Forgiveness and the Forgotten Army
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) on 15th August 2025, DefyEnt Docs released Forgiveness and the Forgotten Army, a short form documentary series in which the children of Far East Prisoners of War (POWs) tell their parents' Second World War stories of survival and whether or not they were able to forgive those that hurt them.
Episode 1 - Ashley Prime
In this episode, Ashley Prime tells his father's harrowing story of survival as he was taken across East Asia as a Prisoner of War. From Changi Jail in Singapore to Iruka in Japan, Ashley Prime helped build the Burma to Thailand railway until he eventually worked in the Iruka copper mines, before being liberated and journeying back to England 'the wrong way' round the world.
Ashley Prime experienced some traumatising experiences, including burying his friend upside down in a jungle, but was he ever able to forgive those that held him captive?
Episode 2 - ERNEST VICTOR HAYNES
In this episode, Helen Haynes tells her father's powerful story of being held captive in Changi Jail, where he suffered painful wounds, ate dried snakes and was hidden by a postmaster.
After finding a mysterious photograph of a Japanese soldier, Helen is determined to travel to Japan to find out more about the soldier and to seek reconciliation with the soldier's family.
Will the wounds of the past be healed?
Episode 3 - LESLIE FREDERICK LONG
In this episode, Trish and Ian Furgasson tell the story of Trish's father Leslie, a World War 2 soldier in the Royal Signals who was taken prisoner after the fall of Singapore in 1942 and then transported to Japan.
After being a prisoner in Changi Jail, he suffered physical and psychological trauma in the Aomi Camp at the Denki Quarry.
Unfortunately for the family, Leslie unknowingly passed his trauma down through the generations - but was he ever able to forgive the people who caused him so much suffering?
Episode 4 - sydney albert william brown
In this episode, Chris and Anita Brown tell the story of Chris' father Sydney, a soldier in the Second World War who was a prisoner of war in Changi Jail and then Aomi Camp at the Denki cement factory in Japan.
Suffering 18 hour shifts in front of a furnace, Chris and Anita only discovered the horrors Sydney went through because his granddaughter asked him about his experiences of World War 2 for a school project.
The physical torture Sydney suffered stayed with him throughout his life - as did Nissen Huts. But was he ever able to forgive the people who treated him so cruelly?
Episode 5 - george wills
In this episode, Alan and Christine Wills discuss Alan's father George and his Second World War experiences as a Prisoner of War in Changi, Thailand and Japan, including working at the Mitsubishi car factory.
George suffered terrible Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after suffering physical and psychological torture and was even subjected to watching his colleagues blown apart in front of him and surviving on a Hell Ship. But after returning home, was he able to put his experiences behind him and forgive those that hurt him the most?
Episode 6 - frank richard purdy
In this episode, Janet Bowling tells about her father Frank's War World 2 experiences as a Prisoner of War in many different POW camps - ending up inside Changi Jail in Singapore.
After his ship was torpedoed, Frank had to survive in extreme conditions inside the infamous POW Camp.
In an incredible act of heroism by a fellow soldier, Frank was able to obtain a very important item that should have been destroyed, which he kept with him throughout his imprisonment.
Due to the physical abuse he was subjected to, Frank suffered physical problems for the rest of his life - so was he ever able to forgive the people who caused him such trauma?
CREDITS
Director and Producer - Jonathan Dakin
Cinematographer - Mark Fitches
Editor - Peter Ansell
Sound Engineer - Ewerton Rodrigo Mendonca
Composer - Jordan Thomas
Colour Grader - Sara Buxton
Graphics and Titles - Richard Selby-Chambers