Sketch by Jack Chalker

The Rising Sun On My Back

This story is not Public Domain. Permission must be obtained before any part of this story is copied or used.

THE RISING SUN ON MY BACK

A Personal Account of War

1939 - 1945

by

L/Bdr  (Art) E.S. BENFORD R.A.

Army No. 856255

 

Served during the Malay Campaign with 11th Indian Division, 350th Battery, 137th (TA) Field Regiment R.A. This book is an autobiography of Ernest S. Benford’s life during World War II, 1939 - 1945, in which he was a prisoner of the Japanese Imperial Army. The postscript also gives a brief resume of his life after returning home and shows how being a prisoner of war of the Japanese for 3 ½ years affected him, particularly in later years.

Sadly, he did not live to see his autobiography printed.  He died on the 14th June, 1984, after suffering a heart attack three months earlier.

 

Your death lies in my heart;

The wound of it will come

together, the bruises fade.

The hurt will never go,

but I will touch your

memory gently, so it will

not disappear.

 

DEDICATION

I dedicate my story to those who were and are not now, and to Dad who was always concerned for my safety and fearful for my life, yet tragically lost his own in Kanchanaburi Hospital Camp, on 24th April, 1944

 

        Introduction Introduction

        Training Training

        Sailing Sailing

        Malaya Malaya

        Singapore Singapore

        Changi Changi

        Rest Camps Rest Camps

        Speedo Speedo

        Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur

        Kachidaki Maru Kachidaki Maru

        Kibibi Maru Kibibi Maru

        Fukuoka Fukuoka

        Nagasaki Nagasaki

        Postscript Postscript

 

I was crucified in Tarsau

and again close by Hintoc -

I was whipped along the River Valley Road;

I was driven pierced and bleeding,

With a million maggots feeding

on the body that I carried for my load.

 

Yet my heart was still unbroken

and my hopes were still unquenched,

‘til I love my cross to blighty thro’ a crowd.

Soldiers stabbed me on that road.

But at home, I dropped my load

When politicians broke my legs and made

my shroud.

 

At Westminster my poor body,

Wrapped in linen of fine words,

was perfumed with their sweetly-scented lies,

and they laid me in the tomb,

of their golden-mirrored room,

with the other lads who had refused to die.

 

Bill Duncan.   Died 1968.

 

Far Eastern Heroes would like to thank Arthur Lane for allowing this book to be printed on these pages

Please email arthurlane.nesanews@ntlworld.com for the availability of this book

 

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Any material  to add to the Fepow Story please send to:

Ron.Taylor@fepow-community.org.uk

and their story will live on.

 

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[Sun on my Back] [Introduction] [Training] [Sailing] [Malaya] [Singapore] [Changi] [Rest Camps] [Speedo] [Kuala Lumpur] [Kachidoki Maru] [Kibibi Maru] [Fukuoka] [Nagasaki] [Postscript]

 

 

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Far Eastern Heroes

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The Late Arthur Lane

Ron Taylor - Ron.Taylor@fepow-community.org.uk

 

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