Tribute to Burmese 'Railway of Death" POW

Iain Robertson • Published 8 Jul 2009 12:37 3 Comments

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TILLICOULTRY"S Dan Snaddon, who penned a book on his experiences surviving as a POW on the notorious Burmese 'Railway of Death", has passed away in Texas.

Daniel Cameron Snaddon was born on 26 May, 1915, named after his father"s father, and loved by two godly parents, Daniel and Ann Snaddon in Tillicoultry.

His life was built on an unwavering love for others, and his passion for Christ gave him the strength to survive some of the worst attrocities of WWII.

In his book 'Through the Valley of the Shadow - A war prisoner"s struggle for survival" Dan recalled his four years struggling to survive in utter deprivation at the hands of the merciless Japanese.

He began by writing about the town he grew up in: 'Tillicoultry itself is situated on the River Devon. The paper mill, textile factories, and coal mines were the chief industries of the 4000 inhabitants. The town is beautifully kept and at the time of this writing has escaped much of the pollution and ravages of modern industries. It was in this lovely setting that I was born, named after my paternal grandfather, Daniel Cameron Snaddon.'

His father died in a mining accident when he was just 15 and a few years later on 9 November, 1940. Dan enthusiastically joined the royal Army Medical Corps.

The bloody conflict of WWII saw him confronted by the full horrors of war. When the Japanese took control of Singapore - where Dan was stationed - he and his comrades were imprisoned by the tortuous Nipponese forces.

He described what followed, 'One of the costliest ventures in world history was the building of the notorious 'Railway of Death," from Bangkok to the borders of Burma. We were just walking skeletons.'

Yet in the midst of that hell on earth, Dan volunteered to nurse the sick men in the cholera camp.

'Like everyone else I wanted to see my loved ones again, back in Bonnie Scotland,' he wrote. But he gave what ever strength and life he had and devoted it to those in the camp, a selfless act.

The turning point in the war in the Far East came when the first ever atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima - 6 August, 1945.

One of the first planes to fly over after the surrender dropped leaflets - entitled, 'To all Allied Prisoners of War: The Japanese forces have surrendered unconditionally and the war is over."

Dan wrote, 'For almost four years the flag of the Imperial Japanese forces had proudly and defiantly flown from the flagstaff high on the ramparts of the tower. But with the dawning of a new day, came the important event of hoisting the flag.

'I was honoured by the hospital authorities to represent our area at the flagraising ceremony. I walked proudly out of our camp clad in the old shirt, shorts, cap, but no boots or shoes. No one ever walked more proudly than I.'

Recalling the glory of returning to Scotland, he wrote, 'A deep sense of being home enveloped me as we crossed the border into Bonnie Scotland, my native land. As the train approached the great city of Glasgow my heart began pounding,

'Detraining at the Central Station in Glasgow, I soon was being smothered in the arms of my sister Jessie, and her husband Johnny.

'As we drove through the familiar streets to Queen Street Station my emotions erupted - it was good to be among loved ones again.'

His story is an amazing witness to the power of his relationship with God and how his prayers sustained him through conditions that seem impossible for anyone to have endured.

After the war in 1950, Dan met Lily Hislop, and as the story goes, they fell head over heels for each other and in 1951 were married in Hamilton, Lily gave birth to Anne in 1953.

When daughter Anne was just a few years old the family emigrated to Canada to live in Orillia. Dan worked briefly as a brick layer before buying and running the local grill with Lily.The pair then made the decision to go full time into the Lord"s ministry and in 1959 flew to live in Satellite Beach, Florida, not far from Cape Canaveral. They remained in Florida several more years before moving to Imler, Pennsylvania and then on to Burlington, Canada, continuing to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel.

As their health declined they felt it was time to move to Texas, where Anne lived with husband Bruce. Dan actively took part in meetings up till five years ago when his health would no longer allow him to continue.

Daughter Anne MacDonald said, 'Daddy was a great man, a wonderful man, yet the most humble man, gentle man you could ever meet. His passion was Christ. His life given to the Lord"s service.'

Anne, who lives in Texas, paints a picture of her father by recounting what he said to a publisher friend of the family who, before travelling to Japan, asked Dan what message he had for the people of that country. 'Tell them I love them,' he said.

This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 09 Jul 09

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Anne MacDonald
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Jul 9, 15:12
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Well written!

Daddy was a wonderful man and will be greatly missed by his family and friends. The articlernis a true picture of the man I grew up knowing as my Dad. His love was total, His goal simple:

" Christ and Christ alone " May the Lord bless each of you as you read this and may each of you meet the Lord Jesus Christ and bow the knee in worship. Anne MacDonald

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Susan Nolin
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Jul 9, 20:59
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To God be the Glory !Growing up with Mr. Snaddon, Uncle Dan, I can testify of his love for Jesus Christ. Uncle Dan believed in Jesus, he believed in Heaven. I know he is with his precious Lord and Savior.....right now! I praise God that He brought Uncle Dan from the darkest nights to the Glory of Heaven. John 14:2

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Shannon MacDonald
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Dec 27, 03:32
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Such a picture of Christ. I cannot wait to see him again in Heaven someday.

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