Down to Bedrock: The Diary and Secret Notes of a Far East Prisoner of War Chaplain 1942 - 1945

by Eric Cordingly, Louise Cordingly (Editor)

'Within the camp were men of all sorts ..the strange thing was that seemingly ordinary men, of no particular calibre stood out head and shoulders above their fellows.. Under the strain of prison life only one thing prevailed and that was strength of character... Only real goodness made any impact'. These recently discovered papers contain the story of one man's experience as prisoner-of-war of the Japanese from 1942-45, first in Changi in Singapore and then up-country beside the River Kwai during the building of the infamous Death Railway. As a young priest, Eric Cordingly suddenly found himself catapulted into a parish of 50,000 fellow captives. With an unsentimental and practical approach, this modest man set about his pastoral duties under the most harrowing conditions. His diary and secret notes were written when he had no idea whether he would survive. This eye witness account and many original illustrations by fellow POWs which he collected and kept with his papers, create a vivid picture of three and a half years' life in captivity. Bishop Eric Cordingly was born in 1911; educated at King's College London and St Stephen's house, Oxford. Then, after a curacy in Muswell Hill, London, he became a parish priest in the Cotswolds. During World War II he was an Army Chaplain 1940-45, first in France (evacuated at Dunkirk), then in the Far East. He received an MBE for services as a prisoner-of-war. In 1955 he was appointed Rector of Stevenage, then Chaplain to the Queen in 1960. He moved to Norwich in 1962 as Archdeacon or Norfolk and Residentiary Canon at Norwich Cathedral and in 1963 he was consecrated Bishop of Thretford. He died in 1976 and is buried with his wife, Mary, in the Jesus Chapel in Norwich Cathedral.

155 pages, Paperback

First published October 19, 2013

Reviews

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never, ever read a book by a P.O.W. who said that his years in prison were some of the best of his life. But that is exactly what Eric Cordingly sets out to prove in this riveting glimpse into his wartime diaries. As an Anglican priest, he witnessed many hundreds of soldiers who came to faith in the camps. He was busy all during the war leading worship services, praying for the dying, and teaching theology. It is easy to see why he describes that time as fulfilling.

I was stunned by his closing statements. Because his experience was so positive, he concludes that mankind is basically good and that war and tribulation bring out what's best in him. The other 20 POW memoirs I've read prove the opposite - that man's sinful human nature was alive and well. G.K. Chesterton famously stated that, "original sin is the only part of Christian theology which can really be proved".

In spite of Cordingly's final thought, I found this look at religious life at Changi Camp to be absolutely fascinating. More about this camp can be found in the book The Barbed-Wire University by Midge Gillie.

[Ben Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant account of a soldiers time at war. Incredibly put together and emotive - so helpful with my own work.