Survival and Separation on the River Kwai: The Ordeal of a Japanese Prisoner of War and His Family

During World War II, Eric Roberts was conscripted into the 1/5 Sherwood Foresters and sent to the Far East, where he became a prisoner of the Japanese. His Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Lilly, later inspired Colonel Nicholson in the film Bridge on the River Kwai. Eric's fiancée, Eunice Lowe, campaigned to learn the truth of his capture, and only received confirmation in 1943. Despite extreme hardship and abuse, Eric was permitted to send just three postcards. After liberation, Eric returned home and married Eunice in 1946. Eric wrote a graphic memoir of his captivity, and Eunice's correspondence has been preserved, making for an unusual and moving record of a young couple's testing yet very different experiences.

Format: Hardback
Length: 184 pages
Publication date: 05 May 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

In 1939, Eric Roberts was enlisted into the 1/5 Sherwood Foresters. Following his service in France and his evacuation from Brest in 1940, the Battalion was dispatched to the Far East, arriving in Singapore three weeks before the surrender. During his captivity, Eric was held by the Japanese and transported to the Burma-Thai Railway. His commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel Lilly, who later served as the inspiration for Colonel Nicholson in the film Bridge on the River Kwai.

Eric's fiancée, Eunice Lowe, learned of his capture by chance from a friend. Despite rumors that Eric had escaped, Eunice embarked on a mission to uncover the truth, but it wasn't until May 26, 1943, that she received confirmation that he was a prisoner of war. During his ordeal, Eric was subjected to extreme hardship and abuse from his captors. However, he was allowed to send only three postcards from 1942 to 1945. Despite Eunice's weekly letters, only a handful were received by Eric in late 1944.

After liberation, Eric returned home and married Eunice in 1946. Fortunately, Eric authored a graphic memoir detailing his captivity in the post-war years, and Eunice's correspondence has been preserved. The combination of Eric's memoir and Eunice's letters creates an unusual and poignant record of a young couple's challenging yet distinct experiences during World War II.

Weight: 482g
Dimension: 163 x 242 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399049559