[6] The book was exclusively sold in The Gordon Highlanders Museum,[6] but soon grew in popularity for its honest account of his experience as a Japanese POW.
[7] In 2011, the book was shortlisted for the Independent Booksellers Award (UK)[8] Alistair Urquhart was conscripted into the British Army at nineteen.
He survived the labour of the Bridge on the River Kwai, and was eventually taken on one of the Japanese ‘hellships’ which was torpedoed enroute to Japan.
Almost everyone on board died and Alistair Urquhart spent 5 days alone on a raft in the South China Sea.
[9] In 2016, GQ magazine released an article in which Bear Grylls told of his favourite books, The Forgotten Highlander was included.