Ambon: The Truth About One of the Most Brutal POW Camps in World War II and the Triumph of the Aussie Spirit

Hachette Military Collection

by Roger Maynard

In February 1942 the Indonesian island of Ambon fell to the might of the advancing Japanese war machine. Among the captured Allied forces was a unit of 1150 Australian soldiers known as Gull Force, who had been sent to defend the island - a strategy doomed from the very beginning. Several hundred Australians were massacred in cold blood soon after the Japanese invasion. But that was only the start of a catalogue of horrors for the men who survived: incarcerated, beaten and often tortured by their captors, the brutality they endured lasted for the next three and a half years. And in this hellhole of despair and evil, officers and men turned against each other as discipline and morale broke down. Yet the epic struggle also produced heroic acts of kindness and bravery. Just over 300 of these gallant men lived to tell of those grim days behind the barbed wire. In Ambon, survivors speak of not just the horrors, but of the courage, endurance and mateship that helped them survive. The story of Ambon is one of depravity and of memories long buried - but also the triumph of the human spirit. It has not been widely told - until now.

Genres: World War II, Military Fiction, History

334 pages, Paperback

First published July 29, 2014

Reviews

[Angus Mcfarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I visited the Ambon war memorial in 1995, as part of a visit to my wife's paternal relatives there. The experience was extremely moving. The silence of the cemetery contrasted with the loudness of tropical hustle and bustle, whilst the manicured lawns and graves dramatically juxtaposed the tired dilapidation of the surrounding villages. And so many graves, sadly, bore the text 'greater love hath no man...' despite their identity simply marked unknown. On top of this, there were so many graves, making the experience overwhelming.

I was therefore glad to have the opportunity to read this book and understand the story behind those who had sacrificed much, some their very lives. There is much that reads like Gallipoli - a poorly planned mission leading to the death and suffering of Australian troops, with many episodes of individual heroism that in this case are largely untold. This book sets the scene behind the mission, how Australian troops were defeated and then imprisoned in a brutal prisoner-of-war camp for the remainder of the war (1942-1945).

The story has tense issues, not always speaking in past tense, and frequently referring to future events 'but little did they know that the worst was yet to come....' - ok once or twice but annoying when repetitive. There was also a mixture of formal grammar with jarring sentence constructions.

But the story is a moving one. I felt a tear from both happiness and sadness I think, when the account of Hiroshima was described, signaling the end of the POW suffering, but at a huge price. The suffering of the Australians who went to Ambon was immense. Death was almost a mercy. Whilst the willingness of the Japanese to inflict the pain or let it happen through illness, nearly impossible to comprehend. The Australian soldiers are not given the hero status attributed to ANZACs - clearly many struggled to suppress self interest in the extreme circumstances. I expected the ambonese locals to receive a more complimentary account, however, it appears that some of them also acted selfishly. This honesty is refreshing I think, amidst the tendency to whitewash our soldiers for the sake of untainted nostalgia. May our world never see war and suffering on this scale ever again, anywhere.

[Ivan Rees · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible story of suvival

I had a uncle who was with Gull Force on Ambon. He was lucky enough to come home.He joined they army,but his mum was'nt to happy about, because he was too young. Hope everybody that reads this book enjoys it just like i did

[Calzean · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of Gulf Force is one of poor military decisions sending them to Ambon in the first place with little chance of success, poor leadership once they got there and later in captivity, incredible brutality and hunger as POWs, and a general feeling they were the forgotten men. The various stories of brutality, massacre, escape, capture, torture, starvation and despair makes sad but interesting reading. Just not sure the writing was as good as Gulf Force deserved.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very descriptive and detailed account of the atrocities meted out to Australian, Dutch and American POWs on the island of Ambon by their Japanese captors. It also details the stupidity of the ADF in its planning for war in the Pacific. Worth a read for those interested in Australian History.