BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER KWAI

 

 

Briefly, it was the Japanese Imperial Army who needed  a more secured supply route for her army ability to defend invaded Myanmar and her intention to invade India. The sea route through the Malacca Straits was exposed to high risk from Allied attacks and thus made it difficult to defend.

60,000 Allied POW together with about 250,000 Asian labourers were brought in to construct this 415 km railway to connect Myanmar through Thailand.

 

(above is the infamous Hellfire Pass (Konyu Cutting). The pass was carved out by POW's hands with hammer and chisels)

 

So much has been documented on the Death Railway in Thailand. The pain of war is unimaginable. Now as I stood on the actual site, it brings in the reality of the tremendous hardship endured by these POWs.  The first feeling is the heat and the mosquito’s buzzing around you. The terrain on the hill sides are rugged and with forest trees and tall bamboo. It is also and littered with rock boulders.

 

(above, the uneven terrain that the railway track was built. Either carved out of hill side or timber platform built to support the railway track)

All the construction was built by hands with the most basic equipment. These POW works 18 hours a day and fed on only rice and salted vegetable. They are subjected to poor hygiene and fell to tropical diseases. They also needed to endure the harsh punishment imposed by the Japanese soldiers and not to forget the psychological effect of captivity and unknown fate. The lack of medical attention did take a serious toll on the POWs. About 1 in 3 perished. 

 ( Above. The memorial built to honour POWs who died building this track)

Some of this track has now been disused. However, some portion are still in used today with rebuilt bridges and railway track.

(The present day Bridge over The River Kwai. The original built by POW has been destroyed by Allied warplanes.)