Kanchanaburi Thailand: Death Railway War Cemetery
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 มี.ค. 2024
- Join me on a journey to the war cemetery in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. Today, I explore this historic place filled with emotion. Walking among the headstones, I couldn't help but feel the weight of the past, especially seeing how young some of the Prisoners of War were. The Thailand to Burma railway, also known as The Death Railway, leaves a profound impact on Kanchanaburi. Despite the somber atmosphere, there's a sense of peace here, as if the spirits of the POWs are watching over us. It was a day filled with emotions, reminding us of the sacrifices made.
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📍Prisoner of War Cemetery: maps.app.goo.gl/BZaHi6vAUT2Hp...
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There was a section at the other end of the cemetery that I lost the footage. I don't want to forget them, so I will write what the monument said -
"The Soldiers whose names are recorded here perished in captivity and their ashes are buried together in two graves. Their glory shall not be blotted out."
All ads are off for this cemetery vlog. R.I.P
The wording behind the 13:43 poppy wreath says Chungkai which is another cemetery also in Kanchanaburi not far from Don Rak cemetery.
@@peddlerianp771 Nice one! I went to the other cemetery also.
As a retired soldier these places really hit home for me with many mixed emotions. Thank you for sharing mate.
Thank you 🙏
Thanks for the remembrance. History can’t be changed and we need to learn from it.
Very true. Thank you 🙏
Fantastic vlog mate the best ive ever watched on TH-cam you should be proud of it top job
Beautiful tribute done with so much respect. Very well done
Thank you very much!
Wayne this is the most moving vlog i have ever seen, thank you so much, we must never forget our war dead, my own Uncle was shot in the head by a snipers bullet in North Africa, i do not know where he is buried, he was 19, in royal fusiliers
Thank you Leila, it's the least I can do. Wow, that's sad to hear about your uncle. 19 years old, it doesn't even bare thinking about 😢
I never got to meet him, but my mum told me all about him
It was the ages that got me..... So young 😢
Yes,me too. So young 😞
The war movies always show older soldiers...30-40. I took a friend to a Marine Corps graduation. " They are so young", she said. All the time, all the wars. .
Thanks Wayne, it really brought home the persecution those poor people went through. The war film we all know only says so much, but seeing the memorial graves brings home the lives lost. Rest in peace.
The Cemetery was really tough. Something about this town though, I feel protected here. Special place but sad place. Thank you.
Great Vlog, can't help but get a tear in your eyes seeing the graves and realizing the great sacrifices made. Thank👍 you Wayne.
Thanks mate! Yes, I agree. It's kinda hard to do upbeat videos in Kanchanaburi. I love this place and will be doing some other style videos here. But remembering what happened here is the most important first.
Respect 🙏
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Wayne, i always visit there when in Kanchanabury , it's always kept pristine, so much respect. The ages of those brave people shocked me and i always need to take a time out when i am there, its heart-breaking, cheers and thanks.
I agree, it's the best kept cemetery I've ever seen. I know it's funded but every time I ride past, at least 10 workers are in there keeping it perfect. Very sad place. Thanks.
Well done Wayne! I was there this past January and also felt very somber at the cemetary. There is an excellent museum, across the street to the right of the cemetary called Death Railway Museum and Research Centre that is very well done. There is also the JEATH museum near the bridge that is also well done. We rented bicycles from the hotel and rode around the town and found it very quiet and relaxing. Well worth the trip from Bangkok!
...Derrick from North Vancouver Canada
Thanks Derrick, yes some great museums around. It's a very sad town but a special place. I'm so glad I came here.
War is like Love: Easy to beginn, difficult to stop and never to forget
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The cemetery is very well maintained and a credit to all involved - I was very moved when I was there
Thanks Wayne 👏👌🙏
Yes Ant, I've never seen so many people working in a cemetery as I have here. Every time I go past, I see at least 10 workers inside. It's great that it's funded by the countries and gives work to the locals as well.👍
A solemn and at the same time extremely moving and respectful video Wayne. Well done buddy 🤩
ye, well-done, Walk-About.
Thanks mate.
Thank you for reading their names out brother 💞
I wish I could have done them all, but it was the least I could do, to read some. Thanks mate.
Wayne, you're showing pure class, just as expected. Your family should be proud of you.
It's the least I can do mate. Many others have done the same . Thank you though 🙏
The second cemetery is Chungkai which is a couple of miles away on the other side of the river. About 10/11 years ago my friends and I attended the remembrance service at the main cemetery. We got talking to three veterans who'd served in Malaya and they were going to lay a wreath at Chungkai at 6pm Thai time, which would be 11am UK time and they invited us to join them.
