A few riders from Hua Hin and further south made the annual ride to Kanchanaburi this month to take part in the 100 year ANZAC service. Dignitaries and VIPs from Australia, New Zealand, Britain and Thailand were in attendance along with the last surviving POW who worked on the Burma railway (pic 0872). It was a very moving service.
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Lest We Forget
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Great photo's Buksida, made the trip myself (annual pilgrimage) and 3,000+ people attended the Dawn Service at "Hell Fire Pass" terrific to see to many young and old people paying there respects
Great photos, it's good to see so many people there in remembrance. We believe my grandfather is in that cemetery in an unknown grave, certainly the people either side of him before the bodies were moved, are there next to each other.
Last edited by Rob c on Thu Apr 30, 2015 1:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I see one empty wheel chair in one of the photos and it reminded me that in years past we've had photos of actual POW's and/or soldiers who were there back in the day. They may have passed by now perhaps. Did anyone see any actual WWII veterans? Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
I believe there are more still alive, Alistair Urquhart of the Gordon Highlanders being one, Sir Harold Atcherley being another, unless they have just passed away?
If anyone's interested there is a very good documentary on BBC iplayer called "Building Burma's death railway: moving half the mountain". Only problem is it's only available to watch for another two days. It has lots of old footage, plus interviews of British POW's and Japanese soldiers who ended up as POW's themselves.
Yeap and amazing how many Japs, Koreans and Taiwanese guards were NOT prosecuted after the war whereas they are still chasing nasties from WWII ex Europe.
The Yanks have some explaining don't they?
buksida wrote:Yes, the guy in pic 0872 is the last remaining POW to have worked on the Burma railway. Last year there were three of them.
Not sure about this as the photo does not say who he is.
But I have just received the news that Charlie Chappel has just passed away at 96 yeras old. I have known him since I was about 6 or 7 years old, and I am now 70! One tough old gentleman. RIP
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
Hi all well these are great photos ,being ex service R.A.R this is a very close for myself and a lot of mates ,I visited the cemetary and the museum as it was a must do for me when i was there and also the bridge but never had time to go to hell fire pass but theres plenty of time .I have to say i was very moved when i entered the cemetary when you see how many graves there are there from mine and other nations and each one representing a life lost .The standard that the cemetary is kept at is amazing and a credit to the thai people who look after it ,i have a video of my trip there and also to the bridge but unfortunately no photos of the museum as not allowed ,maybe next time i will be able to go on anzac day to pay my respects to our fallen .
Hi all a good book about this is called "men of the line" details some of there stories and the hardships and disease that they had to deal with and the treatment that they were subjected to while building the railway,
