- Contributed byÌý
- John D. Renton
- People in story:Ìý
- Captain R.N. Renton
- Location of story:Ìý
- Sonkurai, near the Thai/Burma border
- Background to story:Ìý
- Army
- Article ID:Ìý
- A2022481
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 11 November 2003
My uncle was captured at Singapore and was sent to work on the Japanese railway line at Sonkurai. This was probably the worst camp on the line; 80% of the POW's died of disease, malnutrition, overwork, beatings and executions. A Japanese weather baloon fell into the camp and he was able to turn its transmitter into a receiver. He told me that he was almost caught once when a Japanese corporal came into the barracks. (For listening to an illicit radio, you could be beaten to death.) I asked him what he was listening to. It was ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World Service relay of a concert from the Royal Albert Hall. He risked his his life for a little beauty and sanity.
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