When we arrived they were talking to a couple from England and they'd asked the woman to lay the wreath, it transpired that her father was called up when her mum was pregnant with her. Sadly she never met her father as he died on the death railway and was interred at Chungkai cemetery and it was her first visit.
It was wonderful to share the occasion with her and the veterans and is something I'll never forget.
I now live in Thailand and visit 3/4 times a year and always take friends who are visiting on holiday.
Lest we forget
Another moving and beautiful video Wayne
Thanks for sharing this moving story. very sad to read mate. I visited the Chungkai cemetery also, very sad place. Thank you.
Hi Wayne.....thank you for this vlog. At 5:57 minutes you actually show my next door neighbours grandads memorial (on the LHS)....
I will show him the footage. Many thanks mate.
Wow that's amazing! I hope your neighbour likes seeing it on the video again. 🙏🙏
Very emotional for you Wayne and very respectfully filmed.
Thank you Daisy 🙏
If your ever in Manila, they have one of the largest and most beautiful memorial cemeteries anywhere. A must see.
I've been in Manila a few times. I've never seen the Cemeteries though.
Thanks for reminding me of my memories of visiting there in 1999!
No worries. Thanks 🙏
Sad place because of the loss of all those brave people, found some facts out, Some 300 men who died (most from a Cholera epidemic in May/June 1943) at Nieke camp were cremated and their ashes now lie in two graves in the cemetery. The names of these men are inscribed on panels in the shelter pavilion. Also During its construction, approximately 13,000 of these people who died and are buried along the railway. Around 80,000 to 100,000 civilians also died during the course of the project, mostly forced labour from Malaya and the Dutch East Indies or conscripted in Siam and Burma.
Yes mate, very sad place. It doesn't bare thinking about right. Such a sad town but something special about Kanchanaburi also. Normally I wouldn't get a good feeling about places like this. It's like the men are watching over the town. Sounds silly, but it's a strange feeling, in a good way. Thanks
Thank you for doing this video, Wayne. I knew about the Japanese forced labor railway workers story, but didn't know exactly where it was. This is what makes me made about current people (mostly in my country) who want to erase history; if we forget what happened, then bad people who want power will do the same things again. We need to remember so that we can stop them!
Thank you! It's the least I could do. Very sad place but a very peaceful town, I love it here.
Top Man... Well done and said Wayne, thank you. We owe them no less, and so much more.
"Out of the depths of sorrow and sacrifice will be born again the glory of mankind"
― Winston Churchill
“Only the dead have seen the end of war.”
― Plato
Thanks Jack! The least I could do mate.
It's sad that the first names you read out all died a couple of months before the end of the war. Many of those who died in early 1943 most likely died from Cholera. They were sent to Thailand late March 1943 and at the time there was a cholera outbreak in the Kanchanaburi area. Very sad, these were strong strapping lads when they left home. Someone's son, brother, husband, father.
Yes, very sad. You can feel it in the town but it's a very special place.
That was a lovely video you made. Done them brave men well. 🇬🇧
Thank you kindly!
Very well done on making such a respectful and poignant vlog.
I know the somber feeling that you must have had when walking around this special place, I have visited The WW1 and WWII Graveyards in France a few times and have also experienced that feeling. May there souls rest in peace.
I have now made up my mind to visit here on my next trip to Thailand, cheers and keep em coming!
Thank you! It's the least I can do. It's a very special place here and I hope you can come one day.
Great vlog Wayne. I first went there maybe 19 years ago and couldn't hold myself together for very long looking at how young some of those boys where, If you get the chance take a trip up to Hellfire pass and you will understand fully the hardship these guys had to endure.
Yes mate, so sad and so young. I will be heading to Hellfire pass, yes.
Thanks Wayne, you dealt with that on a very sensitive and caring way. We visited a few years ago and the memory has never left us. Just how human beings can do the things that were done is beyond imagination. Thanks again, Alan and Lillian in OZ
Thanks Alan, it's the least I can do. Very sad place 😔
just sad, sad ,sad... thanks for the respectful walk through.
Very sad 😢. Thank you.
Really enjoyed staying in kachanaburi very interesting area
Me too, I'm loving it here. Kanchanaburi has a special feeling.
It's strangely how poetically beautiful a place where much suffering happened. It's worthy of visit and I've visited twice as distances to the memorials of what happened there are really spread apart.
It does have a good feeling of peace in the town. It's a special place but a very sad place. Thanks.
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Nicely done Wayne. We are actually going there next Saturday the railway does not really do it for me its the people that were killed I want to respect. We drive from Surat Thania to Chiang Rai a few times a year but always in a hurry but this time I said I am going to visit Kanchanaburi. My grandfather fought in the Somme WW1 he was only 14 and survived obviously but I dont think his head was ever right after that. I agree you never forget and my 15 year old hopefully will learn that.
