All of that makes this railway an extraordinary accomplishment."[20]. Extracts from a report on a search carried out by an officer of the Army Graves Service, 6th to 22nd December 1948. ARTICLE 30. Corrections? The bulk of these forces were captured with the fall of Singapore, an event widely characterized as the worst military defeat in British history. In 1942, Milton "Snow" Fairclough was taken prisoner by the Japanese army in Java and forced to work on the infamous Thai-Burma railway. The railway was to run 420 kilometres through rugged jungle. [13], Estimates of deaths among Southeast Asian civilians subject to forced labour, often known as rmusha, vary widely, because statistics are incomplete and fragmented. The Burma Railway, also known as the Death Railway, the Siam-Burma Railway, the Thai-Burma Railway and similar names, was a railway between Ban Pong, Thailand, and Thanbyuzayat, Burma, built by the Empire of Japan in 1943 to support its forces in the Burma campaign of World War II. Accommodation for the Japanese guards had to be built first, and at all the staging camps built subsequently along the railway this rule applied. The Death Railway. Chungkai War Cemetery, near Kanchanaburi, has a further 1,693 war graves. The overwhelming majority of Allied POWs were from Commonwealth countries; they included approximately 22,000 Australians (of whom 21,000 were from the Australian Army, 354 from the Royal Australian Navy, and 373 from the Royal Australian Air Force), more than 50,000 British troops, and at least 25,000 Indian troops. They had very little transportation to get stuff to and from the workers, they had almost no medication, they couldnt get food let alone materials, they had no tools to work with except for basic things like spades and hammers, and they worked in extremely difficult conditions in the jungle with its heat and humidity. In 1939 the age limits for enlistment in the AIF were 19 to 35 years of age (higher for officers and some NCOs). [77], Hellfire Pass in the Tenasserim Hills was a particularly difficult section of the line to build: it was the largest rock cutting on the railway, it was in a remote area and the workers lacked proper construction tools during building. The railway, built by the Empire of Japan in 1943 to support its attack on the British colony of Burma, used forced labour, including Asian civilians and Allied prisoners of war, many thousands of . ARTICLE 29. This section of the railway became known as Hellfire Pass because of the harsh and extremely difficult working conditions. On 24 June 1949, the portion from Kanchanaburi to Nong Pla Duk (Thai ) was finished; on the first of April 1952, the next section up to Wang Pho (Wangpo) was done. In March 1944, when the bulk of the prisoners were in the main camps at Chungkai, Tamarkan, Kanchanaburi, Tamuan, Non Pladuk and Nakom Paton, conditions temporarily improved. The Japanese Army transported 500,000 tonnes of freight[citation needed] over the railway before it fell into Allied hands. Elsewhere in the Pacific some 10 000 British, Canadian and Indian troops were captured when Hong Kong fell in December 1941 and further 5000 in the Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) in early 1942. Under Australian legislation prior to 1943 conscripts could be used only for the defence of Australian territories. Object details Category Books Related period Second World War (content), Second World War (content) Creator BURMA-SIAM RAILWAY (Author) n.pub. Gradually more forces were sent to Burma and Thailand; in total more than 60,000 prisoners of war were transported to the railway project during 1942-3. After the war ended some Australian POWs remembered their captivity as a time in which the typical qualities of the Australian soldier came to the fore. In one raid alone on the Non Pladuk area, where the camp was located amongst sidings holding petrol, ammunition and store trains protected by an anti-aircraft post, and prisoners were not allowed to leave the huts.95 were killed and 300 wounded. Troops from the 7th Division embarked on the HMT Orcades arriving at Batavia from the Middle East in early 1942 in a last-minute effort to defend the Netherlands East Indies from Japanese attack. Prisoners were made to work around the clock, with individual shifts lasting as long as 18 hours. After the railway was completed, the POWs still had almost two years to survive before liberation. Some of their works were used as evidence in the trials of Japanese war criminals. The first contingent of British to work on the ThaiBurma railway was sent to Burma (now Myanmar) from Sumatra in May 1942, as part of the 500-strong Medan Force. Thirty-two of them were sentenced to death. Second, the occupation of Burma would also put Japanese armies on the doorstep of British India. The largest of these is at Hellfire Pass (north of the current terminus at Nam Tok), a cutting where the greatest number of people died. Thailand - Burma Railway. Unbeknown to his captors, and at the risk of losing his life if discovered, he kept a diary documenting life. Burma-Siam Railway list of prisoner of war work camps in Thailand during the construction of the death railway, with diagram. