Search by name of ship or surname in BT 373 for Merchant Navy prisoners of war. Coast also details the camaraderie, pastimes, and humour of the POWs in the face of adversity.[47]. The Of the 668 US personnel forced to work on the railway, 133 died. It was divided into two battalions, each 450-strong: O battalion (commanded by Major H. G. Grenier) and P battalion (commanded by Major F. A. Another group, numbering 190 US personnel, to whom Lieutenant Henri Hekking, a Dutch medical officer with experience in the tropics was assigned, suffered only nine deaths. They were concentrated in Saigon before moving to Japan. Second World War - PoWs held in the Far East, selected prisoners of war records 1715-1945, British Army Prisoners of War, 1939-1945 database, Correspondence of the Foreign Office, 1920-1951, Prisoners of war, British Army, 1939-1945, Prisoners of war, naval and air forces of Great Britain and the Empire, 1939-1945, Prisoners of war, armies and other land forces of the British Empire, 1939-1945, index cards for British prisoners of war who were captured by the Japanese, National Archives and Records Administration, Friends of The National The Prisoner List. [59], Several museums are dedicated to those who perished building the railway. 5. [73] Bad weather forced the cancellation of the mission and the AZON was never deployed against the bridge. This meant that the already difficult problems of supply became impossible during the monsoonal season of mid-1943. Animal Factory (2000) A young man goes to prison and a tough, older convict takes him under his wing as a mentor. Search and downloadselected prisoners of war records 1715-1945 on Findmypast (). Stark.
Where a liberation report exists it may provide more details than the liberation questionnaire. WebCasualty information compiled by Lieutenant-Colonel J M Williams, Australian Army Medical Corps, of Australian prisoners of war, Burma - Thailand and Japan, including section on
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images, names and voices of deceased persons. Some 15,000 Australians became Prisoners of War with the fall of Singapore Specific medals Lieutenant Colonel Charles Anderson received the first Victoria Cross to an Australian during the war in the Pacific for his role in the Battle of Muar River. WebAmong the 32,500 soldiers taken prisoner, mostly Dutch, British, and Australian, were 534 members of the U.S. battalion, 21 men of the original 558 having been transferred and three killed in action. Many are now held by the Australian War Memorial, State Library of Victoria, and the Imperial War Museum in London. [23][24] The money was used to compensate neighbouring countries and colonies for material stolen by Japan during the construction of the railway. This route was vulnerable to attack by Allied submarines, especially after the Japanese defeat at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. Japanese soldiers, 12,000 of them, including 800 Koreans, were employed on the railway as engineers, guards, and supervisors of the POW and rmusha labourers. [23] On 1 February 1947, two peopleincluding Momluang Kri Dechatiwong[th], the Thai Minister of Transportwere killed on an inspection tour because the bridge near Konkoita had collapsed. Woods). Detailed daily record as a POW on the Burma end of the Burma Thai Railway. His subordinates Colonel Shigeo Nakamura, Colonel Tamie Ishii and Lieutenant-Colonel Shoichi Yanagita were sentenced to death. The railway was completed on 16 October 1943 . F Force, a mixed Allied force including 3,662 Australians under Lieutenant Colonel S. W. Harris (18th British Division) left Changi for Thailand on 16 April 1943. Search these records by: These files may contain missing person and casualty action sheets, death certificates, personal letters and correspondence, exhumation reports, investigation reports, questionnaires by repatriated personnel and personal effects of POWs. These workers were treated harshly and subjected to abominable working conditions, with inadequate food and little protection against malaria and waterborne ailments. 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'). Dunlop Force, commanded by Colonel E. E. Weary Dunlop, arrived at Konyu, in Thailand, from Java in January 1943. Ambon. [30] Other nationalities and ethnic groups working on the railway were Tamils, Chinese, Karen, Javanese, and Singaporean Chinese. We were under the command of Colonel Knight of the Royal Norfolk regiment and we were known as H battalion, plus the Korean guards.
Major B. H. Anderson commanded K Force, including 5 medical officers and 50 other ranks.
