Dr. Robert Hardie was a British POW of the Japanese from 1942-1945. He became a prisoner during the capitulation of Singapore and was transported to then Siam to care for the POW laborers on the Siam-Burma railroad. For three years, he and other captured doctors fought to combat malaria, cholera, dysentery, malnutrition, and the effects of abuse with little medicine and squalid conditions. His diary was never found by the Japanese despite searches, but as a precaution, Dr. Hardie was careful not to disclose certain deceptions (such as the existence of prisoner radios and double books in the dispensary). There are footnotes that help fill in these gaps. In addition, Dr. Hardie made many sketches of the camps and the native flora and fauna.

This book is important as a first-hand account of the conditions on the railway made famous by [The Bridge on the River Kwai], but it is not a thrilling read. Carefully worded, the diary is a bit lacking in verve, and replete with stiff upper lip optimism and British class consciousness. An excellent primary source, but not a page-turner for this casual reader. ( )