The Forgotten Highlander

By ALISTAIR URQUHART

‘For over 60 years I remained silent…but now, I am breaking my silence to bear witness.’

The Forgotten Highlander is the extraordinary true-life story of a young man who survived not just one, but three close encounters with death during the Second World War – encounters which killed nearly all his comrades.

Alistair Urquhart was a soldier in the Gordon Highlanders who were captured by the Japanese in Singapore. 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. Nearly everyone else on board died and Urquhart spent five days alone on a raft in the South China Sea before being rescued by a whaling ship. He was taken to Japan and then forced to work in a mine near Nagasaki. Two months later a nuclear bomb dropped just ten miles away . . .

This is his astonishing story, told for the very first time. It is an action-packed war story and poignant account of genuine heroism and enduring hope.

About the Author

After being rescued in September of 1945 Alistair Urquhart returned home to Scotland. He was not greeted by a parade or hero's welcome. He said he would never talk about what happened. And that's exactly what he did for 50 years until his wife died in 1993. Then he began to rethink his ordeal, and finally wrote his memoirs. Alistair Urquart is now 90 years old and 65 years after being taken as a prisoner of war he was awarded an Outstanding Bravery Award. He is the last surviving member of the Scottish regiment the Gordon Highlanders. He now teaches computer skills for OAPs in Scotland.

 

Published 18th May 2010

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