War Diaries

Price: $24.95

by Fred Lasslett

The day-to-day life of a prisoner in a Japanese POW camp.

 

After active duty in the Mediterranean, Fred Laslett, aboard the HMAS Perth, was transferred to the Indonesian waters in 1942 to take up the fight against the Japanese in South East Asia.

Fred's diaries take the story from here and vividly describe his encounters with the Japanese near Surabaya, Java; the battle of Sunda Strait and the sinking of the HMAS Perth and USS Houston; his subsequent capture by the Japanese and imprisonment in Java; escape, recapture, and facing a firing squad; and his eventual transfer to Changi and Japan.

The highs and lows of day-to-day life in a Japanese POW camp come to life in this diary, written by Fred in the form of weekly letter to "the elusive Nola". This first-hand account of three years as a prisoner of war tells a story of making the best of adverse conditions, and the suffering, hope and compassion. The diary is supplemented by photos, drawing, records of Japanese instructions, Australian Navy records and more.