I'm back albeit part time!! Almost settled in completely, so finally able to come back to write and ...
I'm back albeit part time!! Almost settled in completely, so finally able to come back to write and read - and have loads to read!!! Thanks for the r/r/c's much appreciated and will be returned!!!!
Member since:02.10.2005
Reviews:124
Members who trust:66
As many of you will already know, I am an avid reader of anything and everything. I've always had a love of books and will read any book placed in front of me. Some subjects will just captivate my interest and, when my dad lent this book to me, I did not think that a book about railways would be interesting. How wrong I was!
The RRP on this is £7.99, although if you shop around, it can be found online for a lot less (try Amazon marketplace for a price of about £3). I always shop around for my books, as I am a bit of a tightwad haha! But seriously I will happily pay for a second hand copy of a book, as sometimes it is just too expensive to buy it new.
Anyway, I digress and should really get back to the review of this book.
Eric Lomax (the author) lived for most of his life in Edinburgh prior to the outbreak of WW2. While there, he attended school, joined the scouts, and developed a love of trains. I would not compare him to the normal idea of a trainspotter dressed in an anorak and carrying a notebook. But his love of the railway was more a love of the engineering and technical feats that made trains and railways.
In time, WW2 broke
out and Lomax joined the Royal Signals. At first his job was more staying where he was and learning about radios but eventually he became an officer and was sent to India. There, he learned that they would probably not come into contact with the German Army but would more than likely have contact with the Japanese forces. But that did not worry the troops at the time and life in India was relatively good to start with.
Then the Japanese forces arrived and all hell broke loose. After several retreats, the British forces eventually surrendered and Lomax was transferred to a POW camp. Life in the first camp was relatively good compared to others. The food was not too bad, the inmates were allowed to buy food from the local town and there was no torture. The men there were primarily concerned with repairs to trains while they knew of other men who were being forced to build the railways.
After a time, Lomax and the others in his camp became weary of hearing news of the war that had been distorted by the Japanese propaganda machine and conspired to build their own radio to receive news of the war. Pieces were stolen from stores and other were bought from sympathetic locals in the nearby town. After a while, they had their own radio and could hear news of the war that was not distorted. This news was then filtered down the lines by word of mouth.
Lomax himself drew a map of the area. He stole paper and drew the map out of a desire to escape and his own desire to know where he was. It was also a way of him mapping the railway. But the status quo within his camp was soon to end. A search was made and the radio found. His map was safe but the prisoners suspected of being involved in the radio were moved and his map was discovered. And so began the interrogations.
The events Lomax describes are truly horrific and at times i was reduced to tears. It is hard to imagine these things happening but they did and Lomax is just one man who survived and lived to bear the physical and mental scars for many years after. Lomax describes how he was tortured and eventually sentenced to a prison sentence. The prison was the kind of place that men had to get put to hospital to survive. Twice Lomax got himself sent to hospital and it is there that he was liberated.
But his journey had not ended. He returned home and found life as a civilian difficult. In those days, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder had not been heard of. But on reading the book, it would seem that Lomax was definitely suffering from this, given his flashbacks and nightmares and difficulties in settling back into "normal" life.
What follows is his journey through post WW2 life and an incredible journey that eventually takes him to Japan, a country he never thought he would visit, given his immense hatred of the Japanese troops following the war.
I have to say that I loved this book! Not because of the horrific events described, but the way it is written. It is a book that I found easy to read, and captivating. It is written in a way that is very easy to understand and Lomax captured my attention from the start of the book right to the very last page.
It is really a book about the human spirit and the ability to survive in inhuman conditions. I will definitely be reading this book again and again. Maybe not for a while, but it will definitely be picked up again at some point in time. It is a book that will stand the test of time and I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this book to everyone! I enjoyed it thoroughly and would be happy to give this as a present to someone.
I was hesitant about the book at first, given its title. Railways are not something I have even a passing interest in, but the title is more about his time as a POW on the railways there, and his love of trains.
It is definitely a book that is worth reading. A full 5 star recommendation from me for all to read!
Many thanks for reading, and have the hankies at the ready when you read this book - you will definitely need them!
D xx
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This was a harrowing time. A good friend of my father was there and suffered for many years afterwards. A good book to read to get some understanding of the period. John
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