Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2010/January 2011 | Page 40

interview

Island Life - December 2010

Photo:Jim Long pictured 2010 at home in Brighstone

Veteran Jim's story of anguish,
solitude and immense bravery
WORDS - PETER WHITE
World War II veteran Jim Long has

others who did, he was subjected to

a remarkable story to tell of bravery

horrendous, inhumane conditions while

and heroism; fright and unthinkable

spending three agonising years in the

Island Life reveals how Jim joined up

atrocities.

captivity of the Japanese Imperial Army.

for service, and went on a journey

not break down in tears.
In the first of a three-part series,

Jim, born on the Island, and now

The memories he holds of brushes

that subsequently ended in he and his

living in Brighstone, is 94. He was a

with death, beatings, near starvation,

colleagues being forced to help build

member of the Second World War’s

and slave labour, remain as vivid as

one of the most infamous structures

‘Forgotten Army’, which was deployed

ever. So vivid, in fact, that nearly 70

of the entire war – the Bridge over the

to fight in the Far East.

years on he understandably paused

River Kwai.

Many of his colleagues perished. He
was one who survived, but like the
40

occasionally as he spoke, just to
compose himself and make sure he did

Jim was one of three brothers, and
was living in Carisbrooke when the
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