The Witness: The fighting had ended but for Sandakan's most notorious prisoner the war was not over

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Tom Gilling

The Witness

The fighting had ended but for Sandakan's most notorious prisoner the war was not over

Tom Gilling

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Paperback

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English

Allen & Unwin
02 August 2022

True war & combat stories; History

'That bastard's still alive? I'm going to kill him with my bare hands.' POW Bill Moxham

At the Australian war crimes trials that followed World War II, one prosecution witness stood out: Warrant Officer Bill Sticpewich.

During his three years in the infamous Sandakan POW camp, Sticpewich had seen hundreds of fellow prisoners die of starvation, sickness and overwork. Others were shot or bayoneted to death by Japanese guards on forced marches through the Borneo jungle. Of more than 2400 Allied prisoners at Sandakan at the start of 1945, only six survived. It was Sticpewich's meticulous evidence that sent Sandakan's commandant and his murderous henchmen to the gallows.

But to his fellow prisoners Sticpewich was not a war hero, he was a collaborator who avoided heavy labour and obtained extra rations by ingratiating himself with the Japanese.

Was Sticpewich a traitor or a man who did what he needed to stay alive? Drawing on wartime records, original interviews and the recollections of other survivors, The Witness reveals the compelling story of Australia's most notorious POW.

'. . . a dramatic tale of war and survival.' - Sydney Morning Herald

'The Witness stands alone as the most comprehensive account to date of the Sandakan survivor Bill Sticpewich . . . Gilling has produced a sharp and compelling account of events through the eyes of key witnesses. In writing this book, Tom Gilling has helped keep the memories of the lost souls of Sandakan alive, and for that, he has done Australia a great service.' - The Australian

'A compelling story indeed.' - Australian Defence Magazine

'. . .a new stark tale stopping you dead in your tracks . . . A dark, disturbing and revealing yarn, Tom Gilling's book deserved to be read.' - Newcastle Herald

'a fascinating story' - Deborah Knight, 2GB

By: Tom Gilling
Imprint: Allen & Unwin
Country of Publication: Australia
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 153mm,
Weight: 442g
ISBN: 9781760879273
ISBN 10: 1760879274
Pages: 320
Publication Date: 02 August 2022
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Tom Gilling is an acclaimed novelist. The Sooterkin, Miles McGinty and Dreamland have all been published in Australia, as well as London and New York. He is co-author with Clive Small of the highly successful Smack Express, Blood Money, Evil Life and The Dark Side. His most recent books are the well received The Lost Battalions and Bastard Behind the Lines.