New Video Section. There is a new section of the website containing clips of video interveiws conducted by Lt. Col. Peter Winstanley OAM RFD (retired) JP. The first installment is two clips of an interveiw with Captain (doctor) Peter Hendry. Click here to go to the video page.

Additional material on this site. I continue to receive material and information, which has real relevance to the experiences of POWs of the Japanese. To honour the efforts of those people, it will be my privilege to include their material.

Assistance sought.

The theme of my website commenced as being related to the Medical Officers on the Burma Thailand Railway. I have managed to record something of the Medical Officers on the BTR, having completed stories on 32 of the 43 doctors. I would like to complete the original aim and am seeking information on Lt Col Norm Eadie, Majors Hobbs, Fisher, Captains Parker, Wright, Majors EA Mardsen, Andrews and Captain Crankshaw. If anyone has any information on these men I would greatly appreciate receiving same.

It should be noted that the theme of my website has changed to become the much broader subject of the Prisoners of War of the Japanese. This, of course, includes the civilian internees (women and children), who in many cases experienced worse conditions than the servicemen.

Two Medical Officers - Captains Bristow and Clive Boyce were in Japan and articles on them will appear soon.

Information sought. There are many little known areas associated with the Burma Thailand POW experience.  One of the least known areas is the construction of the Mergui (escape) Route which the Japs ordered be built between April and August 1945.  One thousand convalescents were taken from the Hospital Camp at Nakhon Pathom and forced to labour on this project.  Reports indict that about one quarter died on the project and, if the War had not ended in August 1945, more deaths would have occurred exponentially.  It seems there were three Medical Officers with the POWs.  One was Dutch Captain Brower (or Brouer) and the others Majors Bennett and Dewe (both RAMC).  If anyone has information on the Mergui Road I would appreciate receiving. (There is some material on the COFEPOW website – see the links section of this site).

Pilgrimage: The Remembrance Day trips to Thailand continue to be heavily booked. The numbers are restricted to one bus of max 45. The weather conditions in November are cooler and less humid than for Anzac Day in April. So if you are concerned about the oppressive weather, you may like to think about Remembrance Day 2009.  You can view scenes from the trips and reports on the website.

Submissions & information welcome,
Please use the contact page or email: pgwinstanley@cambraivillage.com.au