This photo was in my R G Read’s archive and features a group of POW’s with their Japanese Guards, the photo is dated on the back ‘Apr ‘44’ but my research would indicate that it was most likely taken in 1942, as the prisoners look fit and healthy. As the years went by the prisoners health deteriorated so that by 1944, it would be unlikely that they would still look relatively fit.
Research indicates that this is most likely a ‘work party’ sent out to clear up in the aftermath of surrender, so post 15th February 1942. The terrain in the photo points to it being in the Bukit Timah area of Singapore.
These type of ‘propaganda’ photo’s were taken by the Japanese to illustrate how ‘well’ prisoners were being treated, when in actual fact the opposite was the case.
Also of interest on the photo are what look like initials in a fairly small font beneath each prisoner, the ink used may have been whatever was at hand and so may have long ago disappeared, but a number of imprints can be seen. I would like to further research these and possibly then identify the prisoners.