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Captain Jack
This is an outstanding story of an amazing man. His excellent memory and careful filing of information over the years has resulted in the production of this autobiography.
John Mackie's work in geology and then as an Inspector of Mines in Malaya was followed by his wartime experience. After being captured by the Japanese he spent three terrible years in the infamous Changi and Batu Lintang prison camps.
When he returned to New Zealand his main task in the 1950's was teaching land and mine surveying in Otago. This is when he became known affectionately as "Captain Jack". He began teaching in Otago University in 1963. This became a full, 4-year degree course in 1973. The National School of Surveying is a tribute to the vision and hard work of John Mackie and his early staff, and to his successors in the Chair of Surveying.
It is a measure of the man that at the age of 97 he could produce a book that appeals to a wide audience. As a revue of this book and an example of his detailed and quality work, an extract relating his experiences in Ipoh as the Japanese advance southwards is included in this archive.
This book is not presently held in our library,
To read the above extract, click here.