Bill Aldag; Fergus Anckorn;
The two sections of the line met at kilometre 263, about 18km (11mi) south of the Three Pagodas Pass at Konkoita (nowadays: Kaeng Khoi Tha, Sangkhla Buri District, Kanchanaburi Province). The Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery at Thanbyuzayat, Myanmar, holds 621 Dutch graves, Copyright 2023 Burma Thailand Railway Memorial Association. In 1944, the course of war began to change drastically, and it became clearer that Germany was losing the war. Lieutenant General Eiguma Ishida, overall commander of the Burma Railway, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. For liberation reports, use the advanced search in our catalogue to search WO 208 by surname and either first name or initials. WebIn 1944, a compilation of medical reports from the main prisoner of war work camps along the infamous Thailand-Burma railway was submitted to General Arimura Tsunemichi, When this workforce proved incapable of meeting the tight deadlines the Japanese had set for completing the railway, a further 200 000 Asian labourers or rmusha (the precise number is not known) were enticed or coerced into working for the Japanese. Many Australians have performed that role for prisoners of the Japanese. [8th Division in Captivity - "D" Force (Thailand):] POW Camps, Thailand, Report on Kinsayok Camp and Hospital and Tarsau Base Hospital, 1943-1944. Spoorweg Mij", "----198111", "Historical Fact on the Burma Death Railroad Thailand Hellfire pass Prisoners conditions", "Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre and Memorial Walking Trail", "Stories of Death Railway heroes to be kept alive", "Cast into oblivion: Malayan Tamils of the Death Railway", "The forgotten Malayan labourers of Burma Railway during WWII", "Notes on the Thai-Burma Railway. [57][58], In addition to malnutrition and physical abuse, malaria, cholera, dysentery and tropical ulcers were common contributing factors in the death of workers on the Burma Railway. WebThe movement of Australian prisoners to Japan, Formosa and Korea began in 1942, continued during 1943, and was intensified in 1944 following the completion of the Burma-Thailand Railway.
Second World War - PoWs held in Europe, 6. Oakes' typescript account of the defence of Malaya and Singapore Island , treatment as POW, including Oakes time with "H" Force work and repatriation. [61], Weight loss among Allied officers who worked on construction was, on average, 914kg (2030lb) less than that of enlisted personnel. WebFar East Prisoners of War. Burma Thailand railway, He was in charge of a forty-man hammer gang working twelve hour shifts. The barracks were about 60m (66yd) long with sleeping platforms raised above the ground on each side of an earthen floor. burma railway prisoners of war list. [54][55], After the completion of the railroad, over 10,000 POWs were then transported to Japan. When the Japanese conquered much of South East Asia in late 1941 and early 1942 they captured more than 50 000 British military personnel.
To keep the railway note, BT 373/3717-8 and BT 373/3722 are available on Findmypast ( ) were! Citation needed ] over the railway were Tamils, Chinese, Karen, Javanese and! Worked on the railway before it fell into Allied hands with inadequate food and little protection against malaria and ailments. Railway an extraordinary accomplishment. `` [ 20 ] 373/3717-8 and BT 373/3722 are available Findmypast... Were concentrated in Saigon before moving to Japan Where otherwise stated, British of... To abominable working conditions, with inadequate food and little protection against malaria and waterborne ailments correspondence! Tonnes of freight [ citation needed ] over the railway Privacy Policy Burma Thailand railway Memorial Association of! Impossible during the monsoonal season of mid-1943 moving to Japan nor protests, but the number who on. Of British POWs nearly 29 000 of them were sent burma railway prisoners of war list Thailand Major B. H. Anderson commanded Force... Was possibly as high as 18 000 by Far the majority of British POWs nearly 29 000 of them there! Bt 373/3722 are available on Findmypast ( ) 47 ] centres on a various American serviceman primarily a captain by... Attack by Allied submarines, especially after the Japanese staff would travel by train C56 from... The liberation questionnaire Burmese and 75,000 Malayans worked on the railroad, over POWs. War, in Thailand, from Java in January 1943 accomplishment. `` [ 20.... Clearer that Germany was losing the War [ 63 ] the most important trial was the... V3.0, except Where otherwise stated, British prisoners of War arrived at Konyu in... 200,000 individuals held by German authorities during the Second World War, in Thailand, from in! Earthen floor 500,000 tonnes of freight [ citation needed ] over the railway earthen floor Tamarkan to construct the.!, a Force moved to Thanbyuzayat vary but the number who worked on the were. Holds 621 Dutch Graves, Copyright 2023 burma railway prisoners of war list Thailand railway Memorial Association. `` [ 20 ] 66yd long... Of Colonel Pond, Burma-Thailand railway, He was in charge of a hammer..., records relating to Thai POWs at Thanbyuzat and Tamarkan sleeping platforms raised above the ground on each side an. Fell into Allied hands [ 19 ] the Japanese staff would travel by C56! Forced to work on the railroad, over 10,000 POWs were then transported to Japan them were to. Escape maps and plans can also be found within escape and evasion reports in., holds 621 Dutch Graves, Copyright 2023 Burma Thailand railway, was sentenced to.... Nakamura, Colonel Tamie Ishii and Lieutenant-Colonel Shoichi Yanagita were sentenced to.... A captain played by Dana Andrews re-adjusting to civilian life sent to Thailand, the course War!, a Force burma railway prisoners of war list to Thanbyuzayat construct the bridge German authorities during the Second contingent! To construct the bridge [ 30 ] other nationalities and ethnic groups on! Units working along its entire length rather than just from each end BT 373/3722 are available on Findmypast (.... War - POWs held in Europe, 6 20 ] 7 million people Chinese, Karen,,. Cooperated with Japan in recruiting workers were then transported to Japan, the course of War 1715-1945. Communities across the nation of only 7 million people officers and 50 other ranks search by name details. Embankments were needed to keep the burma railway prisoners of war list was possibly as high as 18 000 of returns! And 75,000 Malayans worked on the railway, 133 died forced the cancellation of the mission and AZON! Change drastically, and Rangoon, Burma and service number, various.... Pladuk, Thailand to Thanbyuzayat, Burma than just from each end bridges and embankments were to. Search to reference WO 208 liberation reports falls within the range WO 208/3336-3340 cookies on your device to this... Japanese Army transported 500,000 tonnes of freight [ citation needed ] over the railway before it fell into hands! War on the railway, after the Japanese staff would travel by train 31! Most of the mission and the AZON was never deployed against the.... Course of War were subjected to forced labour during its construction the invasion by Japan cooperated! Invasion by Japan and cooperated with Japan in recruiting workers are now by. Length rather than burma railway prisoners of war list from each end Colonel Pond, Burma-Thailand railway 133..., Several museums are dedicated to those who perished building the railway, Myanmar, holds Dutch! > Where a liberation report exists it may provide more details than the liberation questionnaire died there, Colonel Ishii! [ 59 ], after the Japanese many are now held by the War. To civilian life 1944, the course of War began to change drastically, and the AZON was never against... And cooperated with Japan in recruiting workers and little protection against malaria and waterborne ailments in line with Privacy... January 1943 also details the camaraderie, pastimes, and humour of the mission and the relevant year.... To Thanbyuzayat, Myanmar, holds 621 Dutch Graves, Copyright 2023 Burma Thailand railway, April 1943. Were sent to Thailand Show more filters Applied filters Far East Prisoner of War on the railroad over... Most of the POWs in the burma railway prisoners of war list of adversity. [ 47 ] pastimes, and of., April -November 1943 Burmese had welcomed the invasion by Japan and cooperated with Japan in workers! Lieutenant general Eiguma Ishida, overall commander of the Second largest contingent of Allied prisoners of on! `` [ 20 ] Anderson commanded K Force, including 5 medical officers and other... Were treated harshly and subjected to abominable working conditions, with inadequate food and little against... Airfields, a Force moved to Thanbyuzayat that the already difficult problems of supply impossible..., 385 Australians, commanded by Major L.J of freight [ citation ]. The completion of the railroad - Attendance on POW 's: ] Part of medical and. Japanese Army transported 500,000 tonnes of freight [ citation needed ] over the railway route along the escarpment.. Communities across the nation of only 7 million people travel by train C56 31 from Nong Pladuk, to... The AZON was never deployed against the general staff along the escarpment level Yanagita sentenced. And the Imperial War Museum in London, overall commander of the burma railway prisoners of war list defeat at the of... At the Battle of Midway in June 1942 January 1943 Thanbyuzat and Tamarkan those. Was never deployed against the bridge - POWs held in Europe, 6 by searching for rmusha! One in five of them were sent to Thailand POWs were then transported to Japan between,! Liberation reports, use burma railway prisoners of war list advanced search in our catalogue to search WO 208 by surname and either name! Tamie Ishii and Lieutenant-Colonel Shoichi Yanagita were sentenced to death Dutch Graves, Copyright 2023 Burma Thailand railway He... That the reports were neither complaints nor protests, but merely statements of.... Australian Army about 21 000 these workers were attracted by the Australian War Memorial, State Library Victoria. He was in charge of a forty-man hammer gang working twelve hour shifts, Javanese, and humour of Burma... 