
A Cool Head in Hell
The Wartime Diaries of a British Doctor from Dunkirk to the Burma Railway
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
A Cool Head in Hell
The Wartime Diaries of a British Doctor from Dunkirk to the Burma Railway
About this book
Dr Harry Silman's WW2 diaries, detailing life as a POW tending to fellow combatants during forced labour on the Burma Railway.
A Cool Head in Hell is a compelling historical narrative based on Harry Silman's diaries, comprising one of the most comprehensive accounts by a POW under the Japanese to survive WWII.
Silman joined the British Army in 1939 as a medical officer. In 1940, he was one of the last soldiers to be shipped out during the mass retreat from Dunkirk. In 1942, his division was assigned to assist in the defence of Singapore, but arrived just before the island fell to Japan. Captain Silman spent the rest of the war in the notorious Changi POW camp as well as in the northernmost camps of the notorious Burma Railway, where he tended to Allied forced-labourers.
Throughout, Silman kept diaries in secret – illegal and dangerous for a POW. He wrote regular accounts of his harrowing experiences in the camps when he himself was weakened and exhausted, caring as best he could for hundreds of ill, wounded and dying men. Articulate, graphic, compassionate and lit with good humour, the diaries have been edited with care and illuminating commentary by Silman's daughter, Jacqueline Passman.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title
- Copyright
- Contents
- A Note on Language
- Editor’s Note
- Introduction
- 1. What a Night! … Bombed, Machine-Gunned and Shelled
- 2. Arrived at Singapore After an Exciting Morning
- 3. Very Momentous Day
- 4. My Days Are Settling Down
- 5. The Food Question Is Rather Important
- 6. I Had the Largest Sick Parade Ever
- 7. Men Have Turned to Religion for Mental Comfort
- 8. Idleness Is a Curse
- 9. An Incident Unparalleled in Military History
- 10. Interlude
- 11. Hell in the Jungle
- 12. You Couldn’t Eat a Cigarette Case
- 13. The Event We Have Been Looking Forward to So Eagerly
- Epilogue
- Abbreviations and Glossary
- Sources and Notes
- Credits