Sticky Dewi on the Burma Railway Had Its Lighter Moments, Even for the Prisoners; BOOK: World War II Veterans Recall Incidents That Amused Them

Byline: ROBIN TURNER

MEMORIES of the lighter side of life in Far East prisoner-of-war camps have been compiled in a book by Welsh author Patricia Clements.

One of the stars of Sticky Dewi, whose ironic title is a corruption of the Japanese word for first aid, is 77-year-old Jack Endicott, of Pyle.

He is one of the youngest survivors of the enforced labour on the Burma Railway during World War II, made famous by the film Bridge on the River Kwai.

Rhondda-born Mr Endicott, who became a collier after the war, joined the Merchant Navy at 14 and while in Sydney jumped ship with some pals and joined the Australian Army.

He was still a teenager when he was captured as the Japanese overran Batan.

Mr Endicott recalls how a Japanese guard who had seen a picture of guards in a …

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Publication information: Article title: Sticky Dewi on the Burma Railway Had Its Lighter Moments, Even for the Prisoners; BOOK: World War II Veterans Recall Incidents That Amused Them. Contributors: Not available. Newspaper title: Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales). Publication date: February 16, 2002. Page number: 23. © 2009 MGN Ltd. COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group.

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