This cover of Army Book 153 belonged to belonged to Captain Forbes Wallace, an officer with the Federated Malay States police who also served in the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers. After being activated during the Japanese invasion of Malaya, he was captured during the fall of Singapore. The Army Book 153 is known as a field message book and was the standard notebook issued to officers and NCOs. Likely introduced in World War One, the book was used to record both official messages as well as personal notes. It comprised a brown waterproof cover and squared notepaper which could be changed.
