I just finished reading one of the best books that I've read in a very long time. It was truly an excellent book. The book in entitled "Judy" and the author is Damien Lewis. "Judy" is the story of the only dog who was an official prisoner of war in a Japanese prison camp during World War II.
Judy was an English Pointer who was brought on board a British war ship in the late 1930s as the ship's mascot. Lewis relates many of Judy's experiences with the crew of the war ship as they patrolled the rivers of China during the time of the Japanese invasion of Manchuria.
Over time, Judy and her crew mates made their way to Singapore. As Lewis says, Singapore was supposed to be Britain's impregnable fortress in Asia. However, the Japanese were able to conquer the city in short order. Thousands of refugees fled Singapore aboard whatever ships they could find.
While transporting civilians away from Singapore, the ship Judy was on was destroyed by the Japanese. The crew and Judy made their way to Sumatra in the hopes of getting Allied transport. But, it was not to be. Judy and her mates were taken prisoner by the Japanese.
Lewis tells in great detail the horrendous treatment the prisoner's of war received in the camp. Hundreds died as they were forced to work on a railway through the jungle. During all this time, Judy stayed with her people and was a loyal friend. She was a source of encouragement, and she was a morale booster for those facing hell on earth.
As those of you who read this book will discover, Judy was an incredible dog. However, what I like most about the book is that Lewis details the lives of the humans in Judy's life. The men who withstood and survived what these British soldiers faced are truly remarkable people.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. Get a copy. Read it. It's a great book. A must read.
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