THE THAILAND

TO

BURMA RAILWAY

“THE DEATH RAILWAY’

‘Man’s inhumanity to man’

Matt Walsh

Table of Content

Topic Page Introduction Background The Railway The Work Force ‘F Force Statistics’. Hell Fire Pass Civilians Casualties Disease Japanese Military Code (Code of Bushido) Camps for Prisoners along the Railway route Personalities

- Tom Uren MP. - Sir Edward (Weary) Dunlop

The aftermath - Kanchanaburi War Cemetery

To Day - The end of the line - The Bridge on the River Kwai

Map of the Railway Route Kilometre Chart of the Thai- Burma (Death) Railway Bibliography Author

1 1 2 2 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 6 7 7 8 8 8 9 10 11 11

This booklet is an initiative of the Defence Reserves Association (NSW) Inc and the Military Police Association Inc. as part of their Schools Military History Program. Written and compiled by Matt Walsh JP. MLO ALGA. (MCAE) Dip Bus & Corp Law (CPS) © 2005 Published by Matt Walsh 115 Leacocks Lane Casula 2170

The Burma – Thailand Railway “The Death Railway”

Introduction The ‘Fall of Singapore’ and the building of the Burma to Thailand (Death) Railway are aspects of our military history which will always be linked even though they are different events in the overall campaign of the Japanese invasion and domination of Asia. The decision by the Imperial General Headquarters (IGHQ) of the Japanese Army to build a railway connecting Singapore to Rangoon and the decision and order by General Tojo to use Prisoners of War (POWs) to build the railway brought about the greatest example of those times of “man’s inhumanity to man” to be seen for a long time to come. On the positive side it showed man’s courage, resourcefulness and care for others in times of despair and hopefulness. Background Following the capture invasion and take over of Burma, Thailand, Malaya, and Singapore in 1941/2 the Japanese were developing plans to invade India in during the dry season of 1943/44. To achieve this they needed to build airfields in Burma (now Myanmah) and a railway through Thailand to Burma which would then link the existing railways in Burma and Singapore. The Japanese plan was to be able to move 3000 tons of supplies each day to supply their Southern Army. The reason the decision to build the railway was made was that they needed to be able to protect the supply route to their Southern Army. Whilst it would be possible to supply Burma by sea from Singapore, it was realised that the allies would try to cut this sea route. The Japanese decides that it was necessary to also have a land route (a railway) between Singapore and Burma. Part of this route already existed between Singapore and Bangkok and in Burma from Ye to Rangoon. It would only be necessary to join them up through Thailand. Japanese engineers who had previously surveyed the route considered it uneconomical to operate and too costly to build due to the difficult terrain. However in war rational thinking tends to take a back seat and the order was given to construct the railway irrespective of cost in both money and human life.

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The Railway The railway was to be 421 kms long and was to be built in two sections. The first being 152 kms starting in Burma at Thanbyuzayat (south of Moulmein) and the second section of 263 km in Thailand starting at Bampong (near Bangkok) with the two sections to meet at Nieke (Nikhe) near what is now known as “Three Pagodas Pass” on the Thai/Burma Border.

A section of the railway showing the difficult terrain The Japanese engineers estimated that it would take five years to build the railway, however the Japanese army forced the prisoners to complete it in sixteen months. In mid 1942 General Tojo issued an order that prisoners were to work for the Emperor, and this meant that they were to be employed on building the Thai- Burma Railway. This resulted in the POWs from Singapore being used to build the railway. Construction commenced on 16 September 1942 (2485 B.E) at Nang Pladook on the junction with the existing railway between Bangkok and Singapore and it was completed on the 17 October 1943 (2486 B.E) when the two sections met at Konkuita at the 263 km point). The Japanese celebrated the occasion on the 25 October with an impressive ceremony.

Examples of rolling stock used by the Japanese on the railway

The Work Force A number of groups were allocated to work on building the railway and airfields. One of the early groups to arrive was known as ‘Dunlop Force’ and consisted of 7000 British- Australian –Dutch and Americans who had been transferred from Java (Indonesia), the Australians numbered 700. They were to be joined later by “D Force” from Singapore.

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The first troops to leave Changi (Singapore) numbered 3000 and were designated as “A Force” they left in mid 1942 under the command of Brigadier Varley. They first landed at Victoria Point in Burma and were used to build airfields and roads and they eventually arrived at Thanbyuzayat in early 1943 to work on the railway.

