Escape from SingaporeWhile it is the duty of an army to maintain enemy soldiers in prisoner-of-war (POW) camps, it is also the right of every POW soldier, irrespective of rank and nationality, to escape and to engage the enemy in whatever method possible. And when the stakes are as big as the Second World War, the stage is set for any challenge that a soldier may have to face& and overcome. This is a little known story of three young officers of the Indian Army, who escaped from a Japanese POW camp in Singapore and made their way through Malaya (now Malaysia), Thailand and Burma (now Myanmar) to reach India, over a period of six months. Travelling through a gruelling tract of arid forests, with a forever depleted stock of provisions and always in the constant fear of coming face to face with enemy forces, these young officers displayed raw courage and bravery in the face of complete annihilation. |
Contents
9 | |
Operations in Malaya and Singapore | 23 |
Captivity and Escape | 45 |
Crossing into Thailand and Burma | 74 |
Ordeal at Monywa | 102 |
Conclusion | 137 |
Common terms and phrases
12 Infantry Brigade 4/19th Hyderabad Regiment 4/19th Hyderabad Regt 5/2nd Punjab A&SH aircraft Alorstar Andaman Islands artillery asked attacked Australian Balbir and Parab Battalion Battle of Slim boat Brig bungalow Burma Capt Balbir Singh Capt GS Parab Capt later Capt Mohan Singh casualties civilians Company dark defences defensive positions Dogar Singh ESCAPE FROM SINGAPORE Fatigue Camp fighting fire Fort Hertz Gurudwara heard Hindustani India interrogation Japanese authorities Japanese guards Japanese officer Japanese soldiers Japanese troops journey Kalewa Khan Zaman Kumaon Regiment Lt Nomi Maj Fujiwara Malaya Mawlaik Mergui Monywa morning Moulmein moved Myitkyina Nee Soon Camp night passes patrol Pegu Police POW Camp prisoners Pritam Singh Punjab Punjab Regt Railway Station Rangoon reach India RIASC road Singapore City Slim River Straits Dollar Tabolick Tavoy Thai Thailand Thakur Singh thick jungles three escapees three officers tickets told took train trio Unit village walked