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This book is essential reading - for everyone. I thought my Dad had it rough during the war - after all, he nearly died - and plenty of his mates did. But this book tells us that there is something worse than death. I thought Cassino was Hell on earth for soldiers, but I guess it is nothing compared to the place that Donald Watt spent a good period of his war time. This book tells us how Don came into the war, his time in Africa and Crete, and his capture as a POW there. It follows his trail from Crete as a POW, his escape and trek to freedom only to be thwarted at the last step, which then led him to become a victim of the worst cruelty mankind has seen. For steadfastly refusing to reveal any details other than name, rank and serial number, Don was brutally tortured and then transported to the dreaded Auschwitz. For 7 months he lived in constant threat of following the thousands of others into the furnaces he stoked every day for 12 solid hours a day. It tells, in matter of fact words, what he saw, heard and smelt, including the fate of "his little mate" - too weak too keep working, he was thrown into the furnace - alive. The story continues with the aftermath of that period and follows him on to happier times. Don never mentioned this story to ANYONE - including the Army, his mates, or his two wives, until 1990. He wrote this book to help relieve the nightmares that re-awake full strength with the revelation. Read this, and you will never look at life the same way again. |