Foreword

This book has been a labour of love for the author who first came to Australia in 1947 shortly after being released from internment in a Chinese prison camp by the Japanese during World War II. She was interned because she was a British citizen. At the time of her internment she was 13.

For almost 20 years, she and her husband, Bob, have spent time researching material for this book for her family, friends and people interested in her life and the intriguing lives of her antecedents. Joyce Bradbury (nee Cooke) also tells how she progressed from her wartime childhood adversity to a full life after World War II. Despite internment by the Japanese she is not embittered. Today, she plays an active role in her adopted Australia where she is well-respected for her community service work, has successfully raised three sons, is a grand-mother, and keeps in touch with survivors of the Japanese camp who are now scattered around the world.

From a reader's perspective, this is the story of an interesting woman, a fascinating family and a diverse group of persons who have peopled the author's life. The author also acknowledges many amazing people who kept up her and her fellow prisoners' morale by many individual acts of bravery and decency.