Arthur’s War
Fellow POWs became his family, and Arthur risked his life to keep a secret diary written on scraps of paper with stolen pencils recording the agony and larrikin antics of life on the railway.
After 15 months and though weak and skeletal, Arthur was selected to sail to Japan to work the coal mines. In the middle of the South China Sea the Japanese fleet came under torpedo attack from US submarines, and the vessel Arthur was aboard sunk. 1000 men were killed. Once again Arthur was lost at sea, covered in oil, and clinging to wreckage in water littered with the bodies of his fellow POW’s. After six unimaginable days and nights he was finally rescued by a US submarine – two and a half years after first setting sail.
Against all odds Arthur made it back to Australia and to Mirla who, throughout all those years he was lost at war, never gave up hope for his eventual return.
ARTHUR’S WAR is a truly amazing Australian story: a captivating saga of courage, mateship, survival – and love.
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Hello John, congratulations on your excellent book authored with Arthur Bancroft.
My Father Ken Nicholls (now 83) just shared it with me. His elder brother Ron (nicknamed Horse) was also on the Perth and was delighted to see him get a mention on page 208. Ron Nicholls’ death from dysentery also appears in the log just inside the hardcover penguin copy I have in my hand. What Dad’s wondering is whether Arthur was in the group of servicemen who stayed at his house briefly with Horse before they shipped out? If you’re in touch with Arthur would you mind asking the question or put us in touch via email? These little insights into the experiences for Uncle Ron are to be cherished and passed on for our future generations.
Best regards, Ken and Pete Nicholls
Just found about abut this book – looks like I’ll be needing to get a copy!