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  • The Forgotten Highlander

  • My Incredible Story of Survival During the War in the Far East
  • By: Alistair Urquhart
  • Narrated by: David Rintoul
  • Length: 3 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (347 ratings)
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The Forgotten Highlander cover art

The Forgotten Highlander

By: Alistair Urquhart
Narrated by: David Rintoul
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Summary

Alistair Urquhart was a soldier in the Gordon Highlanders captured by the Japanese in Singapore. He not only survived working on the notorious Bridge on the River Kwai , but he was subsequently taken on one of the Japanese ‘hellships’ which was torpedoed. Nearly everyone else on board died and Urquhart spent 5 days alone on a raft in the South China Sea before being rescued by a whaling ship. He was taken to Japan and then forced to work in a mine near Nagasaki. Two months later a nuclear bomb dropped just ten miles away . . .

This is the extraordinary story of a young men, conscripted at nineteen and whose father was a Somme Veteran, survived not just one, but three close encounters with death - encounters which killed nearly all his comrades.

©2010 Alistair Urquhart (P)2010 Hachette Digital

What listeners say about The Forgotten Highlander

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A Remarkable story

A gripping book written by an amazing man written when he was 90 after keeping silent for nearly 70 years about the horrendous treatment he and hundreds of others suffered at the hands of the Japanese. The writing conjures up pictures so sharp you would think the events took place recently. Apart from the horrors of life as a prisoner of the Japanese the callous treatment the men received on returning to GB is a revelation and does the reputation of the men in power after WW2 no credit at all. A moving, harrowing and fascinating tale of great courage beautifully read.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Fearless

I love this genre and have read many accounts of POW survivors but this is really excellent. Well paced with just enough detail to draw you in without getting bogged down in trivia but also shockingly frank. Alistair Urquhart could be anyone's grandfather and has recorded a very moving account of his internment including moments of bravery and cowardice. Wonderful!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

this is good

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and got a bit of history to boot.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • JF
  • 14-03-22

An incredible book about an incredible man.

A must read for anyone, like me, who is descended from a POW under the Japanese. In fact, a must read for anyone interested in history and the depths human depravity can reach. How an earth any of them came back alive is a miracle. It was difficult to listen to in parts but puts any difficulties you experience in modern day life into perspective. A truly outstanding book. Very well read too - I forgot that it wasn't the actual author.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Whatever life throws at you keep living

Such an amazing book and shows what the power of the human spirit can endure. No matter what life throws at you keep living and keep the darkness at bay.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

amazing story from a very brave proud man.

just listen to it! an amazing true story from an equally amazing man. I dont jnow what else to say, just listen to it.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An incredible book

This story brought me to tears, what an incredible story I can not imagine the horrors these men where put through .

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

Well read, shocking but great story- a little short but would definitely recommend. Good good

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The courage truly inspiring

not one aspect a truly inspirational man, very well written but really saddened by our own government in their treatment of these men and women.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A very brave man and an outstanding Gordon By Dand!

A very harrowing and emotional listen, also it shows how badly out far east veterans were treated abroad and at home.

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