The railway and an example of a camp on the river used by our soldiers The second group to go was designated as “D Force” and consisted of 5,000 men of whom 2,200 were Australians. This group was organised into three battalions and left Changi in March of 1943 and were transported overland by train to work from Tarso (Tha Soe) at the 130 km point. The next group sent was in April 1943 and was designated as “F Force” under the command of Lt Col Harris a British Officer. This group was made up 3400 British under the command of Lt Col Dillon and 3,600 Australians under the command of Lt Col Kappe of 8 Division Signals the force was to also include a medical party of 350 men. Apparently this was an attempt by the Japanese to keep the men alive and healthy not because they cared about them but because they need to complete the railway on time. The group departed Singapore by train for Bangkok from where they were marched some 300 km to Sonkurai, which is in the area of the “Three Pagodas Pass” on the Thai-Burma Border Those who survived the work on the railway returned to Changi (Singapore) in December 1943 and January 1944. Nearly 45% did not return, the death rate of the British was much higher than the Australians.

“F Force”

Australians British Total Departed April 1943 for Railway Returned December 1943 Casualties Died on Railway Missing on Railway Died at Changi on return Total casualties Casualties %

3,664 2,636 1,014 14 32 1,060 28.95

3,336 1,305 2,013 7 17 2,037 61.3

7,000 3,941 3,027 21 49 3,097 44.24

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The last group to go was “H Force” made up of 3270 British, Australians and some India Army Officers. They were to leave Changi on the 8 May 1943 and were transported by train to Banpong and then marched to Hin Tok (Hintoku) at the 55 Km point. They were to return to Singapore in 1944 to Sime Road Camp a former School from which they were then transferred to Changi Gaol. Hell Fire Pass It was in the area to which “H Force” was sent at Hintok at the 155 km and Kenju at the 166 km point that the infamous ‘Hell Fire Pass” was built in June 1943. Work on the pass took place twenty four hours a day and at this site 68 men were beaten to death. Civilians To achieve their target completion date the Japanese used locals and civilians from other conquered countries to assist the POWs. Some 200,000 civilians were recruited under the false pretence of being involved in ‘The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere”. These civilians were treated no better than the POWs and because of their lack of organisation ability and fitness they suffered great casualties The civilian labourers came from Burma, China, India, Indonesia, Malaya, Singapore and Thailand. Casualties Casualties on the railway were very high. Of the 61,700 allied POWs (the Japanese figures say it was 68,888) which was made up of 30,000 British, 13,000 Australians, 18,000 Dutch and 700 Americans, 12,399 died of which 2,646 were Australians, 6,318 were British and the remaining 3435 were from the Dutch and Americans. The other group which is often forgotten is the civilians (the native labourers) nearly all of whom lost their lives.

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Disease Whilst many of the casualties came about through overwork, malnutrition, beatings, injuries and other causes, the deaths were also contributed to by disease. The many diseases suffered by the POWs were a major contributing factor to the high deathrate. Some of the diseases suffered by the prisoners were: Beri-beri: A disease due to a deficiency of Vitamin B found in areas where there is malnutrition, particularly where polished rice is the staple diet. Blackwater Fever: A complication of Malaria in which there is widespread destruction of the red blood cells. Cholera: An acute disease caused by an organism which results in severe fluid loss from the intestine. Dysentery: Infection of the Colon characterised by diarrhoea with blood and is spread by poor hygiene. Malaria: A disease caused by a parasite and spread by mosquitoes – causes recurrent bouts of high fever. Japanese Military Code (Code of Bushido) Unfortunately the number of casualties on the railway was increased because of the perversion of the Japanese Military Code by the ‘Code of Bushido’ – which regards a warrior who surrenders as beneath contempt. This is why many Japanese soldiers committed suicide rather than be captured. A British General in Burma is reported to have said – “all soldiers say they will fight to the death, but only the Japanese do it”. The Japanese could not understand why the allies allowed themselves to become Prisoners of War and this together with the fact that Japan had never ratified the POW sections of the Geneva Convention, helped to account for the barbaric, sadistic and inhumane treatment of the POWs. The situation was not helped due to the hatred of the Japanese for the Korean Guards that they used and the fact that the Japanese Army and Navy did not get on together and they were both responsible for prisoners. Camps for Prisoners along the Railway route

Example of a hut used by the prisoners along the railway route - 5 -

To house the prisoners the Japanese built a series of camps along the route of the railway. Because they were not meant to be permanent they were very basic, constructed of bamboo and offered very little protection for the prisoners from the elements and were certainly not conducive for the effective treatment of injured and sick men.

