Bridge Over the River Kwai

About an hour south west of Bangkok, the team visit Kanchanaburi. This destination is important to Australian for tragic reasons. When we talk ANZAC’s, we’re usually referring to Europe and World War I, but in 1943 it was here that one of Australia’s most important chapters of war occurred.

The bridge over the River Kwai and the notorious Death Railway basically link Thailand and Burma. Back in WWII, the Japanese recognised once they occupied Thailand that they had to keep the supply route open if they wanted to control Southeast Asia.

The tragedy comes from the way the bridge itself was built. It took 180,000 men, including 60,000 prisoners of war. They worked on the railway in truly horrific conditions. Over 12,000 young POW’s died during the construction, a third being Australians. As a result, this stretch of Thailand claimed 20% of Australian casualties during WWII.

The war then began to get to a desperate point. The allies and the Japanese needed a breakthrough and this bridge provided that opportunity. On the 24th of June, the RAF bombed the bridge, breaking the supply route, which broke the back of the Japanese army. Not long after, on the 15th of August, the Japanese surrendered, bringing an end to the war.

The train still rolls through today, taking people in and out of Bangkok. This stands testament to the incredible engineering work the British and Australian performed all those years ago. Visit Kanchanaburi and see one of the most iconic and meaningful bridges and railways to Australians in all of Thailand.

For more information about Amazing Thailand and the stories featured in Explore TV episode on Thailand, visit the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s website: www.tourismthailand.org/au.

Explore TV team recommends flying to Thailand on Thai Airways. For fares and schedules, visit their website,
www.thairairways.com

Also visit Flight Centre when planning your next trip to Amazing Thailand
www.flightcentre.com.au