese and finally left, waving his sword. That I, as a 9 year old, didn’t wet my pants is a miracle. After this I never stayed alone in my bed even when I was very ill. As far as I am concerned I was very lucky to have survived this event.
Dinkie