The Forgotten Highlander: My Incredible Story of Survival During the War in the Far East

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In late August 1945, he was freed by the American Navy—a living skeleton—and had his first wash in three and a half years. That he was still dancing 5 days a week at age 90 (2010) is a testimony to his strength of mind and body.

I have read a few books written by or about survivors of the War in the far east and each one is as important in its own right and deserves its place on The History Book Shelves. To survive the Burma railway, being sunk in the Pacific and then taken to a prison camp 10 miles from Nagasaki. People unfortunately have to be reminded of the deprivation of the leaders of Japan just some 80 years ago. He had to be checked in to Roehampton hospital several times, for a month or more at a time, and had even been granted a twenty-four-hour telephone line to a psychologist.I don't like books about war, but the summary for this man's survival of amazing events was so astounding I had to try it.

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.Due to the starvation rations ha was on, for the rest of his life, Urqhart could not eat normally - he could not eat food that was spiced with so much as an onion, and he needed rice several times per week to keep his digestive tract alive. And yet, as he surveyed his memories – in his 90s – this brave, indomitable fellow was still able to reach the conclusion: “Life is worth living and no matter what it throws at you, it is important to keep your eyes on the prize of the happiness that will come.