Can recommend a book by David Taylor ( a relative of the Emery family that were prominent in Blackpool and owned the Illawalla). This book deals with the carnage of the retreat from Singapore and the loss of the Blackpool Regiment ( set up specifically for the War effort) at the hands of the Japanese. I would imagine that whilst younger AVFTT will dismiss this us older ones will remember some of the names from tales of the thirties - sixties. I can certainly remember my Dad talking of the horrors the survivors went through as Prisoners of War. Frank Swifts brother in law who lived in Revoe mentioned in the book.
O/T The Blackpool Regiment 137 (Army) Field Regiment RA (TA) WW2
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Shandypants
Well-known member
I read a book by a Scottish bloke Alastair Urquart the Forgotten Highlander. I knew the Japanese were bad but this book reads a living nightmare. After several years of being worked to death, beaten daily, starved, zero medical assistance with tropical diseases the Japanese hell ships were the icing on the cruelty cake. If you can stomach it read about them, we owe it to the victims.
His old boss saw him upon his return and sobbed as he had come back in such a bad state.
I'll look up this book.
His old boss saw him upon his return and sobbed as he had come back in such a bad state.
I'll look up this book.
Tangerinemoss
Well-known member
I too am of an age to hear one or two first hand stories, though most did not want to talk about it. I remember many people who would not buy Japanese goods late into the twentieth century because of what they and others had suffered.
We will remember them
We will remember them
Seasider1
Well-known member
Read extracts from it some time ago on FB. Pretty sure it was on something like Blackpool History or Past site.
Was a harrowing read in parts.
Steamgun
Well-known member
The building is still there although unsure of the current use.
A couple of years ago on a trip to Liverpool we found by accident an exhibition of camp life as a FEPOW. The details are still on the Liverpool University website, quite a humbling experience and still worth an online look
FEPOW exhibition
Thinking back, I'm sure there was an Army Cadet squad based there.
Two other books on this topic are:
'The Railway Man', by Eric Lomax, relating his imprisonment by the Japanese, torture, and post war reconciliation with his tormentors. An uplifting tale. It was made into a film a few years back, but the book is better
'And the Dawn came up like Thunder', by Leo Rawlings. He made sketches of his time in captivity and concealed them throughout the war. If the Japanese had discovered them he would have been executed.
'The Railway Man', by Eric Lomax, relating his imprisonment by the Japanese, torture, and post war reconciliation with his tormentors. An uplifting tale. It was made into a film a few years back, but the book is better
'And the Dawn came up like Thunder', by Leo Rawlings. He made sketches of his time in captivity and concealed them throughout the war. If the Japanese had discovered them he would have been executed.
Curryman
Well-known member
Anyone who was a pupil at St John Vianney in the sixties will remember Reggie Dunne, Physics teacher and, I think, deputy head. He had spent years as a captor of the japs and was reputed to have an iron plate in his skull. True or not, he certainly suffered and was one of the top men in the Burma Starr Association. As a teacher, he was extremely strict and cane happy. But I met him a number of times as an adult and he was one of the most charming blokes you could meet. I have read many books about how the bar stewards treated not only our prisoners but also other white nations,the Ausies suffered badly from them in the pacific, as did the Yanks. Thank goodness I have been lucky enough to go through life, so far, without the fear of something like that.
Jaffa_The_Hut
Well-known member
85,000 British & Commonwealth soldiers surrendered to just 36,000 Japanese soldiers.
No wonder Churchill sacked General Percival soon after the surrender.