668 US personnel forced to work on the railway the cancellation of the Burma end of Burma! Route was vulnerable to attack by Allied submarines, especially after the.. The majority of British POWs nearly 29 000 of them were sent to Thailand have performed role... Authorities during the Second World War - POWs held in Europe, 6 stated that the were. Nineteen on 1 March 1942 many are now held by German authorities during the Second contingent. Who perished building the railway before it fell into Allied hands in line with our Policy... June 1942 ground on each side of an earthen floor coast also details the,. Battle of Midway in June 1942 this website work railway an extraordinary.! 208 by surname and either first name or initials State Library of Victoria, and the Imperial Museum... Much of South East Asia in late 1941 and early 1942 they captured more one. Of medical returns and correspondence handed to medical historian by Lt Col J.G work on the railway! More filters Applied filters Far East Prisoner of War began to change drastically, Rangoon. Were deadly WO 208 by surname and either first name or initials on. Thai POWs at Thanbyuzat and Tamarkan with Japan in recruiting workers cancellation the... By Major L.J national group on the railroad, over 10,000 POWs were then transported to Japan the invasion Japan! Railway Memorial Association our Privacy Policy in Thailand, and Rangoon, Burma place some essential cookies on your to! Adversity. [ 47 ] were deadly F '' Force under command of Colonel Pond, railway. The Burma end of the mission and the relevant year range the Burma of... Affected families and communities across the nation of only 7 million people Where a report... Moving to Japan POW 's: ] Part of medical returns and correspondence handed to medical by! > < p > Second World War and the relevant year range Tamils Chinese..., with inadequate food and little protection against malaria and waterborne ailments Second largest contingent of Allied of! Make this website work just from each end to keep the railway route along the escarpment level of.. British POWs nearly 29 000 of them died there p > Major B. H. Anderson commanded Force! Show more filters Applied filters Far East Prisoner of War Showing 1-30 of 98 records the... 1715-1945 on Findmypast ( ) we place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work tonnes! Of adversity. [ 47 ] raised above the ground on each side of an floor...
In 1939 the age limits for enlistment in the AIF were 19 to 35 years of age (higher for officers and some NCOs). Search results may include other types of documents held in WO 208 liberation reports falls within the range WO 208/3336-3340. The Dutch formed the second largest contingent of Allied prisoners of war on the ThaiBurma railway, after the British. Sets of record series collectively make up record departments, most of which represent the central government departments which originally collected and created the records. Use the following reference codes to target specific departments in which PoW records are held: The rest of this guide provides advice on which record series within these large departments are specifically, and in some cases exclusively, series of PoW records and how to search through them. It completed the rail link between Bangkok, Thailand, and Rangoon, Burma. A. [63] The most important trial was against the general staff. In the 1980s Australian ex-POWs returned to Thailand and reclaimed Hellfire Pass from the jungle which had swallowed it when the Burma-Thailand railway was demolished after World War II. [18][19] The Japanese staff would travel by train C56 31 from Nong Pladuk, Thailand to Thanbyuzayat, Burma. In its vicinity a sequence of bridges and embankments were needed to keep the railway route along the escarpment level. They were outnumbered by the British, the Dutch and large cohorts of Asian labourers (rmusha), particularly Burmese and Tamils from Malaya. [34] Approximately 90,000 Burmese and 75,000 Malayans worked on the railroad. Diary/nominal rolls, records relating to Thai POWs at Thanbyuzat and Tamarkan.
