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Escape from Singapore
This is not the first book Lancer has published on escape of Indian Army officers from enemy hands, another book, Three Thousand Miles to Freedom, by Brig M. M. Pillai, MC, tells a similar story of the escape of Capt Mark Pillai, a Bombay Sapper officer, from Changi PoW camp in 1942, when Singapore fell and Allies surrendered. Such rare books are a mark of respect for the right of every PoW, irrespective of his rank and nationality, to make every effort to escape and engage the enemy in whatever methods possible. The beauty of any story lies in the writer’s ability to weave such magic with the words that the reader is able to actually see that happen what is being described by the author. All escapes are daring in nature and test the physical ability, grit and determination of an escapee from the enemy camp. However, Brig Jasbir Singh, a crafty artist of the language, is able to unfold the story in such a fascinating manner that the reader is tempted to go through all the pages in one go. The book is a tribute by the author to his father, one of the escapee officers, Capt Pritam Singh. Prologue provides a good insight into the historical background in a precise manner, making it easy for a civilian to understand and comprehend the entire episode. A brief about the highly decorated Infantry Battalion to which two of the escapees belonged, and in which the author was later commissioned, and historical and geographical details of Singapore, then part of the British colony of Malaya (now Malaysia), is enough for the reader to understand the operational details given in the book. Essential details of various battles have been explained in the chapter Operation in Malaya and Singapore, with suitable half-page maps (which the reader wishes should have been of full- page size to get more details). It was in the early hours of December 7, 1941, that the code words ‘Gloves Off’ set the ball rolling and the first contact of the brave Indian soldiers with Japanese took place on December 10. On February 15, 1942, the Allied Forces commander signed an unconditional surrender and more than 70,000 men, including those of the 4 Kumaon, who survived the enemy onslaught, were taken as PoWs. It was in February that in one of the camps, Capt Mohan Singh, who was designated as General Officer Commanding (GOC), Indian National Army (INA), addressed the POWs in Hindustani and asked them to join INA as he felt Allied were sure to lose the war. Condition in these camps was terrible and Col N. S. Gill of INA made special efforts to improve their lot in many ways. The three escapees planned the escape in great detail and put the plan in action from the camp in Neesoon. It was in September that the three escapees had difference of opinion on the strategy of further escape and decided mutually to split in two groups. Capt Balbir Singh and Capt Parab decided to move towards the north and contact the Allied Forces, whereas Capt Pritam Singh considered it too dangerous and left to chart his own course. He happened to meet an INA officer who helped Pritam to reach India, where he surrendered to the British. In the mean time, Balbir and Parab continued their torturous journey and ultimately reached Calcutta Railway Station where they were admitted to the Military Hospital. Both were interrogated as they were suspected to have become members of INA, which the Japanese had infiltrated into India. However, they passed even the last test without any problem. In a refreshing breakaway from conventional approach of war historians, the author has not let the military jargon make the reading difficult for non-military reders to grasp the details. The author has been able to present the battlefield scenario in a compellingly clear manner, even though he had limited access to information. The book is a commendable presentation of the story of three exceptional Army officers who succeeded in freeing themselves from the clutches of the Japanese. It is the story of fear, apprehensions, anxiety, hardships, will, inspiration and possible complete annihilation. Living to fight another day, making daily tryst with destiny, holding on to a thin thread of hope, looking for opportunity in every adversity, when the situation seems totally hopeless, is the destiny only of the brave and gallant soldiers. This inspiring story brings to life the true meaning of living a life of purpose in a compellingly simple manner. The book deserves a place in every library for many good reasons.
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THE
book tells the story of
a daring escape of three Indian Army officers from a Japanese Prisoner
of War (PoW) camp in Singapore during World War II. Captain (later Brig)
Balbir Singh, Capt (later Col) G. S. Parab of 4 Kumaon and Capt (later
Brig) Pritam Singh of 5/6th Punjab Regiment fought another kind of war
to travel thousands of miles on foot, boat and train in enemy territory
and returned to their homeland almost after six months.