VX45598 James Boyle was a member of the 8th Division AIF 4th Motor Transport Company. He went to Singapore with the 8 Divi where he participated in the defence against the advancing Japanese. After the surrender he become a POW in Changi then part of F Force. The unique feature of the book is a concise day-to-day record of POW experience with F Force. The ghastly story is encapsulated with the overall horror and heroism of the Burma Thai railway construction.

This force consisted of 3662 Australians and 3400 British.