The Forgotten Highlander: An Incredible WWII Story of Survival in the Pacific Book

Do you think it's possible to survive having malaria, dysentery, beri-beri and tropical infected skin ulcers all at the same time while being worked to death during WW2 in a Japanese prison camp building a railroad in Burma?

The Forgotten Highlander, Alistair Urquhart, managed to do just that, surviving to return home to tell of his hellish experiences in this book.

In a strange way this book was almost uplifting instead of depressing. Alistair nearly died so many times it's a miracle he survived.

Young Alistair was enjoying his army enlistment in Singapore until the Japanese army broke through and conquered the "impregnable" colony.

In short order the young and wholesome Alistair became enslaved and forced to work building a railroad while being fed less than a cup of rice per day. He was one of the few survivors having spent 750 days of hard labor.

Alistair was slowly starving to death when the POWs were shipped to the mainland of Japan as their services were required during this stage of the war. More bad luck followed as the enslaved were packed into the ship to the extent that it wasn't possible to sit. On the journey to Japan the slave ship was hit by an American torpedo and sunk.

Alistair somehow managed to survive 5 days in the ocean until the Japanese relief effort finally found him. The survivors were packed into another ship to continue their journey to Japan but this time it was almost unbearable to read what happened next.

They were locked in the hold for 3 days without any food or water and many POW's went insane and starting killing and eating each other in order to drink blood.

Alistair did survive and returned home to the highlands of Scotland, but he would never be the same again, physically or mentally. After all his suffering he decided to dedicate his life to helping others, which he has done while living to a ripe old age.

It's a miracle that any of these poor POWs were able to survive.
Alistair's will to live was what kept him going and I've never heard or read about a man this brave.
Alistair story is inspirational although sometimes difficult to read.

This book might not be for all people due to the barbarism displayed throughout.