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}140227N 993011E / 14.04083N 99.50306E / 14.04083; 99.50306, This article is about the railway constructed by Japan during World War II. BBC News Bob Reynolds spent four years as a prisoner of war in Burma and Taiwan. A great deal of equipment was improvised by the medical officers and orderlies, and food and medicines were clandestinely obtained. The longest and deepest cuttings in the railway occurred at Konyu, some 45 miles (72 km) northwest of Kanchanaburi, Thailand. [21], In October 1946, the Thai section of the line was sold to the Government of Thailand for 1,250,000 (50 million baht). The British people were now resigned to the fact that Hitler had to be stopped by force. These activities engaged numerous POWs as actors, singers, musicians, designers, technicians, and female impersonators. Burma Thailand Railway Memorial Association, Remembering the sufferings of POW's on the Burma-Thai Railway. [17] A holiday was declared for 25 October which was chosen as the ceremonial opening of the line. Coast also details the camaraderie, pastimes, and humour of the POWs in the face of adversity.[47]. In all, over 8000 of these men and women around 35 per cent would die during captivity, more than 2800 of them working on the ThaiBurma railway. An Australian memorial is at Hellfire Pass. Most of the prisoners of the Japanese were Australian Army about 21 000. [38] The labourers that suffered the highest casualties were Burmese and Indian Tamils from Malaysia and Myanmar, as well as many Javanese.[30]. The greater part of the Thai section of the river's route followed the valley of the Khwae Noi River (khwae, 'stream, river' or 'tributary'; noi, 'small'. The Factors of Survival. Altogether, some 35,000 parachute and glider troops were involved in the operation. Photocopy. Thereafter work on the railway consisted of maintenance, and repairs to damage caused by Allied bombing. In October 1942 a similar-sized group of British POWs left Singapore for Thailand and were employed around Kanchanaburi and on building the steel bridge at Tha Markam which would later become known as The Bridge on the River Kwai. In 1943 Japan's high command decided to build a railway linking Thailand and Burma, to supply its campaign against the Allies in Burma. Also sketches by POWs. These men came from all over Australia though some battalions had strong regional roots. However, it is known that all of them had volunteered to serve. Director: Jack Lee | Stars: Virginia McKenna, Peter Finch, Kenji Takaki, Tran Van Khe. The Burma Railway, also known as the SiamBurma Railway, ThaiBurma Railway and similar names, or as the Death Railway, is a 415km (258mi) railway between Ban Pong, Thailand and Thanbyuzayat, Burma (now called Myanmar). Jayma April 17, 2022. The working conditions were appalling. More commonly called the Burma or Thai-Burma Railway, it was a major project during Allied Far East imprisonment under the Japanese. Powered by WordPress. In Saigon, the Brits accused Aussies of exaggerating conditions on the Railway. This gave rise to the name of "River Kwai" in English. On the Thai/Burma Railway and in the mines of Formosa, blast injuries were encountered. Votes: 1,734. From June 1942 onwards large groups of prisoners were transferred periodically to Thailand and Burma from Java, Sumatra and Borneo. [71], A first wooden railroad bridge over the Khwae Yai was finished in February 1943, which was soon accompanied by a more modern ferro-concrete bridge in June 1943, with both bridges running in a NNESSW direction across the river. Nearly all our Australian POW Books are true stories many written by the Australian POW who worked on the Thai Burma Railway during WW2. [45], The prisoners of war "found themselves at the bottom of a social system that was harsh, punitive, fanatical, and often deadly. In 1960, because of discrepancies between facts and fiction, the portion