Some prisoners working in a camp

Personalities It can be said that many of those served on the Thai- Burma (Death) Railway could be described as personalities. However two who come to mind are: Tom Uren MP who served for many years as the Member for the Federal Electorate of Reid (an area in the Western Suburbs of Sydney) and he also served as a Minister in various Labour Governments. He was very supportive of returned serviceman and women particularly those who were POWs. The other was: Sir (Ernest) Edward (Weary) Dunlop Edward Dunlop was born on 12 July 1927 in the Victorian town of Wangarratta the second child and son of Alice (nee Walpole) and James Dunlop. His first experience with the military was whilst serving as a Corporal in the Universal Training Scheme. He first studied as a Pharmacist and on graduating in 1928 he applied to study Medicine at Ormond College at the University of Melbourne. At the outbreak of war Weary Dunlop was in London at St Mary’s Hospital Paddington, he tried to enlist in both the British and Australian armies but his applications were rejected as he was considered to be in a protected industry. A typical Australian Weary did not give and continued to apply for enlistment. His persistence paid off and on the 13 November 1939 he was enlisted as Captain Dunlop of the 2nd AIF and was given a Victorian Regimental Number VX 259.

He was to see service in the Middle East and in the Greek Campaign having by now been promoted to Major. During his service in Greece on the 21 April 1941 he had to abandon his vehicle at the Brallos Pass to avoid capture by the Germans. He was then to move to the Malayan/Singapore campaign where without his expertise as a Pharmacist/ Doctor/Surgeon many allied POWs would have died. He left Changi for the Death Railway on the 20 January 1943.

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On his return to Australia he worked tirelessly for the Ex-POWs and their relatives. In 1969 he received a knighthood for all his service to medicine and ex-servicemen and women. 1977 saw him designated as ‘Australian of the Year’. In 1993 he was honoured by Thailand with the award of Knight Grand Cross (1st Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Royal Crown of Thailand. Weary Dunlop did not hold a grudge against the Japanese and in 1977 he met with the Consul General of Japan and Vice Admiral Saito of the Japanese Marine Defence Force. In 1991 he met with one of his captors Yi-Hah-Nae (Hiramura or ‘The Lizard’) as he was known to the prisoners.

Weary Dunlop The Aftermath To gain some understanding of what the men who worked on the railway went through it is only necessary to visit the War Cemetery at Kanchanaburi where the Australians, British and Dutch who died whilst building the railway are buried.

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To Day Whilst Kanchanaburi in the 1940’s was a POW camp to day it is a thriving town in which is situated the War Cemetery. It is possible to travel along part of the railway built by the allies from Tha Makham (the true bridge on the River Kwai) to Nan Tok (known to the POWs as Tarso which is at the 130 km point of the original line.

A train crossing the Bridge on the River Kwa to dayi

The end of the line at Nam Tok Many people have seen the movie “The Bridge on the River Kwai”, whilst fiction it is loosely based on fact. The original bridge built at Tha Makham between October 1943 and February 1943 was originally built in timber but it was quickly replaced by a steel bridge which was completed in May 1943. It is about this bridge that the movie was made. The bridge was subject to bombing by the allies.

The Bridge on the River Kwai - 8 -

When the British Officer in the movie told the Japanese that officers did not work, this was an actual statement made by a British Lt. Colonel in “H Force” and he was told by the Japanese “ no work no eat”.

Examples of the bombs dropped on the Bridge on the River Kwai It was also reported by Frank Smith who was in a work party who were sent to Sonkurai to build a bridge over the Kwai Noi that they marched into the camp whistling ‘Colonel Bogey” to impress both the other prisoners and the Japanese.

Map of the Thai-Burma Railway drawn by a former POW - 9 -

Kilometre Chart of the Thai – Burma (Death) Railway

Distances are from Nong Pladuk the starting point of the railway in Thailand.

Distance Km.

