Book Review - From Hell To Eternity by Peter Firkins

Many moons ago, when I lived in the Mt, Bruce Ruxton, who was the Victorian RSL President at the time, gave a speech about Allied prisoners of war at Sandakan in North Borneo (at the time) and their forced death marches to Ranau. To hear that nearly 2500 Allied soldiers were later forced on marches [approx 455 began the marches] and only six survived was an amazing story. I gained an understanding of why Bruce Ruxton hated the Japanese so much although people of my generation did not have this hatred.

At the Save The Children Book Fair at UWA last weekend I noticed a book in the War/Military section. On the back it said "DEATH MARCH... WITH ONLY SIX SURVIVORS". I knew that I had to get this book and I knew what the story would be about. My copy is 25 years old but still in good nick. It took less than a week to finish.

From Hell To Eternity by Peter Firkins

The Japanese transferred many Allied POWs from Singapore to Sandakan. For three and a half years they forced them to build an aerodrome, starved, bashed and tortured them and failed to treat them according to the Geneva Convention (although the Third Geneva Convention is most appropriate), of which Japan was not a signatory. To the Japanese allowing yourself to become a prisoner was shameful and they therefore felt that prisoners could be mistreated in any manner.

When the Allies, Americans mainly, were looking to land in the area of Sandakan the Japanese forced the POWs to march to Ranau whereupon most of them malnourished men perished due to starvation or were murdered by the Japanese guards. There are some horrendous tales of maltreatment which I'd rather not go into. Some of the men weighed less than five stones (38kg) having been 10-12 stones in their prime. One of the six survivors, warrant officer Bill Sticpewich, maintained records of the war crimes committed and was instrumental in the Japanese being punished for their crimes in 1946.

An amazing story of survival most of the story revolves around the time spent as POWs as the marches themselves took between two and three weeks at the end of the war. It's still a harrowing read in places and not for the faint-hearted. Anybody wanting to read about the worst treatment of Allied soldiers (I'm sure that the German concentration camps were far worse and perhaps the Srebrenica massacre is the only comparable cruelty in living memory) should read this book. A hugely recommended read for those interested in real war experiences and not fiction. The language used is not taxing and just about the only terms requiring clarification were those relating to local Malay words.

Boxhead: The Zombie Wars

Boxhead has been a favourite of Yu-Jin and I for quite some time. Well, it appears that the latest version, Boxhead: The Zombie Wars, is the best yet from Sean T Cooper.

The Game - Boxhead: The Zombie Wars

It's probably not suitable for kids. But it is fun. Top that for a high score, Nick.



Watch the trailer!!

Boxhead: The Zombie Wars - Frugal Bastard's High Score on The Road To Hell level.
Me in the final act of dying on Boxhead: The Zombie Wars.