“His story needed to be told,” said Mrs Wells, who compiled the biography of her late husband titled The tiger has many lives: The story of Rod Wells.
The book will be available for purchase and signing at $35 (cash only) at the Rushworth library author talk.
Rod Wells, who grew up near Tatura on a Dhurringile dairy farm, served as a radio operator with 8 Division Signals in Malaya and Singapore during World War II.
After Singapore fell to the Japanese in February 1942, he was imprisoned at Sandakan camp in British North Borneo.
Using his expertise in wireless technology, Mr Wells built a radio and transmitter from scratch while participating in the local underground movement.
“He was incredibly strong-minded to mentally survive what he did,” Mrs Wells said.
Following his arrest by the Kempeitai (Japanese military police) in July 1943, Mr Wells endured brutal torture before being sentenced to 12 years’ penal work.
He was transported to Singapore's notorious Outram Road Gaol, where he spent 13 months, partly in solitary confinement.
“When he returned to Australia after the end of the war, he weighed just 20kg,” Mrs Wells said.
Despite his traumatic experiences, Mr Wells went on to become a world expert in electronics and nucleonics.
The author talk by Pam Wells will be held at Rushworth library on Tuesday, August 5 at 1.30pm.
To book a spot for this free talk, phone Campaspe Libraries on 5481 2400.
