A WWII POW novel with a difference - I know the author

[Mark Latimour]

Sorry that this is a little bit SPAM like, but I thought it was worth causing a mild SPAM induced inconvenience.

I found out today by accident that a colleague of mine (we work in the same team of 31 lawyers) has written a book about his father's experiences as a POW during WWII. We knew his father, who passed away last year, was a POW held by the Japanese for 3 years, but we had no idea he was writing a book about it. He hasn't shared it with the department generally, but I spoke with him about it today and he was happy for me to plug it on TB.

The book is called The Prisoner List (Amazon.com link) and its about his fathers 3 years in captivity under the Japanese after the fall of Singapore. Below is the review on Amazon that describes it better than I could:

Originally Posted by Amazon Review

'The Prisoner List'
A True Story of Defeat, Captivity and Salvation in the Far East 1941-45

Richard Kandler

The British surrender of Singapore in 1942 to the Japanese was followed by over three years of brutal and degrading captivity for thousands of prisoners-of-war, which many did not survive.

Films such as `The Bridge On the River Kwai' and `A Town Like Alice', based on the subject of Japanese prisoner of war camps, are great cinematic entertainment but offer a somewhat sanitized view of life in these camps. The reality was far worse, and `The Prisoner List' by Richard Kandler (published in March 2010) paints a picture of harsh reality, and makes uncomfortable yet compelling reading.

Richard Kandler, from London, writes about the wartime experience of his father, Reuben, whose horrendous years of captivity included working on the docks in Indo-China (now Vietnam) and the infamous Burma railway. Some years ago the author tape recorded a series of conversations with his now late father, which forms the basis of this biographical account.

Reuben (referred to throughout the narrative as Ben) compiled a secret list of names of POWs and their fates, hence the book's title, `The Prisoner List'. It was hidden from his captors as discovery would have led to torture and death. It was a list of the first thousand Allied prisoners taken following the fall of Singapore - not just their names, but what had happened to them since: executions following failed escape attempts, deaths from tropical diseases, from starvation and the deliberate withholding of medical supplies, and from the daily beatings of sick men on the railway, and deaths at sea on "hell ships" bound for Japan. As camp searches intensified, he went to increasingly extreme lengths to hide the list - and other forbidden items - from the guards and from the dreaded Kempetai, the Japanese Gestapo, and came dangerously close to being found out.

`The Prisoner List' is an engrossing read, written in a lucid and engaging style, and a reminder of man's inhumanity to man within the madness of war. It also made me feel very glad that I wasn't there. Highly recommended.

Anyway, its self published and so if you think you might enjoy it please order it and tell people if you like it. Richard wrote it because he thinks its important that people today and in the future know what the older generation went through in wars. I also think this is a very important goal and that the past, particularly with respect to the terrible things humans have to to other humans should not be forgotten. I have ordered the book, I haven't read it yet, but seeing as it is a subject that interest me greatly, I thought I would bring it to TB's attention in the hope that others may find it an interesting read.

Thanks for indulging.

Mark

[bassrique]

It looks like a good book.

working on the docks in Indo-China (now Vietnam) and the infamous Burma railway

I'm surprised anyone made it out alive.

[drteeth]

Looks like an interesting read, I'll put it on my to-read list!

[CElton]

Very interesting. Thanks for posting. I will definitely order this one.

[Valerus]

Sounds like a powerful account.

[MJ5150]

So the difference only matters to you, I don't know the guy.

-Mike

[Mark Latimour]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

So the difference only matters to you, I don't know the guy.

-Mike

I can introduce you to him if it will help.

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by Mark Latimour

I can introduce you to him if it will help.

That would be cool, yes please.

-Mike

[Relic]

Very cool, thanks for posting this! I'll certainly be ordering one

[RWP]

I can not image what that must have been like. The Japanese were not kind to prisoners.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by RWP

I can not image what that must have been like. The Japanese were not kind to prisoners.

Niether were the cambodians, according to Rambo.

[Deathblade Eric]

Originally Posted by RWP

I can not image what that must have been like. The Japanese were not kind to prisoners.

Nor I, & they weren't.

Whilst we're on the subject, here's a facsimile article from the July 1946 issue of the Great Western Railway Magazine
(Note: Some of the terms used may cause offence today):



Photobucket appears to have "done something" to it, if you can't read the above, attached is a pdf version.

Pete

[CElton]

Regarding this subject, also check out "Flyboys" by James Bradley. Very chilling account of how POW's were treated on the island of Chichi. I couldn't put it down.

[Mark Latimour]

Originally Posted by CElton

Regarding this subject, also check out "Flyboys" by James Bradley. Very chilling account of how POW's were treated on the island of Chichi. I couldn't put it down.

I will have to check it out. There is a chapter in Max Hasting's Armageddon which is pretty chilling on the same subject.

[bassybill]

Conditions for POWs have been truly atrocious in lots of wars, and that has often been the case regardless of which side they happened to be on. This account of conditions for POWs in the American Civil War is harrowing reading.

http://www.ihr.org/jhr/v02/v02p137_Weber.html

Mark, your colleague's book looks fascinating and I will definitely check it out.

[RHFusillo]

Thanks, Mark. This looks like something I want to check out. I have visited the Changi POW Museum in Singapore, and the stories I heard there were horrendous enough.

[Mark Latimour]

Thanks, I have shown the thread to RIchard and he is very happy with the postive comments. I think he did this more for his dad and himself than to sell a load of books. However, if anyone knows any good military history discussion sites that I could pass on to him that would be a big help.

[Mark Latimour]

Just a quick update and something for those of you who are not "readers"

Richard was contacted by some film students who wanted to turn his book into a short film as part of their studies. The film is now completed and can be viewed on Richard's website. Its fairly short, about 18 minutes and gives a good short account of the sort of hardships that these men went through.

The films can be seen here: http://www.theprisonerlist.com/the-film.html

Its not an "adult" film, but because it deals with POWs it does contain some scenes which young children may find disturbing. I've watched it and its very well made (I was genuinely surprised at how good it is for a student film). I'd recommend spending the 18 mins or so to watch it - its free!

[MJ5150]

YES!!!! I'm all over it. Thank you Mark.

-Mike

[Mark Latimour]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

YES!!!! I'm all over it. Thank you Mark.

-Mike

Cool let me know what you think!