"...a work of great interest, not only for followers of the sector, but also for all those who want to deepen their knowledge of the Second World War and all the suffering it caused."

Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs

"A great read about an amazing man."

RUSI Defence Systems Journal

There have been other books on this subject written by or about former POWs but Owtram’s is a valuable addition to the genre because of hisrole which, it is clear, was admired by many of his fellow British POWs. Further confirmation of this comes from another source.
Owtram mentions (page 90) the magnificent work done by Colonel E. E. Dunlop who ran the Chungkai hospital for a period. This was the legendary Australian doctor (Sir) Edward Dunlop known as ‘Weary’. Not all British officers earned the respect of Dunlop and other Australian POWs. However Dunlop described Owtram as “a good player” and it is clear that the two men respected each other and worked very well together.

Royal Society for Asian Affairs

Interview article: 'The corner of a foreign field' as featured by

Lancashire Life, June 2018

Two remarkable sisters recall their father, Colonel Owtram, and his fascinating secret war diary which was kept hidden in a grave while he was British commandant of the Chungkai POW camp.

COFEPOW Quarterly Jan 2018

As featured in

Somerville College, Oxford Magazine

This book is well written and full of interesting details. It's obvious from the way that the diaries were written that Owtram cared about those under his command and did all he could to safeguard their welfare especially when CO of Chungkai hospital camp from mid 1943 onwards. The family epilogue adds much to our understanding of the post-war aftermath in families; thank you for this insight.

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

As featured on Go2War2.

Go2War2

As featured in

The Daily Telegraph 15/8/17

Feature article on the daughters of Colonel Cary Owtram as featured in

Yours, 1st August 2017

As featured on...

Cetusnews.com

As featured in

Sunday Express 16/7/17

"As featured in the Garstang Courier."

The Garstang Courier

As featured in.

Sunday Express 2/7/17

As featured in

Garstang Courier

As featured in

Blackpool Gazette

As featured in

Lancaster Guardian

As featured in

Lancashire Evening Post

As featured in

Chiswick 4W Online Magazine

The loss of Singapore to the Japanese in 1942, was a foregone conclusion. Winston Churchill realised this but politically challenged to defend Singapore, he moved the gold and silver reserves from Hong Kong and Singapore to a safer place, and sent last minute reinforcements to Singapore. They arrived as the Japanese crossed the border into Malaya and were rushed forward up-country, to the stem the advance of the Japanese invasion force.

Amongst the reinforcements was Colonel Cary's Owtram's 137th field Regiment. Captured when the Singapore Garrison surrendered, Colonel Owtram kept a secret diary, hidden and later retrieved forms the basis of this story: '1000 Days on the River Kwai'

He tells a revealing story of the collapse of the front line, which allowed the Japanese invasion force, to over-run Malaya and seize Singapore. Thousands of captured Dutch, British and Empire soldiers were sent to Siam to build the infamous 'Death Railway'. Slaves of the Japanese, many died and rib-showing casualties were back-loaded to Chungkai, where military doctors, under primitive conditions, attempted to keep them alive.

Colonel Owtram was Camp Commandant. This is his story, from a secret diary revealing their attempts to outwit the Japanese guards, run a hospital and strive to raise morale of the troops. The book is a good read and a page turner.

Richard Gough - Military Author and historian