Colonel Sir Ernest Edward "Weary" DUNLOP, AC, CMG, OBE, RAAMC: POW Hero

Discussion in 'Prisoners of War' started by spidge, Sep 4, 2007.

  1. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Weary Dunlop (Surgeon) saved the lives of hundreds of POW's and received many beatings from his Japanese captors when protecting his troops.

    Biography
    Biography - Part One

    Weary used his position as a doctor and Commanding Officer to protect his men. Having the awesome responsibility of deciding who was fit enough for work and who could remain behind to perhaps survive, he would often stand up to the Japanese soldiers, frequently with dire consequences for himself. He was once made to kneel on gravel and hold up some heavy stones for many hours while a bamboo shaft was placed behind his knee. But Weary never wavered; he always stood fast for his men.

    Don Stuart, one of Weary's Thousand wrote:
    "when despair and death reached us Weary Dunlop stood fast…he was a lighthouse of sanity in a universe of madness and suffering"

    Billy Griffiths, a British POW, is one of the survivors who owes his life to Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop. Because he had been blinded and had lost both hands in a booby trap explosion, the Japanese wanted to dispose of him. But Billy was Weary's patient, whom Weary had operated on and saved. He stood in front of the flashing bayonets and refused to move, saying:
    "You will need to put those bayonets through me first"

    Billy's life was spared; the Japanese commander was not prepared to take the consequences of killing the brave doctor.

    Weary endured many beatings to protect his men. His courage and kindness was well respected by all, including the Japanese. On July 12th 1945, his 38th birthday, he received extraordinary gestures of affection from all sides, an example of the impact he had on those around him.
     
  2. Andy in West Oz

    Andy in West Oz Senior Member

    One of the finest men to have ever lived.
     
  3. marcus69x

    marcus69x I love WW2 meah!!!

    Now there's a brave guy. :salut:
     
  4. indeed, the world needs more men like him
     
  5. WHITLEYMAN

    WHITLEYMAN Junior Member

    indeed, the world needs more men like him
    "All in all,Weary Dunlop was one of the greatest Australians of the twentieth century.It is doubtful if we shall ever see his like again."-obituary by Robert D Marshall published in 1994 in the 'Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery'.
     
  6. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    timuk likes this.

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