Borneo Surgeon: A Reluctant Hero: The Story of Dr James P Taylor by Peter Firkins

Book Description

Secondhand. Near fine condition.

Born into a humble Yass family at the end of the nineteenth century, James Taylor, by his own determination and intellect, won a scholarship for his secondary education at St Patrick's College, Goulburn and an Exhibition to study medicine at Sydney University.

Almost by pure chance, he pursued his medical career in an outpost of the British Empire, then known as British North Borneo, to become Principal Medical Officer at the time of the Japanese occupation during World War II.

The Japanese allowed the civilian medical staff to remain at their posts with the status of 'simple confinement'. At the same time, the bewildered local people looked to someone for leadership in their new and unaccustomed circumstances.

Aided by his wife Celia, he was imperceptibly drawn into the key role of organising the underground movement among loyal local people and giving support to the Australian Prisoners of War transferred to Borneo from Singapore.

In 1943, he was exposed to the Japanese, arrested and tortured. Mercifully, Dr Taylor and his wife survived their internment and returned to Australia to lead a normal life. (back cover)