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Nagasaki: The Forgotten Prisoners
This is one of the most remarkable untold stories of the Second World war. At 11.02 am on an August morning in 1945 America dropped the world's most powerful atomic bomb on the Japanese port city of Nagasaki. The most European city in Japan was flattened to the ground ' as if it had been swept aside by a broom' . More than 70,000 Japanese were killed. At the time, hundreds of Allied prisoners of war were working close to the bomb's detonation point, as forced labourers in the shipyards and foundries of Nagasaki.
These men, from the Dales of Yorkshire and the dusty outback of Australia, from the fields of Holland and the remote towns of Texas, had already endured an extraordinary lottery of life and death that had changed their lives forever. They had lived through nearly four years of malnutrition, disease, and brutality. Now their prison home was the target of America's second atomic bomb.
In one of the greatest survival stories of the Second World War, we trace their astonishing experiences back to bloody battles in the Malayan jungle, before the dramatic fall of Fortress Singapore, the mighty symbol of the British Empire. This abject capitulation was followed by surrender in Java and elsewhere in the East, condemning the captives to years of cruel imprisonment by the Japanese.
Their lives grew evermore perilous when thousands of prisoners were shipped off to build the infamous Thai-Burma Railway, including the Bridge on the River Kwai. If that was not harsh enough, POWs were then transported to Japan in the overcrowded holds of what were called hell ships. These rusty buckets were regularly sunk by Allied submarines, and thousands of prisoners lived through unimaginable horror, adrift on the ocean for days. Some still had to endure the final supreme test, the world's second atomic bomb.
The prisoners in Nagasaki were eyewitnesses to one of the most significant events in modern history but writing notes or diaries in a Japanese prison camp was dangerous. To avoid detection, one Allied prisoner buried his notes in the grave of a fellow POW to be reclaimed after the war, another wrote his diary in Irish. Now, using unpublished and rarely seen notes, interviews, and memoirs, this unique book weaves together a powerful chorus of voices to paint a vivid picture of defeat, endurance, and survival against astonishing odds.
These men, from the Dales of Yorkshire and the dusty outback of Australia, from the fields of Holland and the remote towns of Texas, had already endured an extraordinary lottery of life and death that had changed their lives forever. They had lived through nearly four years of malnutrition, disease, and brutality. Now their prison home was the target of America's second atomic bomb.
In one of the greatest survival stories of the Second World War, we trace their astonishing experiences back to bloody battles in the Malayan jungle, before the dramatic fall of Fortress Singapore, the mighty symbol of the British Empire. This abject capitulation was followed by surrender in Java and elsewhere in the East, condemning the captives to years of cruel imprisonment by the Japanese.
Their lives grew evermore perilous when thousands of prisoners were shipped off to build the infamous Thai-Burma Railway, including the Bridge on the River Kwai. If that was not harsh enough, POWs were then transported to Japan in the overcrowded holds of what were called hell ships. These rusty buckets were regularly sunk by Allied submarines, and thousands of prisoners lived through unimaginable horror, adrift on the ocean for days. Some still had to endure the final supreme test, the world's second atomic bomb.
The prisoners in Nagasaki were eyewitnesses to one of the most significant events in modern history but writing notes or diaries in a Japanese prison camp was dangerous. To avoid detection, one Allied prisoner buried his notes in the grave of a fellow POW to be reclaimed after the war, another wrote his diary in Irish. Now, using unpublished and rarely seen notes, interviews, and memoirs, this unique book weaves together a powerful chorus of voices to paint a vivid picture of defeat, endurance, and survival against astonishing odds.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published October 11, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 28, 2022
A remarkable book that covers the horrific aspects of war in Asia during the Second World War, from the defence of Singapore and Burma, to prisoner of war memories, to finally the horrific atom bomb on Nagasaki.
The author managed to weave a very interesting, emotional and compelling story of the strength that some of the soldiers were able to maintain whilst being brutalised.
My only (minor) criticism of the book was that the content of the actual bombing of Nagasaki was only covered within the last few chapters, would have liked to have read more on this piece of history, but the preceding content did lead the reader to try the understand how the prisoners actually ended up in the Nagasaki camp at the time of the bombing.
For me, this is a must read for anyone interested or studying WW2, especially the Asia battles and immediate aftermath.
The author managed to weave a very interesting, emotional and compelling story of the strength that some of the soldiers were able to maintain whilst being brutalised.
My only (minor) criticism of the book was that the content of the actual bombing of Nagasaki was only covered within the last few chapters, would have liked to have read more on this piece of history, but the preceding content did lead the reader to try the understand how the prisoners actually ended up in the Nagasaki camp at the time of the bombing.
For me, this is a must read for anyone interested or studying WW2, especially the Asia battles and immediate aftermath.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2022
yellow peril
An eye opening book not for the sensitive natured it just showed the level to which humans can sink, the A-Bomb proved necessary in this instance and also showed the terrible aftermath of such a weapon may no madman ever acquire it please god
An eye opening book not for the sensitive natured it just showed the level to which humans can sink, the A-Bomb proved necessary in this instance and also showed the terrible aftermath of such a weapon may no madman ever acquire it please god
December 22, 2024
One star lost for jumping around a little too much for my liking, … but a solid 4 (so, ALMOST 5) I would say.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews