Dentistry on the Burma Railway - the story of Captain David Arkush

Abstract

This article tells the story of Captain David Arkush who was a dental officer in the Army Dental Corps during World War II. He was posted to Singapore in 1941 and was present at the fall of Singapore when he was subsequently captured by the Japanese and became a prisoner of war on the Burmese Railway. Living conditions were horrific but he was able to provide basic dentistry during this difficult time. The following is a first-hand account of Arkush's story, as told in his own words. The material came from recordings of an interview with Arkush in 2011 when he was 96 years old. Some of the dates have been altered to allow for historical accuracy, but all other details have been reported as told.