The railway man

“My mother stood there in the crowd, and I supposed she waved. She looked distraught. I never saw her again.”

Thus, Eric Lomax went to war as a signalman, was eventually taken prisoner, tortured at the hands of his Japanese captors and came home to marry as he was told to get on with his life. He went on to have a fine career including postings to Ghana with the civil service and had children to his wife. But....all was not well.

In this very well written autobiography Eric told of many things such as his early life, his relationship with his parents, his army life and even went into some detail as to his brutal torture. Along with other POW officers a radio was found in their hut and with that began his appalling ordeal. Vast amounts of his suffering he recalled in great detail. It leads to an understandable hatred of the Japanese with specific reference to one individual, Nagase, the interpreter during his interrogation and torture. He eventually met Nagase and there was redemption for both men. It is a well told story and well worth the time to read. There was even a documentary of the meeting made and a film of Eric's life.

But on finishing this book I was struck by how little Eric discussed his first family, his wife and 3 children, they seemed to be little to no part of the story. Eric bottled up his horrendous experiences from his first wife to the point I suspect it was a difficult life for her. I did some research and found this item.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/dec/28/railway-mans-forgotten-family

“My dad's feelings were locked inside himself. He was there physically, but emotionally he was 100% absent,” his daughter Charmaine is quoted as saying in that item.

During this read, for what Eric opened up on, and that was plenty; I always felt that it took a lot of courage for him to be involved in this book and the events that happened in it later. Sadly, his first family suffered as well.

Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in the subject of POW and the victims of torture.

This autobiography is so compelling, it's a wonder the author was anything but a novelist. The story is tragic and beautiful and so full of information.

I recommend the audiobook because the Scottish brogue of the narrator really brings the main character to life.

A great add to any collection regarding WW2, India, the British Empire, Japan, or Autobiographies. Not appropriate for very young children. Teens could read it.