Location Distance Location

0 Nong Pladuk 2 5

13 26 39 41 47 48 49 51 55 57 69 78 88 98

108 110 114

121 125 130

139 147 155 166 168 172 181 190 198 208 218 229 237 244 250 258 262

262.87

Konma (transit camp) Ban Pong , Banponmai Rukke Taruannoi, To Reoa , Talua Tha Muang, Tamuang, Tamoan, Tung Tung Kao Din Pak Prage Tung Na Talea Kanchanbauri, Kanburi Tha Marham , Bridge on River Kwai Chungkai, Kao Poon, Kaopon Wang Lan, Wanran, Wun Lung Tapon, Won Yen, Wang Yen Bankao, Bangkao Takiren, Tarkilen, Ta Ki Len Arrowhill, Arruriru, Wang Sing Lum Sum Wang Po, Wanpo, Wampo site of a double viaduct Chong Cab Wanyai, Wang Yai Tha Soe, Tarso, Ta Soe now Nam Tok the end of the Railway to day. Tonchan Tampi, Tampines Hin Tok, Hintoku site of Hell Fire Pass Kanu, Kaanyu, site of several camps Sai Yoku, Kinsaiyok Kinsaiyok Main Rin Tin, Rinten, Lin Thin Kuei, Kuei Ye, Kui Yong Hin Dat, Hindato, site of hot springs Brankassi, Purankas, Prang Kasi Takunun, Dha Khanun, Takanun Namajon, Namajo, Namuchonyai Tomajo, Tamajo, Tamazyo Tamuron Part, Tamuronpato Krian Kri, Kuriankiurai, Kreung Krai Kurikonta Konkuita, Konkoita, Concreeta Meeting Point of the Thai and Burma sections on 17 October 1943

273 282 294

301 311 315 320 332 337 343 349 354 358 362 369 375 385 391 396 401 406

414.92

Teimonta Nikhe, Nikki, Nike Sonkurai, Songkla, Keungkluay site of Three Pagodas Pass. Thailand/Burma border Changaraya Anaganan, Aunggganaung “100 Kilo camp” Anganan Kyando. Kyondaw Aparon, Apalon Aparain Mezari, Mezali, Meslai Kami-Mesari, Upper Mezali Ronsi, Ronshi Tansun, Taungsun Tanbaya, Tambaya site of a hospital. Anakuin, Anaqueen, Anankwin Bekitan, Beke Taung Repo, Retpu Konnokoi Rabao, Alepauk Tettoku Wegare, Wegale, Sin-Tanbyuzaya (New Thanbyusayat) Thannbyuzayat Burma Base Camp

The Prisoners often gave English type names to places, the Japanese tended to adapt the Thai names to their own pronunciation to the names. Therefore several variations to place names are shown in the table.

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Bibliography Bowden Tim. Changi Photographer – George Aspinall’s Record of Captivity. ABC Books 2002 Ebury Sue. Weary – The life of Sir Edward Dunlop. Penguin Books 1994 Macdougall G.K. Australian’s at War – Pictorial History – Five Mile Press P/L 2002 Wall Don. Singapore and Beyond - 2/20 Battalion Association 1985. The author Matt Walsh JP. MLO. ALGA (MCAE), Dip Bus & Corp Law (CPS) was called up for National Service in 1957 and received a deferment, by late 1958 he had become tied of waiting and enlisted in his local Citizen Military Forces (CMF) Unit, 19 Coy (Tipper) Royal Australian Army Service Corps (RAASC) at Ashfield. He was later to find out that this was the same unit that his grandfather had served in during World War I. In 1959 he was finally called up for National Service serving with the 13th National Service Training Battalion at Ingleburn, on completion of his full time training he was posted back to 19 Coy RAASC, until the cessation of National Service in 1960. In 1961 he re-enlisted in the CMF with 5 Field Squadron Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) and in 1963 transferred to 1 Division Provost Company (Military Police), and then to 2 Division Provost Company, until his discharge in 1969 with the rank of Sergeant. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Defence Reserves Association (NSW), the Military Police Association of Australia and the Joint Committee for the Commemoration of the Battle for Crete and the Greek Campaign, the Reserve Forces Day Council, the Ashfield RSL Sub Branch and the NSW National Servicemen’s Association and is a Director of The Army Museum of New South Wales Foundation. He has been awarded the ‘Australian Defence Medal’ and the ‘Anniversary of National Service Medal in January 2006 he was awarded the ‘Australia Day Achievement Medallion’ by the National Australia Day Council in 2007 he was appointed a ”Member of the Order of Liverpool” by the Council of the City of Liverpool. In 2002 he wrote the ‘The History of Ingleburn Military Camp’.

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