The War Diaries of "Weary" Dunlop (A Penguin Original)

By Edward Dunlop

Book Overview

More than 40 years ago Sir Edward Dunlop, then a Lieutenant-Colonel, began these diaries at the start of his imprisonment by the Japanese in Java and on the Burma-Thailand railway. His meticulous... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• ISBN: 185471449X
• ISBN13: 9781854714497
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Unbranded

Customer Reviews

The Greatest Hero Of World War II?

Well, why not the lead surgeon on the Death Railway? Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop earned his knighthood and medals from 1942-45 not by killing, but by saving lives and easing suffering. One of the most horrific experiences in the history of war, the Burma-Thailand Railway reportedly cost one life for every sleeper laid down over hundreds of miles. But Weary's monumental humanity moderated and ultimately triumphed over Japan's inhumanity toward the POWs and Asian civilians abused as slave labor. He performed wonders in sustaining morale, and repeatedly endured beatings and mistreatment protecting prisoners too weak to meet Japanese work demands. These diaries are very raw data. They contain graphic details of brutality and abominable conditions, but also some severe judgements of other officers, whose decisions made under duress were not always understood by Weary at the time. Thus the diaries must be used with caution; also, the focus on European prisoners diverts attention from the millions of Asians who suffered far more grievously from Japanese atrocities. These crimes must never be forgotten, because they show that war is so horrible it should only be a last resort. Weary devoted his remarkable life to aiding others, including working to reconcile the former warring nations. Despite his WW2 ordeal, when Australia allied with the US in Vietnam, he volunteered to return to Southeast Asia---to heal civilian victims of that war. An inspiration to all he encountered, he ranks among the towering figures of the 20th century. In "Bridge on the River Kwai" James Donald's surgeon character is directly modeled after Weary Dunlop.