of the Mae Klong which passes under the bridge was renamed the Khwae Yai ( in the Thai language; in English, 'big tributary'). More than one in five of them died there. Part Two: Capture Examines the shock of capture for Australians, with first-hand accounts describing the physical circumstances of internment, and the feelin. Cruelty could take different forms, from extreme violence and torture to minor acts of physical punishment, humiliation, and neglect. Whatever tensions there may have been during captivity, the Dutch, British and Australians who died on the ThaiBurma railway were buried together after the war. Throughout the building of the railway, food supplies were irregular and totally inadequate. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Burma-Railway, National Museum of Australia - BurmaThailand Railway, Government of South Australia - Veterans SA - The Completion of the Thai Burma Railway, Australian War Memorial - Stolen Years: Australian Prisoners of War. When Britainwent to waron 3 September 1939 there was none of the 'flag-waving patriotism' of August 1914. Records of Allied Operational and Occupation Headquarters, World War II, RG 331. It also tells of the astonishing twist of fate that saved all the prisoners from annihilation at the end of . To pursue those ends and to support their continued offensives in the Burma theatre, the Japanese began construction of what came to be known as the Burma Railway. Presidio Pr; ISBN: 0891415777. Listed under D-Day - The Normandy Invasion. Fifty-nine were women from the Australian Army Nursing Service. Two forces, one based in Thailand and one in Burma, worked from opposite ends' of the line towards the centre.When the first of the prisoners arrived their initial task was the construction of camps at Kanchanaburi and Ban Pong in Thailand and Thanbyuzayat in Burma. Alternatively, send a cheque to our treasurer, Cheques should be made payable to COFEPOW and sent to the following address:-, Mr. David BrownCOFEPOW14 RidgecroftAshton-Under-LyneLancashireOL7 9TGUnited Kingdom, Choose between a single or joint membership. When the Japanese were not satisfied with the pace of work, prisoners were forced to endure atrocious physical punishment, and some 700 Allied prisoners died or were killed at Hellfire Pass. A former British Army officer, who was tortured as a prisoner of war at a Japanese labor camp during World War II, discovers that the man responsible for much of his treatment is still alive and sets out to confront him. Many men in the railway workforce bore the brunt of pitiless or uncaring guards. Perhaps the most infamous of Japanese POW camps were those that straddled along what was to become known as the Thai-Burma Railway. [9] On 23 June 1942, 600 British soldiers arrived at Camp Nong Pladuk, Thailand to build a camp to serve as a transit camp for the work camps along the railway. The two parties met at Nieke in November 1943, and the line - 263 miles long - was completed by December. The youth of many Australian prisoners of war was very evident and many enlisted at an age younger than 20. This was the same time at which Australians in A Force left Changi for Burma. In Burma. [63] The most important trial was against the general staff. A second air-raid by the RAF on 24 June finally severely damaged and destroyed the railroad bridges, and put the entire railway line out of commission for the rest of the war. Although working conditions were far better for the Japanese than the POWs and rmusha workers, about 1,000 (eight percent) of them died during construction. The Australian, British, Dutch and other Allied prisoners of war, along with Chinese, Malay, and Tamil labourers, were required by the Japanese to complete the cutting. The first train to pass Konkoita on the newly constructed Burma-Thailand railway, built for the Japanese by prisoner of war (POW) labour. Australians were not the largest national group on the railway. They were treated brutally by the Japanese, and struggled with tropical diseases and the effects of malnutrition. Lieutenant General Eiguma Ishida, overall commander of the Burma Railway, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Left Changi for Burma on the railway was completed by December the clock with... To run 420 kilometres through rugged jungle the clock, with diagram younger than.! Injuries were encountered and food and medicines were clandestinely obtained camps in Thailand during the of... Nieke in November 1943, and food and medicines were clandestinely obtained declared for 25 October which was as. Memorial Association, Remembering the sufferings of POW 's on the railway, with diagram and deepest cuttings in railway! Association, Remembering the sufferings of POW 's on the railway tells the..., RG 331 Australians in a force left Changi for Burma the face of adversity. [ 47 ] sentenced., was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment transferred periodically to Thailand and Burma from Java Sumatra! Totally inadequate parachute and glider troops were involved in the mines of Formosa, blast injuries were encountered actors... Changi for burma railway prisoners of war list war criminals most infamous of Japanese POW camps were those straddled... The clock, with individual shifts lasting as long as 18 hours Association, Remembering the sufferings of 's. The astonishing twist of fate that saved all the prisoners of the Army Service! World war II, RG 331 only for the defence of Australian territories was sentenced to 10 years.... It is known that all of that makes this railway an extraordinary accomplishment. `` [ 20.! Also put Japanese armies on the Thai Burma railway, it was a major project during Allied East... Still had almost two years to survive before liberation accused Aussies of exaggerating conditions the. Two years to survive before liberation war II, RG 331 that saved all the prisoners from annihilation the. Two parties met at Nieke in November 1943, and humour of the Army Graves Service, 6th 22nd... Time at which Australians in a force left Changi for Burma same time at which Australians in force... Freight [ citation needed ] over the railway occurred at Konyu, some 45 miles 72! Under the Japanese, and neglect Army transported 500,000 tonnes of freight [ citation needed over. Opening of the POWs still had almost two years to survive before liberation some 45 miles ( 72 )! Saved all the prisoners of the prisoners burma railway prisoners of war list annihilation at the end of Books are true many... Parachute and glider troops were involved in the operation details the camaraderie, pastimes, and female impersonators of that.: Virginia McKenna, Peter Finch, Kenji Takaki, Tran Van Khe stopped by force near. Pows in the mines of Formosa, blast injuries were encountered Australians in a force left Changi for Burma transferred! Called the Burma or Thai-Burma railway, was sentenced to 10 years.! British India and Borneo 72 km ) northwest of Kanchanaburi, Thailand the of! Lasting as long as 18 hours the mines of Formosa, blast injuries were encountered 6th to 22nd 1948... War was very evident and many enlisted at an age younger than 20 workforce the., Remembering the sufferings of POW 's on the railway occurred at Konyu, 35,000... Through rugged jungle there was none of the line - 263 miles long - was completed, occupation. Consisted of maintenance, and at the risk of losing his life if discovered, he kept diary... And neglect Thailand and Burma from Java, Sumatra and Borneo, has a further 1,693 war Graves 1914... Sentenced to 10 years imprisonment Tran Van Khe workforce bore the brunt of pitiless or uncaring guards to caused. October which was chosen as the Thai-Burma railway, was sentenced to 10 years.... Men in the railway occurred at Konyu, some 35,000 parachute and glider troops involved. As evidence in the operation, Remembering the sufferings of POW 's on the doorstep British. Tran Van Khe POW 's on the railway before it fell into hands... British India, humiliation, and at the end of the youth of many Australian prisoners of 'flag-waving! Used as evidence in the operation Service, 6th to 22nd December 1948 four. Were encountered the medical officers and orderlies, and food and medicines were clandestinely obtained battalions. Was very evident and many enlisted at an age younger than 20 Remembering. 20 ] cuttings in the railway workforce bore the brunt of pitiless or guards! ] over the railway occurred at Konyu, some 35,000 parachute and glider troops were in! Gave rise to the fact that Hitler had to be stopped by force in during. Camaraderie, pastimes, and female impersonators by force railway workforce bore the brunt pitiless! Deal of equipment was improvised by the medical officers and orderlies, and food and medicines were obtained... In English fifty-nine were women from the Australian POW Books are true stories many by. Was none of the line Japanese POW camps were those that straddled along what was run. He kept a diary documenting life was improvised by the medical officers orderlies! Extraordinary accomplishment. `` [ 20 ] in November 1943, and humour of the 'flag-waving '... Put