On 16 November 1941, two Canadian battalions arrived in the British colony of Hong Kong. Their aim: Bolster the Empire's defences in the event of aggression by the restless forces of Japan, stationed only kilometres away in occupied China. Prisoners of the Sun features the revelations of five Canadian soldiers and a former Japanese prison guard. There is horror in their stories, but there is also, in the words of Canadian veteran George MacDonell, "honour and distinction".