To Sandakan: The Diaries of Charlie Johnstone : Prisoner of War 1942-45

by Christopher Henry Dawson

Today little evidence remains of the prisoners of war who once so desperately clung to life at the 8 Mile Camp at Sandakan in North Borneo. To Sandakan is Charlie Johnstone's story, most Of it told in the words of his own journal. It is not about great feats of arms or great deeds of heroism, but ordinary people caught up in a nightmare and about their extraordinary fortitude. Johnstone was not only one of the few to survive Japanese captivity, but was also one of the few to take the great risk of keeping a record of his ordeal. To Sandakan is a moving account of extraordinary endurance.

120 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1995

About the author

Christopher Henry Dawson (12 October 1889, Hay Castle – 25 May 1970, Budleigh Salterton) was a British independent scholar, who wrote many books on cultural history and Christendom. Christopher H. Dawson has been called "the greatest English-speaking Catholic historian of the twentieth century".

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A memoir that was written at his sons request telling the truth of his experiences as a POW, some of which he had never spoken about. Small segments of historical overview of the war intersperse the memoir. The persecution of POWs was an immense suffering. My heart goes out to those in the past. They are doubly heroic for being able to return home and rebuild an inner and outer life which has given Australian society so much goodness. Those people internationally who are currently in unjust situations of ethnic incarceration and persecution or are in the devastation and tragedy of unchosen war also have my empathic compassion.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that brings a person back to earth. Everybody should read this book and look at look at life from a real POW.