Nice! It's a great town, I'm sure you'll have a nice time. Although it's a very sad place, it's also a great place. I don't think I'll be riding the full railway either. I think my Grandad was similar mate, he was always bait distant and I think it was the war. It's a special place here mate, I love it. So much history here, I'm sure your daughter will be interested. Good luck.
Brilliant video Wayne, very moving .
Thank you mate.
Thanks mate for your tribute to those fallen heroes. It is difficult to grasp the sheer hell those men went through. We are so blessed today because of their sacrifice.
The least I can do. Thanks buddy.
i remember walking down a line and not seeing a grave where the soldier was over 24 years old . as an ex soldier the place chokes you up
So many in their 20s, it's a very hard walk and read. It's a choker for sure mate.
That place still affects me even after over 15 years since I was there.. very poignant indeed and looked after very well.
I've seen at least 5 to 10 people working there everyday. They do a great job of up keeping the cemetery.
I’ve been to Thailand quite a few times, I’ve considered going there but never did….will definitely make a point of visiting next time. Great vid Wayne.
It's well worth coming here. It's a sad place, but a very special town.
5:57 - June 1945. Gosh, that was just two months before the war ended. The Dutch section later on was from the time period of the railway construction.
Crazy right, and the railway used for just 20 months after completion. All them lives 🥲
I served in the British army, in a camp in Germany near the concentration camp of Belsen, where many died including Ann Frank the famous Dutch girl who wrote diary of he short life hiding from the Nazis. I can tell you there's a strangeness that does linger for ever where so many people died!😔
Respect to you Paul. Yes, I can feel something special here. Normally I wouldn't stay around a place like this for long but Kanchanaburi has something special about it. Cheers mate.
@@WalkAboutWayne, thanks Wayne for doing the vlog on the Bridge and the Thai Burma railway and what happened here, because like you I can remember watching the movie with my family and when I got older I went to see for myself. But I think if we don't continue to tell the story the young generation, just won't know about these horrors of what happened in WW2?
Great vlog I have visited the cemetery 3 times now and I always get a lum in my throat. It is the same when I visit the museum by the railway station at the bridge.
Thanks! Yes, it's not a easy place to walk around.
Fantastic vlog Wayne brought back so many memories of my time there..
Thank you Brian.
PoW = Prisoners of War 👍🏻.
Top Vlog Wayne. Really enjoying these daily, look forward to them each night 👏🏻
That's right buddy, it sure does 👍. Thanks for watching
A trip up to Hellfire Pass is a must do mate after visiting Don Rak cemetery. A lot of the lads in that cemetery worked on the railway there at Hin Tok. 13:43
Yes, the Hellfire Pass will be coming soon mate. 👍
Very well done, we should never forget them.
Do you know if they have commemorated any of the local forced labour who died?
That's a good point Colin, I've not seen anything about that. I will ask a few people about that. I'll also take a look in the other cemetery again.
Well done Wayne 🙏🙏🙏
Thanks 🙏
Very moving Wayne will visit one day
Thank you.
one of those graves had my grandma's family name Wakeling.
I think I can remember that name or similar. 🙏
Been there a few times, very moving. There are many from the Suffolk Regiment in that cemetery 🙏 Hellfire Pass is definitely worth a visit. The museum (at Hellfire Pass) is fantastic.
It's a very sad place 😢
Been there twice, very emotional reading the ages of the lads that died😢😢❤, gets you every time 😢
Its really hard reading all the ages and messages. Very emotional.
Sadly it's a reminder that we do forget, and peace is something we don't understand in the West with continuous perpetual war, mainly for energy and arms corporation profits.
True 😢
Very moving video,.. really hits home,...
After watching some more of your stuff i see you are from around Exeter,... I'm sunny whimple haha
Thank you Mark. Nice, your from my neck of the woods. I know Whimple well, nice little village. 👍
Ahhh good good fantastic,....I thought your ways were similar 😂,..... great stuff,...
That place will change your life. I think this new generation as well as mine needs to visit this place. You will be humbled.
Yes, it's a very very special place. 🙏
Another great vlog Thanks 😢
Thank you mate.
A special place where you can feel the presence of brave men who gave their ultimate sacrifice. It a must visit .
I couldn't have said it any better 👍
Lovely and peaceful
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it looks scathing hot? how hot does it feel walking around?
Yes, it's really hot in Thailand now. It feels like a oven walking around. I'm use to it though and it's nothing that these men had to encounter. Thanks.
Extremely respectful, entrance fees keep their resting place beautiful. I hope that relatives of those fallen heroes see this 💔
Thanks you and well said 🙏
Agreed, it does have a special feel to it when walking around. I think the most striking thing I remember when I walked around there was the general ages - the. AST majority in their early 20s.. such as waste of life. I found a couple of graves with my surname too - no known relative but felt an instance connection regardless.