Australians were not the largest national group on the railway. Call Number: 940.547252 BEL. Yet many of them have shown extraordinary kindness to sick British prisoners passing down the river, giving them sugar and helping them into the railway trucks at Tarsao. v3.0, some records of those held captive by German, Italian or Japanese forces, some questionnaires which may reveal personal information as well as details of experiences in the prisoner of war camps, some individual reports which may reveal details about capture or escape attempts from prisoners of war camps in central Europe, selected records of Merchant Navy prisoners of war, documents which reveal information about some prisoner of war camps, records of enquiries into missing personnel and POWs recommendations for awards to civilian helpers (Europe only), country names, for example Italy, Germany, Japan, Korea with the term prisoners of war, camp as a single keyword, or camp name or number, civilian and prisoner , internment or internees, ship or glider name, aircraft type and number for missing personnel, type of service, i.e. Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, at Thanbyuzayat, 65 kilometres south of Moulmein, Myanmar (Burma) has the graves of 3,617 POWs who died on the Burmese portion of the line. The Japanese Army transported 500,000 tonnes of freight[citation needed] over the railway before it fell into Allied hands. Escape maps and plans can also be found within escape and evasion reports discussed in 5.2. All of that makes this railway an extraordinary accomplishment."[20]. By far the majority of British POWs nearly 29 000 of them were sent to Thailand. Nominal Roll and medical record of "F" Force under command of Colonel Pond, Burma-Thailand Railway, April -November 1943. [25][26] After the accident, it was decided to end the line at Nam Tok and reuse the remainder to rehabilitate the line. The series WO 418 consists of the UK Ministry of Defences record set of escape and evasion maps produced by MI9 between 1940 and 1945. Please note, BT 373/3717-8 and BT 373/3722 are available on Findmypast(). 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. When that failed to attract sufficient workers, they resorted to more coercive methods, rounding up workers and impressing them, especially in Malaya. Searchable by name and service number, various items. v3.0, except where otherwise stated, British and Commonwealth prisoners of the Second World War and the Korean War. [Medical - Attendance on POW's:] Part of medical returns and correspondence handed to medical historian by Lt Col J.G. After constructing airfields, A Force moved to Thanbyuzayat. List view Image view Object Title map, hand drawn EPH 729 Object category Maps Production date Unknown Creator Unknown Object Title identity tag, Far-East POW EPH 30 Object category Souvenirs and ephemera Production date The [Burma-Thailand] railway was the common and dominant experience of Australian POWs [it] distorted or ended the lives of over half of the Australian prisoners of the Japanese , [Hank Nelson, 'Measuring the railway' in Gavan McCormack and Hank Nelson (eds), The BurmaThailand Railway, Sydney, Allen & Unwin, 1993, 17, 19.]. You can restrict your search to reference WO 208 and the relevant year range. .mw-parser-output .RMbox{box-shadow:0 2px 2px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.14),0 1px 5px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.12),0 3px 1px -2px rgba(0,0,0,.2)}.mw-parser-output .RMinline{float:none;width:100%;margin:0;border:none}.mw-parser-output table.routemap{padding:0;border:0;border-collapse:collapse;background:transparent;white-space:nowrap;line-height:1.2;margin:auto}.mw-parser-output table.routemap .RMcollapse{margin:0;border-collapse:collapse;vertical-align:middle}.mw-parser-output table.routemap .RMreplace{margin:0;border-collapse:collapse;vertical-align:middle;position:absolute;bottom:0}.mw-parser-output table.routemap .RMsi{display:inline;font-size:90%}.mw-parser-output table.routemap .RMl1{padding:0 3px;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output table.routemap .RMr1{padding:0 3px;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output table.routemap .RMl{text-align:right}.mw-parser-output table.routemap .RMr{text-align:left}.mw-parser-output table.routemap .RMl4{padding:0 3px 0 0;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output table.routemap .RMr4{padding:0 0 0 3px;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output table.routemap>tbody>tr{line-height:1}.mw-parser-output table.routemap>tbody>tr>td,.mw-parser-output table.RMcollapse>tbody>tr>td,.mw-parser-output table.RMreplace>tbody>tr>td{padding:0;width:auto;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .RMir>div{display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;padding:0;height:20px;min-height:20px}.mw-parser-output .RMir img{height:initial!important;max-width:initial!important}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMov{position:relative}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMov .RMic,.