White Butterflies

by Colin Mcphedran

After the Japanese invasion of Burma in late 1941, 11-year-old Colin McPhedran fled his homeland on foot, crossing the rugged Patkoi Mountain Ranges on foot to reach safety in India. Colin, along with his mother, elder brother and sister and thousands of others, many of whom died, battled monsoon rains, hunger, disease and exhaustion during the 500-kilometre journey.

McPhedran’s autobiography recalls his childhood as part of a large Anglo-Burmese family in colonial Burma, and provides a dramatic account of his harrowing trek to freedom. He eventually settled in Australia, where his memoir was first published. This edition, issued in Southeast Asia for the first time, includes a new afterword that supplies details left out of the story as originally published.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, History, War, Biography Memoir

273 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[RG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing story of survival. Definitely worth a read.

[Saturday's Child · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this has made me think about what extraordinary events have happened in the lives of people who are not rich or famous or even well known. It also reminds me of how strong the will to survive and thrive can be.

[Angelin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An honest and raw account of a man who have been to hell and back, White Butterflies is about war, death, and decay. Yet, in this recount of a man’s history and life, one also glimpse hope, faith, strength and immense courage.
The book reads like an old man telling you of stories from before you were born, matter-of-factly and without colourful words. As a verbal recount would have, emotions run high at various points in the book, but Mcphedran had not dwelled on it but had presented the situations in such a manner that one could empathize at a distance.
This is not just a book about a white man’s journey in Asia during war time. From his choice of words and memories, one could conclude that he had deep connections with his birth country (Burma), especially as an Anglo-Burman. This discovery through the book allowed me to appreciate his experiences and thoughts without biases. Peppered with tidbits about the various places Mcphedran had lived in, one glimpses different countries’ cultures, histories, and political systems.
It’s not a wonderful book if you’re talking about plot or language, but it’s a genuine and honest one that reflects acceptance of a painful past and growth into the present. That is this book’s beauty.
If at times incoherent because of digression when a strain of good ol’ memory props up, that only adds to the charm of the narrative.

[Mary Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book about the little known trek of refugees in Burma crossing the Patkai range into India. Escaping the invasion of Japanese forces in 1942, many Burmese, Indian and Chinese families undertook the dangerous trek during the monsoon season. 20,000 made the trek and another 20,000 perished on the way. British forces entering Burma from India found their path littered by bodies. It was called the path to hell.
Colin McPhedran was 11 years old when his mother and 2 siblings fled the Japanese. His mother was Burmese and his father was Scottish who was working overseas with Shell. It is a fascinating and heart breaking story of a boy coming in age under gruelling circumstances.
Written like an adventure story, Colin expounds about the delights of India where he went to school for 4 years. After the war, he was in England for several years before migrating to Australia and spent the rest of his life in Bowral NSW. Colin carried the trauma of that trek for the rest of his life but his ability to mix with people in all stations of life made him many friends.
For those of us who haven't had to escape to another country, this is a real eye opener.

[Jack Sprat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most fascinating account of one person's refugee story. The author gives insight into a little-known world - that of a mixed-race child of a British officer, living a comfortable life in colonial Rangoon, Burma, before the Japanese attack during WW2. His harrowing tale of displacement and survival, and the desperate trek from Burma to the safety of India is most compelling. So too were his experiences in colonial India, before his eventual move to Australia.

[RaMaNa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is good, it conveys many emotions and I like that a lot. It has incredible characters and the way it is written was excellent. Also the story it tells is interesting and very good. A very good book, I recommend it.

[Carol Doherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book.

[Jocelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating. Sad but not hard to read with a matter-of-fact style.
Bought in Narooma Vinnies and abandoned in Podger's beach house when finished

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the saddest and most beautiful books I've ever read on the flight of those residents of Burma who chose to flee the Japanese advancing army in 1942. The tale is told by one of the survivors who lost his sister, brother and mother on the trek to freedom in Assam and India, but the story is more than the story of the thousands of refugees who survived (or didn't) the trek, it is also a tale of a mixed Burmese-Scottish marriage, of growing up in Burma in the 1930s, of fathers and sons, and of the resourcefulness and courage of a young boy who first shared his story when he himself was a parent.

[Yvette Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years ago my parents stayed at a guest house in the southern Highlands of NSW and met Colin McPhedran. Mum thought he was such an interesting, happy gentleman, and sought out his autobiographical book. It's an amazing story of an 11yo half-Burmese refugee who treks from Burma to India during WW2 with his mother, brother and sister. It's heartbreaking, fascinating, and I loved it. I'm in awe of this boy who lost SO much, was all alone, so strong and independent, who lost SO MANY loved ones. Not to mention the thousands of dead bodies he encountered on the trek. And his dad? What a tool.

[Olwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an incredible story. Amazing that he survived the trek and amazing too that he survived with his psyche still intact, still able to connect with people. I can't imagine how it would feel to lose most of your family so suddenly, so unfairly. Well worth reading if you want to understand the position of refugees more.

[Kelley Stanczak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colin is a relative of mine and I met him in 2003 in Guelph, Ontario. His story is fascinating and horrifying at the same time. This is an excellent read. I understand that Colin passed away in 2010, I was very sorry to hear that. He was a very kind and gentle man.

[Jenny Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrible true story of a trek to India by a Burmese/Scottish family to escape the Japanese in WWII. The mother was terrified about what the Japanese would do to her daughter. Good and bad descriptions of Christians along the way.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievable. The strength of a mothers love, the promise of a young man. A great story and a challenge to those of us today who complain about how hard we have it. A survival story well worth the read!!

[Dee-Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mum lent me this book a few years ago ... it had a different cover. I still rmember it to this day and whenever I see butterflies they remind me of this remarkable and tragic story.