Death Railway

The Death Railway (known also as Burma Railway or Thai-Burma Railway) was a railway built from Thailand to Burma (now Myanmar) by the Japanese during World War II to complete the route from Bangkok to Rangoon and support the Japanese occupation of Burma. It was so called because of the human cost of its construction. About 100,000 conscripted Asian labourers and 16,000 Allied prisoners of war (POW) died on the project made up of 6,318 British, 2,815 Australians, 2,490 Dutch and the remainder from the USA or unknown (Wigmore, p588).

Memorials

There are several museums dedicated to those who lost their lives constructing the railway - the best of which is at Hellfire Pass, north of the current terminus at Nam Tok. Two other museums are in Kanchanaburi, the Thailand-Burma Railway Museum, opened in March 2003, and the JEATH War Museum.

Related Topics:
Hellfire Pass - Thailand-Burma Railway Museum - JEATH War Museum

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There is also a preserved section of line and memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, England.

Related Topics:
National Memorial Arboretum - England

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