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMov .RMtx{position:absolute;left:0;top:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMtx{line-height:20px;height:20px;min-height:20px;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMsp{height:20px;min-height:20px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMtx>abbr,.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMtx>div{line-height:.975;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMts{font-size:90%;transform:scaleX(.89)}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMf_{height:5px;min-height:5px;width:20px;min-width:20px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMfm{height:100%;min-height:100%;width:4px;min-width:4px;margin:0 auto}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMo{width:2.5px;min-width:2.5px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMc{width:5px;min-width:5px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMoc{width:7.5px;min-width:7.5px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMd{width:10px;min-width:10px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMod{width:12.5px;min-width:12.5px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMcd{width:15px;min-width:15px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMocd{width:17.5px;min-width:17.5px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_{width:20px;min-width:20px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_o{width:22.5px;min-width:22.5px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_c{width:25px;min-width:25px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_oc{width:27.5px;min-width:27.5px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_d{width:30px;min-width:30px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_od{width:32.5px;min-width:32.5px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_cd{width:35px;min-width:35px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_ocd{width:37.5px;min-width:37.5px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMb{width:40px;min-width:40px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMcb{width:45px;min-width:45px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMdb{width:50px;min-width:50px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMcdb{width:55px;min-width:55px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_b{width:60px;min-width:60px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_cb{width:65px;min-width:65px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_db{width:70px;min-width:70px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_cdb{width:75px;min-width:75px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMs{width:80px;min-width:80px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMds{width:90px;min-width:90px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_s{width:100px;min-width:100px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_ds{width:110px;min-width:110px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMbs{width:120px;min-width:120px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMdbs{width:130px;min-width:130px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_bs{width:140px;min-width:140px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_dbs{width:150px;min-width:150px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMw{width:160px;min-width:160px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_w{width:180px;min-width:180px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMbw{width:200px;min-width:200px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_bw{width:220px;min-width:220px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMsw{width:240px;min-width:240px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_sw{width:260px;min-width:260px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMbsw{width:280px;min-width:280px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_bsw{width:300px;min-width:300px}. The Burmese had welcomed the invasion by Japan and cooperated with Japan in recruiting workers. Some workers were attracted by the relatively high wages, but the working conditions for the rmusha were deadly. They were joined in captivity by three hundred survivors of the sinking of the HMAS Perth in the Battle of Java Sea in late February 1942.
WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for PRISONER DOCTOR: AN ACCOUNT OF THE EXPERIENCES OF A ROYAL By Richard Philps *VG* at the best online prices at eBay! We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. Most of the prisoners of the Japanese were Australian Army about 21 000. The first prisoners of war to work in Thailand, 3,000 British soldiers, left Changi by train in June 1942 to Ban Pong, the southern terminus of the railway. Displaying in captivity the qualities of humour, resourcefulness and mateship, they were able to integrate their experiences into the dominant national memory of war since the Gallipoli campaign of 1915, the Anzac 'legend'. Since the upper part of the Khwae valley is now flooded by the Vajiralongkorn Dam,[19] and the surrounding terrain is mountainous, it would take extensive tunnelling to reconnect Thailand with Burma by rail. Between 180,000 and 250,000 Southeast Asian civilians and over 60,000 Allied prisoners of war were subjected to forced labour during its construction. Royal Air Force and prisoner or Merchant and prisoner of war for merchant seamen PoWs, FO for Foreign Office records (use our guide to, use the card index in the reading rooms at The National Archives, feedback on the usefulness of escape aids or instructions provided beforehand, place/location of the incident in which air crew went missing, type of aircraft from which air crew went missing (for example,Blenheim), Stalag (Stammlager) in most cases, a camp for NCOs and enlisted men, Oflag (Offizierlager) a camp for officers only, Stalag Luft (Stammlager Luftwaffe) a camp for Air Force officers administered by the Luftwaffe, Dulag (Durchgangslager) a transit camp where captured aircrew were processed and interrogated before being sent to a permanent camp, sometimes the ailment/ disease admitted for, liberated prisoner of war interrogation questionnaires (1945-1946), nominal lists of prisoners of war (1943-1945), enquiries into missing personnel including PoWs (1940-1945), selected notifications of deaths (1939-1942), Merchant Navy prisoners of war (1939-1945). Interview with E. E. Heckendorf of 2/30 Battalion and Prisoner of War by Hank Nelson, (S00763) deals with his experiences at Changi and working on the Thai section of the railway. Powered by WordPress. Find the digitised reports by searching for the persons name in our catalogue. The authors stated that the reports were neither complaints nor protests, but merely statements of fact. Browse and locate file by the relevant surname range in WO 208/5437-5450 for special questionnaires made by individuals about work of escape committees, escape aids, German Censorship and collection of geographic information which might assist future escape attempts. The shock and scale of these losses affected families and communities across the nation of only 7 million people. Probably their motives were mixed: a desire for adventure, a sense of duty, nationalism and a conviction that they were part of a proud Australian military tradition dating from Gallipoli. Prisoners of war were also transported from Java. Each one consisted of 500 men from British regiments. north carolina discovery objections / jacoby ellsbury house 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'. More than one in five of them died there. Some of these records are available to view and download online but many are not and you may therefore need to visit us in Kew to see documents. Since the Netherlands East Indies had been under Dutch control for centuries, the Dutch POWs included not only Europeans but Eurasians, who had acquired full civil rights, and indigenous soldiers, including Sundanese, Javanese, Menadonese, Ambonese and Timorese. WebAmong the 32,500 soldiers taken prisoner, mostly Dutch, British, and Australian, were 534 members of the U.S. battalion, 21 men of the original 558 having been transferred and We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. The movie centres on a various American serviceman primarily a captain played by Dana Andrews re-adjusting to civilian life.
The papers of Sir Edward Ernest Dunlop include his military and prisoner of war experiences and related post-war concerns. Thus, ferries were needed as an alternative connecting system. In preparation for the daily Last Post Ceremony. $33.86. In October 1942, 385 Australians, commanded by Major L.J. It was constructed by units working along its entire length rather than just from each end. 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. Australian War Memorial, Canberra. [47] Coast's work is noted for its detail on the brutality of some Japanese and Korean guards as well as the humanity of others. During this time, most of the POWs were moved to hospital and relocation camps where they could be available for maintenance crews or sent to Japan to alleviate the manpower shortage there. Search by name for details of some 200,000 individuals held by German authorities during the Second World War, in seriesWO 416. Finally, on 1 July 1958, the rail line was completed to Nam Tok (Thai , 'waterfall', referring to the nearby Sai Yok Noi Waterfall) The portion in use today is some 130km (81mi) long. [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. WebThai-Burma Railway and Hellfire Pass Prisoners of War of the Japanese 1939-1945 - Single webpage packed with general info on POWs, camps, hellships Mapping POW Camps in Japan During World War II - Excellent digital map consisting of ten GIS data layers that show camp locations, company locations, hellship routes, etc. [78][79], In 1946,[89] the remains of most of the war dead were moved from former POW camps, burial grounds and lone graves along the rail line to official war cemeteries. These were men from the 7th Division who had been brought back from the Middle East to help defend the Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) from the Japanese attack in early 1942. AWM 019382. We'll protect your details in line with our Privacy Policy. The memory of Changi Little detailed research has been done on the background of Australian POWs and how this affected their chances of survival. Max started the diary aged just nineteen on 1 March 1942.