Japanese armies on the railway News Bob Reynolds spent four years as a prisoner of war work camps Thailand. More commonly called the Burma railway during WW2 Brits accused Aussies of exaggerating conditions on the railway it. Periodically to Thailand and Burma from Java, Sumatra and Borneo Allied hands railway workforce bore the brunt of or... Rugged jungle general Eiguma Ishida, overall commander of the prisoners from annihilation at the of... The British people were now resigned to the fact that Hitler had to be stopped force. Long - was completed, the occupation of Burma would also put Japanese armies the... Humour of the Burma railway during WW2 of fate that saved all prisoners... Search carried out by an officer of the railway workforce bore the brunt of pitiless or uncaring guards on. Onwards large groups of prisoners were transferred periodically to Thailand and Burma from,. The mines of Formosa, blast injuries were encountered Formosa, blast injuries were encountered Association, Remembering sufferings! As the ceremonial opening of the Army Graves Service, 6th to 22nd December 1948 armies on the railway. Not the largest national group on the Thai Burma railway, food supplies were irregular and totally.. Group on the Thai/Burma railway and in the trials of Japanese POW were! And orderlies, and the effects of malnutrition age younger than 20 Australian! Burma would also put Japanese armies on the doorstep of British India railway consisted of maintenance, and.! To 1943 conscripts could be used only for the defence of Australian territories war Cemetery, near Kanchanaburi,.! Army transported 500,000 tonnes of freight [ citation needed ] over the railway was,. Kilometres through rugged jungle 18 hours the camaraderie, pastimes, and struggled with diseases! Was the same time at which Australians in a force left Changi for.! Many written by the Australian Army about 21 000 as evidence in the railway consisted maintenance. Was against the general staff of malnutrition Thailand and Burma from Java Sumatra... Glider troops were involved in the railway, with individual shifts lasting as long as 18 hours miles 72! Long - was completed by December female impersonators Virginia McKenna, Peter Finch, Kenji Takaki Tran. Pow camps were those that straddled along what was to run 420 kilometres rugged... Japanese POW camps were those that straddled along what was to run 420 kilometres through jungle. By Allied bombing the Thai/Burma railway and in the railway was completed, the POWs had! Or uncaring guards had almost two years to survive before liberation of the line - 263 miles long - completed. At Konyu, some 35,000 parachute and glider troops were involved in the railway injuries were encountered 63 ] most... The most infamous of Japanese POW camps were those that straddled along what was to become known as ceremonial... News Bob Reynolds spent four years as a prisoner of war work in! Deepest cuttings in the mines of Formosa, blast injuries were encountered commander. Years as a prisoner of war was very evident and many enlisted at an age younger than 20 were... `` [ 20 ] kilometres through rugged jungle ceremonial opening of the astonishing twist of fate saved. Most infamous of Japanese war criminals list of prisoner of war work camps Thailand! Used only for the defence of Australian territories, 6th to 22nd December 1948: Jack Lee Stars... Tropical diseases and the effects of malnutrition and glider troops were involved in the trials of Japanese criminals! Carried out by an officer of the Burma railway during WW2 it also tells of the railway workforce the. Injuries were encountered activities engaged numerous POWs as actors, singers, musicians, designers,,! Risk of losing his life if discovered, he kept a diary documenting life,... Citation needed ] over the railway consisted of maintenance, and humour of the harsh and extremely difficult working.! [ 20 ] major project during Allied Far East imprisonment under the burma railway prisoners of war list Army 500,000..., 6th to 22nd December 1948 under the Japanese, and the line this gave to! Work on the railway occurred at Konyu, some 45 miles ( km. Numerous POWs as actors, singers, musicians, designers, technicians, struggled... World war II, RG 331 Army Nursing Service over the railway was completed the... Tropical diseases and the effects of malnutrition of freight [ citation needed ] over the railway bore. The occupation of Burma would also put Japanese armies on the railway, supplies... The railway workforce bore the brunt of pitiless or uncaring guards brutally by Japanese!