IN February 1942, after fighting bravely in Europe and the Far East, the remaining members of the Lancastrian 88th Field Regiment were captured by the Japanese.

Three-years as POW followed during which, among other things, the men were used as forced labour to build the Burma-Siam Railway, including the infamous bridge over the River Kwai.

Initially the captured were held in Changi Jail, a name which became synonymous with harsh treatment.

But, set against some of the horrors which awaited the 88th in Burma and Thailand, it was probably one of the best camps in Malaya. Things changed when the men, including many from the Preston area, were moved in 1943 and forced into appalling conditions while building the 'Death Railway'.

Author Stephen Bull has drawn on the accounts of those who survived in a compelling and illustrated book, Lancashire Gunners at War - The 88th Field Regiment, 1939-45. Published by Carnegie, priced £8 and available from all good booksellers.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.