Book Reviews

MY LIFE WITH THE SAMURAI ANTHONY COWLING A CANADIAN IN THE RAF

Chaos develops when the Japanese attack Singapore. For 17 year old Anthony Cowling capture by the Japanese ends the good life and begins a terrifying existence of mental intimidation, physical torture, sleep deprivation and starvation. The story chronicles a journey from Singapore to the Moluccas Islands, Indonesia: a struggle of guts, wits and will power to survive as fully 85% of Anthony's comrades would die in conditions so appalling they violate every code of civilized behaviour . Cowling was the only aircraftsman in the Royal Air Force to be "Mentioned in Despatches". His outstanding work as a medical orderly was cited at the Singapore War Crimes Tribunal 1946/7.

U.S.A. "Strongly recommend 'My Life with the Samurai' as supplemental reading for every University and high school student in world history. Lt Col. Robert Sawallesh, US Army RTD.

U.S.A. “I have just finished your book “My Life with the Samurai” and must tell you it was vivid and powerful.   I have read a great deal about WW ll, in both the European and Pacific theatres, but must admit your book was about as descriptive and grim as I’ve ever come across.  Thank you “.   Christopher Ryan, Palm Desert CA.

U.S.A. "I thank you for writing the book “My life with the Samurai” and sharing your story of savage and inhumane mistreatment. How you, or anyone else, managed to survive such an ordeal is beyond my comprehension. In the beginning of the book you refer to yourself as “a rotten little SOB” which you may or may not have been, but upon completing your book I do know for sure that you are one tough little SOB. You have my admiration and respect." B. Collette, Palm Springs.

U.K. "It is an inspiring story, not with out humour, and told with appealing modesty by a man who survived and did what he could to help others survive" Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Armitage, KCB.CBE. RAF. [RTD]

U.K. "It has the makings of a masterpiece… the book properly commemorates the suffering and the indomitable will of those who died and of those who survived to remember on our behalf. One of the most remarkable FEPOW (Far East POW) narratives I've ever come across". Dr. R. J. Pritchard, FRHistS. MBIM. University of Kent, UK.

CANADA. "This book is recommended for school libraries because it helps to fill some historical gaps. It deals with monstrous human cruelty yet is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit". John Jackson, U of Victoria, BC.

CANADIAN MILITARY HISTORY BOOK REVIEW: "It is an absorbing read.…is a fascinating account of those grim days. We can only marvel how a teenager was able to survive such horrors".

AUSTRALIA. "You have a winner here…a good read." David Anderson, Senior Announcer, ABC.

QUOTATIONS FROM THE “Night of the New Moon”: "I had been made to watch Japanese soldiers having bayonet practice on live prisoners of war tied between bamboo posts, and had been taken to witness executions of peoples of all races and nationalities, for obscure reasons like ‘showing a spirit of wilfulness’, or ‘not bowing with sufficient alacrity in the direction of the rising sun’. I saw innumerable ways of killing people, but most significantly, never by just shooting them. I say ‘significantly’ because this was for me the most striking evidence of the remote and archaic nature of the forces which had invaded the Japanese spirit, blocking out completely the light of the 20^th Century day."                     Lt. Col. Laurens van der Post. POW in Java 1942.

Available: Tony Cowling, P.O. Box 2242, Point Roberts, WA 98281
Email: anothonycowling@shaw.ca