大象传媒

In 1942 Japan had just declared war and had occupied Burma, where we were living After being sent home from school I returned to Rangoon, where the situation was getting restless. Burmese mother and I were sent, by my English father, by train to Mandalay and told to wait for him there. The Japanese had already occupied the South Eastern part of Burma and were advancing towards Rangoon. Mandalay was bombed, so mother and I left Mandalay and went northeast to Hsipaw towards China. My father eventually arrived and we stayed with a cousin of my mother, where we nursed Dad, who had dysentery, until he was better. We were in constant hiding, because the Japanese spared no one, all were shot on the spot. There were rumours about the Japanese setting fire to villages that had harboured people, and these added to our fears. There was a meeting between the cousin, my father and the Headman of the village. Father suggested that he gave himself up, after all he was not a solider, but a civilian and might get away with being shot on sight, and allow us to escape. This was arranged and three Japanese Military Policemen arrived at our hiding place, and took Dad away, saying that he was to be interrogated in Mandaly. He was upset and felt sure it would be the last time we would see each other. Our prayers were answered though and Dad returned with the same men, to collect a few belongs. He was being taken to Rangoon and imprisoned for his own safety. We did not see him again until the war ended in 1945.

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije and has been added to the website on behalf of Mrs Kathleen Duncan with he permission and she fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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