Sketch by Jack Chalker

This story is not Public Domain. Permission must be obtained before any part of this story is copied or used.

THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT A MAN CAN GIVE IS TO ASK SOMEONE TO TELL HIS STORY.

A professional footballer and army nurse – Sam survived the Japanese prison camps long enough to see the Setting of the Rising Sun

This story is mainly about Prisoner-of-War life with the Japanese.  But first, I will shed a little light on the person – Sam Purvis.

I started work at the tender age of fourteen to start an apprenticeship as an engineer. Signed professional forms for Middlesbrough in the First Division of Football League. Transferred to Watford AFC after three and a half years with Middlesbrough. This lasted for only one season and finally entered the nursing profession where I was to give forty- five years service.

My nursing profession was only six months old when I was called up to Military Service where I was to become Nurse Sam.

 Kick Off- Schoolboy’s dream

 Nurse Sam Purvis - Playing ball

 Skipper of the 197th - Private makes Captain

 SS Washington - Japan joins opposition

 Empress of Asia - Scuppered with a dose of Bombay

 Singapore - No cheering crowds

 Singapore Hospital - Scavenging supplies

 Road to Changi - A friendly match

 Welcome to Changi - Nursing for a nicer death

 Shanty Town - Lovely boys

 Selerang - Football, lectures and lodgers

 A Good Jap - The footballers’ ally - Yashata

 Walking Dead - Return of the Railway slaves

 Kranji - Eat our dogs and die

 Timberyard - Mister Sam’s potent fertiliser

 The Last Post - RIP on Kranji Hill

 Setting of the Rising Sun - Homeward bound

 Acknowledgement - The re-union

 The Last Laugh - Two Upmanship

 The Quest - Searching for Yashata

This is the very first time I have ever spoken or written of my experiences of Prisoner of War life with the Japanese.  Even so, I tell of only a few incidences relevant to the story.  The rest are too horrible and now too controversial to commit to record.

I now have a terrible memory, yet even as I write, the memories flood back – and I find myself crying after all these years for those gallant men who never lived long enough to see – THE SETTING OF THE RISING SUN.

I wasn’t a bad fellow

When I went into the camps,

But I came out from them

A BETTER MAN.

Sam and Ray

In memory of Samuel Sinnott Purvis – 197^th Field Ambulance

Copyright is held by Ray Watson

7 Browning Hill

Woddlands

Coxhoe

Co Durham

Tel:  0191 377 21 76

Email:  raymondwatson980@btinternet.com

Sharing information with others is rewarding in itself, the pieces from the jigsaw begin to fit together and a picture begins to appear. Improve your knowledge and help make the Fepow Story an everlasting memorial to their memory.

Any material  to add to the Fepow Story please send to:

Ron.Taylor@fepow-community.org.uk

and their story will live on.

Visitor    Counter

Ron.Taylor@fepow-community.org.uk

Design by Ron Taylor

© Copyright RJT Internet Services 2003