It is difficult for us who never faced the trauma of war to begin to understand how men and women could ever endure such hardships, deprivations and horror.
But many many such brave souls did exactly that. Somehow, from somewhere deep inside the inner, hidden recesses of the heart, each prisoner-of-war who survived called upon one or several of the following human resources of resilience, optimism, initiative and even forgiveness.
As you read the following stories and articles, search for examples of such values which truly represent the very best of humankind.
ARTICLES
1) Read the extraordinary story of Eric Lomax, a British army officer and prisoner-of-war, whose willingness to forgive his Japanese captors continues to inspire today. Lomax's autobiography was the basis for the movie The Railway Man.
2) Fred Seiker's scars of the Burma Railway trauma never truly healed. In writing about it, he takes some gentle steps towards his own restoration.
3) Ever wondered just how powerful baby powder can be? Well, read on to see how it helped Australian POWs on the Death Railway!.
4) How to stay alive as a POW. Will you need these tips one day?
5) Meet Mr Reg Twigg, one of the last British soldiers who survived the River Kwai.
6) This is the true and personal story of Corporal Joseph Hart, POW on the Death Railway.