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This
is the diary kept by Jack Farrow, a 30 year old Sergeant in the 5th Royal
Norfolks, who in 1941 was expected to go to India to train troops. However
the fortunes of war turned the world upside down and he found himself
in the jungles of Malaya fighting for his life, not only against the Japanese
Imperial Army but the jungle itself.Having made it back to Singapore in
time for the surrender he was taken with many others to the notorious
Changi jail where he was put in charge of the grim task of burying his
less fortunate comrades.
The diary documents the daily life in the camp for nearly four years - highs such as camp concerts and darts matches - lows that brought the camp brutality, starvation and disease. The diary is a remarkable record, written at night and hidden secretly away from the Japanese guards.
Such writing would have led to severe punishment if found and the gathering of paper, pens and ink would also have led to reprisals. There are not many 'Changi Boys' left but this book will help us to remember what sacrifices these old soldiers made so that we could have the freedom we enjoy today.
Jack's son Ian has edited and assembled his late father's papers into a fascinating account of patience and endurance.The diary entries are cleverly illustrated with Jack Farrow's 'souvenir' documents and against some of the diary entries are notes of the other wartime events that were occurring at the time, often unknown to the prisoners until weeks later. While monsoon rains wash out some of the prisoners' tents at Changi, you find that on the other side of the world the Normandy landings are taking place, producing an eerie contrast and adding a strange poignancy to Jack's account of POW life.
About the Author
Sadly,
Jack Farrow died in 1992. During his lifetime he never gave any thought
to having his remarkable diaries published. It was a personal tribute
to those men he left behind in Changi cemetery ; a way of exorcising their
ghosts from his memory. However after his death the document came to the
attention of the local museum, who suggested his wife and family approach
a publisher. This book is the result.
JN (Jack) Farrow marched on his
last parade August 13th 1989
ISBN: 978-1-904985-55-6
Binding : Softback
Price : £9.95
Dimensions : 142 x 202mm
Pages : 460
Distributed in the UK by
Stamford House Publishing
Remus House
Peterborough
PE2 9JX
Tel: 01733 898105
Fax: 01733 313524
Email : sales@stamfordhousepublishing.co.uk
Website : www.stamfordhousepublishing.co.uk