Fathers Wartime Story from Australia

COFFS HARBOUR, Australia– After sharing with an Australian Vietnam War veteran his father’s story as a prisoner of war on the Burma Railway in 1942, he encouraged Terry Tweedie to write a book. It prompted him in writing the story of his father in “Don Tweedie Fighting Bandsman’s Last Stand” (published by Xlibris AU).

This is a story of Don Tweedie who was raised during the Great Depression and then enlisted to go off to war only to find himself involved in the greatest defeat of the British Empire in Singapore in 1942. He was severely wounded and was taken prisoner to Changi, Burma Railway, Thailand, Saigon, Singapore and Japan as a prisoner of war for the remainder of the war. He returned home and continued living in a changed society.

He moved on with his life as a farmer, bandsman and had a family. It was not easy for him as he suffered from war related issues such as collapsed nerves, and the traumas haunting him from the prison camps. He found solace in brass band music and farming and it became his passion throughout his life.

“There are a lot of soldiers now coming home from war who need help and in most cases are getting it. However, in 1946 Don Tweedie was checked over by doctors after World War II and sent home,” Terry says. “There was no ongoing help and he had to fight every inch of the way to obtain psychological help.”

“Don Tweedie Fighting Bandsman’s Last Stand” hopes to make readers understand what war can do to people’s lives, how it can change their lives and how the war changes families’ lives. Don Tweedie went off to war thinking it was going to be a great adventure and at the same time getting paid for this great adventure. He had no idea what he was about to be engaged in at Malaya and Singapore. However, he always maintained that he was proud to have fought under the Australian flag.

“Don Tweedie Fighting Bandsman’s Last Stand”
By Terry Tweedie
Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 340 pages | ISBN 9781524518486
Softcover | 6 x 9in | 340 pages | ISBN 9781524518479
E-Book | 340 pages | ISBN 9781524518523
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author
Terry Tweedie was born in Grafton, New South Wales. He was married in 1976 to Heather Read, and then they moved to Coffs Harbour. He was a research officer and ecologist for many years. He graduated with an Associate Diploma in Land Management, Diploma of Forestry and Bachelor of Applied Science in Natural Resource Management. He was a planning officer at Batemans Bay and operations forester at Tumbarumba. He has written or co-authored five scientific papers about flora and fauna of the North Coast. He and his wife have a family of three children and eight grandchildren. They have now retired to Coffs Harbour.

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