The Search for my Father, ex-POW 2226 Remembers

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Pub Date 15 Apr 2018 | Archive Date 19 Sep 2020

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Description

The true story of the forgotten civilian POW’s in the Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) during WWII.



Over 16.600 Dutch citizens perished and hundreds of children were orphaned when Japanese forces occupied the country in 1942. This is an important part of history which should be remembered.


As a child I was arrested by Japanese soldiers, together with my mother and brother whilst my father had been taken away earlier. Then, as a 12 year old I was separated from mother and had to fend for myself behind 12 ft-high barbed wire. Hungry and humiliated I was regarded deserving of high security imprisonment , joining adult men.


Hunger made me a scavenger, hunting rats, lizards and other wildlife to survive.


In the fifth POW camp I was emotionally reunited with my father and recounted with him the forced labour I had experienced earlier and the growing resentment towards our enemy.


Two atom bombs in 1945 , dropped by the Americans on Hiroshima and Nagasaki , abruptly ended the war, preventing the planned annihilation of all remaining POW’s by Japanese forces.


A long road to freedom began .

The true story of the forgotten civilian POW’s in the Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) during WWII.



Over 16.600 Dutch citizens perished and hundreds of children were orphaned when Japanese...


Available Editions

ISBN 9781545541371
PRICE $4.99 (USD)

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Featured Reviews

This is a relatively brief and interesting memoir about a Dutch youth's time as a prisoner during WWII. His family was living in Indonesia when the Japanese took over the islands. He contrasts his time before and after, what the Japanese did to civilians, both European and native Indonesian. His story is unique and one not often heard. Middle school students especially relate well to history when they hear about the real life experiences of someone their own age. Thank you, Mr. van de Loo, for sharing your story.

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This book should be in colleges and university libraries . A part of WWII history that most people have no knowledge of.

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A very well told memior, utterly engaging and told in a matter of fact way.
The author gives insight on how it was as a child in the camps during the war and what the prisoners had to do to survive.
Excellent read.

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Although I have read many, many books on the Second World War, hardly any have been personal accounts of the Pacific War - & especially by one so young. The innocence of childhood, believing life will go on unchanging forever...followed by the harsh reality of life in the camps. It was a miracle that this boy lived to give account, having survived not only the Japanese but then the fate of many Dutch at the hand of Indonesians, post-War. (A member of my husband’s family was one of the ‘Palembang Nine’, a group of young pilots beheaded by the Japanese near the end of the war, so this book has had particular resonance with me.) Apart from the personal story, I have also learned more about the Second World War closer to our part of the world, eg I did not know of the enormous role played by Dutch ships, in helping Australia. Thankyou for sharing your story, Mr van de Loo : it is important that we learn about this - & that we learn from this - & that we remember. A note on forgiveness : it may not have any affect on the other person/people involved, but it releases us from their power over the rest of our lives. (Having said that, it is still far easier said than done!)

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A fascinating story that keeps you interested from start to finish. Definitely recommended to those readers who enjoy reading this type of book bout our recent history.

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This was an interesting read. It gives the reader insights into life on the Far East during WW2. You can’t help but feel touched by the stressful experiences of those in captivity and realise how fortunate many of us in our comfortable homes and not under threat are. I’m glad the author stated his family’s experiences for future generations to read. My thanks to Netgalley, publisher and author for allowing me to review a digital copy.

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