World war 2 historical in Kanchanaburi

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World War ll Historical

The JEATH War Museum

The name JEATH is derived from countries which engaged in the WWII death railway construction from 1942 to 1945, which included Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand and Holland. Located in the area of Wat Chai Chumphon, the museum is a reconstruction of the POWs thatched detention hut with cramped, elevated bamboo bunks. On the wall of the huts, photographs and illustrations of the POWs living conditions are on display. POWs who survived from the camp have donated items to enhance the museums atmosphere and authenticity. The museum opens daily from 8.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission fee is 30 baht.

The Thailand-Burma "Death Railway"
Built as an aid to moving supplies, after the capture of Thailand by the Imperial Japanese Army, thousands of allied POW's were transported from Singapore to begin working on the line, as well as the famous "Bridge On The River Kwai".

Beginning in 1942, the workforce was subject to constant battles against not only the brutality of their captors but also appalling living conditions and the constant threat of death and disease.

Sections of the old route are still in use today. Most notably the section from The Bridge up to Nam Tok station at Sai Yok National Park.

The most famous section further north towards Burma is "Hellfire Pass", pounded out through solid rock. Sadly, the pass has now mostly been reclaimed by the jungle.

All along the route from Kanchanaburi are sections and memorials dedicated to the construction of the railway and the suffering of the hundreds of thousands of lives it cost!

War Cemetery (Don Rak)
This is the place where the remains of 6,982 POWs died during the construction of the Death Railway are buried. The cemetery, which is located on Saengchuto Road, opposite the Railway Station, just 1.5 kilometres from the TAT office, It is open daily from 8.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m..