Publisher Description

Alistair Urquhart was a soldier in the Gordon Highlanders captured by the Japanese in Singapore. He not only survived working on the notorious Bridge on the River Kwai , but he was subsequently taken on one of the Japanese 'hellships' which was torpedoed. Nearly everyone else on board died and Urquhart spent 5 days alone on a raft in the South China Sea before being rescued by a whaling ship. He was taken to Japan and then forced to work in a mine near Nagasaki. Two months later a nuclear bomb dropped just ten miles away . . .This is the extraordinary story of a young men, conscripted at nineteen and whose father was a Somme Veteran, survived not just one, but three close encounters with death - encounters which killed nearly all his comrades.

Notes

The extraordinary and moving story by an ex-POW and last surviving member of the Gordon Highlanders regiment, captured by the Japanese in Singapore. He worked on the notorious bridge over the River Kwai, was torpedoed on a prison ship bound for Japan, and transported to a camp only 11 miles from a fateful city called Nagasaki. 'Riveting... Urquhart has joined an elite band of first-rate soldier writers' Observer

Author Biography

Alistair Urquhart is in his nineties (and is the last surviving member of the Scottish regiment the Gordon Highlanders) and teaches computer skills to OAPs in Scotland

Review

A book you must read - DAILY MAILRiveting, powerful, moving - OBSERVERA remarkable memoir - FINANCIAL TIMES

Promotional

* An extraordinary and moving tale by an ex-POW and last surviving member of the Gordon Highlanders regiment that was captured by the Japanese in Singapore, out now in paperback

Prizes

Short-listed for Independent Booksellers Award 2011 (UK)

Long Description

Alistair Urquhart was a soldier in the Gordon Highlanders captured by the Japanese in Singapore. He not only survived working on the notorious Bridge on the River Kwai , but he was subsequently taken on one of the Japanese 'hellships' which was torpedoed. Nearly everyone else on board died and Urquhart spent 5 days alone on a raft in the South China Sea before being rescued by a whaling ship. He was taken to Japan and then forced to work in a mine near Nagasaki. Two months later a nuclear bomb dropped just ten miles away . . .This is the extraordinary story of a young men, conscripted at nineteen and whose father was a Somme Veteran, survived not just one, but three close encounters with death - encounters which killed nearly all his comrades.

Review Quote

Riveting, powerful, moving

Promotional "Headline"

* An extraordinary and moving tale by an ex-POW and last surviving member of the Gordon Highlanders regiment that was captured by the Japanese in Singapore, out now in paperback

Description for Sales People

THE FORGOTTEN HIGHLANDER sold over 37,000 in HB and C formats

Details