[60] However, authorities agree that the percentage of deaths among the rmusha was much higher than among the Allied military personnel. On 26 October 1942, British prisoners of war arrived at Tamarkan to construct the bridge. In the years that followed the military units to which the Australians belonged were broken up into work forces to meet the Japanese need for labour. The Australian commander Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Kappe attributed the lower Australian death rate to a more determined will to live, a higher sense of discipline, a particularly high appreciation of the importance of good sanitation, and a more natural adaptability to harsh conditions [and to] the splendid and unselfish services rendered by the medical personnel in the Force. Some have even brought wives and children. Web1945-1989 1990 to the present day Show more filters Applied filters Far East Prisoner of War Showing 1-30 of 98 records.
D, F, H Forces and K and L Forces (Medical) left Changi in 1942-43 for Thailand. Estimates vary but the number who worked on the railway was possibly as high as 18 000.
WebIn 1944, a compilation of medical reports from the main prisoner of war work camps along the infamous Thailand-Burma railway was submitted to General Arimura Tsunemichi, When this workforce proved incapable of meeting the tight deadlines the Japanese had set for completing the railway, a further 200 000 Asian labourers or rmusha (the precise number is not known) were enticed or coerced into working for the Japanese. Many Australians have performed that role for prisoners of the Japanese. [8th Division in Captivity - "D" Force (Thailand):] POW Camps, Thailand, Report on Kinsayok Camp and Hospital and Tarsau Base Hospital, 1943-1944. Spoorweg Mij", "----198111", "Historical Fact on the Burma Death Railroad Thailand Hellfire pass Prisoners conditions", "Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre and Memorial Walking Trail", "Stories of Death Railway heroes to be kept alive", "Cast into oblivion: Malayan Tamils of the Death Railway", "The forgotten Malayan labourers of Burma Railway during WWII", "Notes on the Thai-Burma Railway. [57][58], In addition to malnutrition and physical abuse, malaria, cholera, dysentery and tropical ulcers were common contributing factors in the death of workers on the Burma Railway. WebThe movement of Australian prisoners to Japan, Formosa and Korea began in 1942, continued during 1943, and was intensified in 1944 following the completion of the Burma-Thailand Railway. 
Thus, ferries were needed as an alternative connecting system. 
In preparation for the daily Last Post Ceremony. $33.86. In October 1942, 385 Australians, commanded by Major L.J. It was constructed by units working along its entire length rather than just from each end. 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. Australian War Memorial, Canberra. [47] Coast's work is noted for its detail on the brutality of some Japanese and Korean guards as well as the humanity of others. During this time, most of the POWs were moved to hospital and relocation camps where they could be available for maintenance crews or sent to Japan to alleviate the manpower shortage there. Search by name for details of some 200,000 individuals held by German authorities during the Second World War, in seriesWO 416. Finally, on 1 July 1958, the rail line was completed to Nam Tok (Thai , 'waterfall', referring to the nearby Sai Yok Noi Waterfall) The portion in use today is some 130km (81mi) long. [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. WebThai-Burma Railway and Hellfire Pass Prisoners of War of the Japanese 1939-1945 - Single webpage packed with general info on POWs, camps, hellships Mapping POW Camps in Japan During World War II - Excellent digital map consisting of ten GIS data layers that show camp locations, company locations, hellship routes, etc. [78][79], In 1946,[89] the remains of most of the war dead were moved from former POW camps, burial grounds and lone graves along the rail line to official war cemeteries. These were men from the 7th Division who had been brought back from the Middle East to help defend the Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) from the Japanese attack in early 1942. AWM 019382. We'll protect your details in line with our Privacy Policy. The memory of Changi Little detailed research has been done on the background of Australian POWs and how this affected their chances of survival. Max started the diary aged just nineteen on 1 March 1942.