In this never-before-seen account, Henry F. Pringle takes us inside the engine room of Imperial Japanese terror - Bridge House Prison - and the prison camps at Haiphong Road in Shanghai and Fengtai near Beijing, bringing to life the tragedy and courage he saw in humanity’s darkest hour. He also included a description of his hazardous return trip to Shanghai from Beijing during the chaotic months that followed the end of hostilities in August 1945.

Who is Henry F. Pringle?

Henry F. Pringle (1902-1987) was born at Tongshan, China, of British parentage on 20 December 1902. Always in the care of Chinese amahs, Harry's first learnt language was Chinese. Harry went to England after being orphaned at the age of 16. He returned to China in December 1922 and worked in the British and American Tobacco Company, and finally the Shanghai Telephone Company, where he remained for over 22 years, rising to Assistant Manager. He was imprisoned by Japanese forces as a citizen from 6 October 1942 to 16 August 1945. For the remainder of his life Harry Pringle was a permanent resident of Australia and an Australian citizen. He died of heart disease at Canberra on 14 June 1987.