Prisoner of War sports shield

Inscribed '5th BATTALION ROYAL NORFOLK REGT "CHANGI" FOOTBALL SHIELD'. A pre-war unit of the Territorial Army, the 5th Battalion comprised volunteers with Headquarters at Dereham and companies at Aylsham, North Walsham and Holt. In 1939 Territorial Battalions were mobilised for war. After preparing for the German invasion that never came, the 5th Battalion, together with the 4th and 6th Territorial Battalions, became part of the 18th Eastern Division. Between October and December 1941 these soldiers from Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire underwent a 20,000 mile sea journey to Singapore. They arrived as the last British troops were withdrawing onto the island from the Malayan mainland. After a month's fighting, the Norfolks went into captivity when Singapore was surrendered to the Japanese Army. The whole British Commonwealth garrison was herded into Changi jail and forced to sign a promise not to escape. Work parties were then sent into Thailand and Burma to build a railway to supply the Japanese advance. The initial fighting, followed by the prisoners' hardship and mistreatment, caused the deaths of over half the 5th Battalion. When the railway was completed the remainder returned to Changi jail. Handicrafts and sport competitions, including football and darts, were organised to pass the time and keep up morale. Shields like this made from scrap were presented to the winners. The surrender of Japan in August 1945 brought release to the surviving Prisoners of War after three and a half years' endurance