As an ex-RAF Halton Apprentice (or, as we are used to be called, 'brat') I have the privilege of receiving 'The Haltonion' magazine. In the letters to the editor section, the November 2015 edition has this, from Rob Knotts of the 84th entry;

"I have just watched the VJ Commemorations programme. It brought to mind a tale told me about an ex Halton brat who was a POW under the Japanese. The tale was told to me by an RAF officer who knew the ex-brat concerned.

The ex-brat graduated from Halton in 1941 and was posted to Singapore. Within a short time of being there he was captured and ultimately ended up in Japan working under extreme inhuman conditions. As with all Japanese POWs he suffered extensively but fortunately survived. When the war ended he was repatriated to Singapore to recover his health. While there he was recommended for a commission and interviewed by the AOC in C. I am told that the interview included the following exchange;

AOC in C: "I see that you were a POW in Japan. Obviously you survived. How was it?"

Ex Brat: "After Halton, sir, a piece of cake!"

What a spirit. It says it all about ex-Brats."