Great video mate, well presented. 👍👍
Yes, that was the worst part, reading the stones. Cheers man.
Really well done with respect Wayne. I remember reading into this years ago and it really is awful
The least I can do. Yes, very sad to read all the stones.
Emotional vlogs about this city Wayne but I find the people are even friendlier than Chang Mia I see a video of man who lives here he’s rent was 2500 thai baht per month it looked beautiful he got chicken and rice for 10 and 20 thai baht Wayne 100 000 people wow it had some history Wayne
Very friendly people in Kanchanaburi. I'll have to doubt 10 baht for chicken and rice though buddy. Cheers.
Good on ya mate.
Thanks John 👍
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Kashif, I seen your Green Tea mate. Legend 👍
I went last November 2023, goose bumps to say the least , lady at gate gave us a bottle of water each I purchased a cemetery guide from her
It's a very sad and emotional place. Yes, very friendly people here also. Thanks.
Every time im struggling with the heat when doing something, im thinking of these mens / boys living condicions and doing it with almost no food 🤔 payed the ultimet prize for others . 🙏
Yes, it must of really been hell for them. 😞
The atrocities people are capable of are inconceivable, yet there it is. So sad.
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Wayne a mile away no more than 2 from this war cemetery is a second one and Wayne please believe me it shouldn't be overlooked. Please you have the motorbike take a little visit and a little look you will not be disappointed
I've been to them all mate 👍
Yes, the one down by the river is very beautiful & peacefull. Doesn't seem to get a lot of visitors. Well done Wayne.
If guys are coming to Thailand,,,,,Go and pay respects. Why not..
Thumbs up to that 👍
You got that feeling. I felt that too.
Yes, that feeling here, it's like no other.
Big respect Wayne - thank you for showing this, it must have been a difficult day ❤
Thank you! It has been difficult here so far, but this town is a special place .
Brilliant vlog mate, respect, I live here and it's a beautiful place many people died for our freedom, I feel privileged to be here, we'll done ❤
Thank you Norman, it's an amazing town, I don't want to leave. It's the least I can do to pay some respect to all these amazing men that died. Thanks again.
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Very good & sad m8 hi wish hi good be in Thailand m8
Yes mate, very sad day. Hope you can come to Thailand soon.
The upkeep of the Cemetary is paid for by the New Zealand and Australian govermments.
Yes, I think a couple other countries too, so someone mentioned.
Well done Wayne. Thanks again.
Thanks Wayne. Let's hope we get to live out our lives in peace.
That's right, it's made me realise my life's not so bad
Thankyou Wayne...may they RIP..🙏🌹
Thank you, it's the least I could do. 🙏
Well done mate, great respect
Much appreciated
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Kan is bigger than you think Wayne. You are in the touristy place. Head down river a bit, you'll find the Chinese quarter.
Yes mate. The main bit is what I'm focusing on at the minute buddy.
It's very sad what happened there and unfortunately a lot of people have no idea. That's for your great walk about videos and you need to go back to jomtien and spend some more time there as it's a fantastic place
Thank you! I will be back to Jomtien one day 👍
Such a sad waste Wayno, and still governments and dictators around the world continue to start forever wars and the citizens suffer and die while they sit in their mansions giving orders😢
Yes mate, I agree. All these lives wasted
Great videos. But please say “Pea Oh Double you’s.”✌🏽
Thank you buddy. No, I'll say it how I'm natural. Cheers 👍
Fair enough. My apologies. I’ve just never heard anyone say POW like cow in over 50 years of life. ✌🏽
@@nato4287 I've never said POW like COW in my life either mate. If you can't understand different accents, I can't help that. I'll never apologize for how I speak. I'm proud of it. Cheers.
The sobriety in the aftermath of our drunken, criminal insanity of which we are all guilty, as the shadow of death has lain its cast upon us all.
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This is one of many examples of what pure evil looks like.
Yes ! 🙏🙏
Polar opposite to Pattaya, that’s for sure 😂
Which part of the England are you from Wayne? I hear a west country accent, maybe a Devon accent?
2 different worlds. I'm from Devon, yes mate 👍
The war movies always show rhe soldiers as older than reality....3040. I took a friend to a Marine Corps graduation. "They .are so young", she said. They all are, all wars. Scientists say that a adult's brain isn't fully developed until around 26-27 years old. Maybe why the young are sacrificed. Not a fan of rhe Ukraine, but hear that 27 is the draft age. Maybe more aware at that age. (I wasn't). Disgusting that one of our senators went fown there to get rhem to reduce the age to 21.
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Don't think that Senator enlisted. For our army either.