The Colonel of Tamarkan: Philip Toosey and the Bridge on the River Kwai"At the outbreak of the Second World War Philip Toosey had a career with Barings Bank, a young family and a commission with the Territorial Army. It was at Dunkirk that his charisma and fortitude were first noted, and in 1941 he was given command of an artillery regiment. Sent to fight in the Far East he and his men soon found themselves embroiled in the battle for Singapore, and were taken prisoner after the island's fall in February 1942." "The Japanese, scornful of the Allied forces for surrendering, determined to make full use of the new workforce at their disposal. Toosey was sent to Thailand to command the 'bridge camp' at Tamarkan, where he was ordered to supervise the construction of two railway bridges over the river Khwae Mae Khlong. Starvation rations and harsh working conditions up-jungle meant that dysentary and cholera struck, and Tamarkan became a hospital camp. A quarter of the 60,000 prisoners working on the Thailand-Burma railway would perish, and it gained the nickname 'Death Railway'. Toosey, as camp commander, insisted on high standards of hygiene and discipline, giving his men back their self-respect and making himself a buffer for the cruel excesses of the guards." "It would be another three and a half years before he returned home. Even after the war he found he was unable to stop looking after the men to whom he had become an inspiration, and his services to the Far Eastern POWs continued until his death in 1975." "Written by Toosey's granddaughter, The Colonel of Tamarkan draws on both private archives and many original interviews with Second World War POWs from the Asian theatre to create a blend of biography and history."--BOOK JACKET. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 46
Page 62
As a Territorial Army unit they had only ever been equipped for camp so much of
what they now received was new to them . They had to learn how to use the
wireless sets as well as paint the equipment . All lads aged eighteen and below
were ...
As a Territorial Army unit they had only ever been equipped for camp so much of
what they now received was new to them . They had to learn how to use the
wireless sets as well as paint the equipment . All lads aged eighteen and below
were ...
Page 96
We trudged past shelled villages , past bodies still lying in the roads , a defeated
army in the hands of an Eastern Nation . ” They reached Changi at dusk . Toosey
and his men found themselves in Roberts Barracks along with thousands of ...
We trudged past shelled villages , past bodies still lying in the roads , a defeated
army in the hands of an Eastern Nation . ” They reached Changi at dusk . Toosey
and his men found themselves in Roberts Barracks along with thousands of ...
Page 336
26 In 1947 Douglas Crawford asked him to rejoin the Territorial Army with a view
to helping him to reform the 368th Medium Regiment . He accepted and found
that he enjoyed the TA postwar quite as much as he had done in the 1930s ...
26 In 1947 Douglas Crawford asked him to rejoin the Territorial Army with a view
to helping him to reform the 368th Medium Regiment . He accepted and found
that he enjoyed the TA postwar quite as much as he had done in the 1930s ...
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Contents
Prologue | 1 |
Novel Film Reality | 5 |
An Honest Beginning | 29 |
Copyright | |
13 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
The Colonel of Tamarkan: Philip Toosey and the Bridge on the River Kwai Julie Summers No preview available - 2006 |
The Colonel of Tamarkan: Philip Toosey and the Bridge on the River Kwai Julie Summers No preview available - 2016 |
Common terms and phrases
Alex Allied allowed Army arrived Arthur asked bamboo Bangkok Barings became began bombed bridge British brought called camp carried changed close Colonel command complete David death diary doctors Dutch escape experience felt forced four friends gave give given guards half hand Heathcote hospital Japanese John journey jungle keep knew Kwai later learned leave letter Lieutenant Liverpool lives looked Major months Moon move never night Nong Pladuk officers once organised parties Phil Toosey Pong prisoners railway received refused regiment remember rice river Saito sent September ship sick Singapore standing supply taken talk Tamarkan Thai Thailand thing thought told took Toosey Toosey's train turned wanted weeks wrote young