Singapore to Burma Maps

2/4th Movements 1942-1945

Singapore Camps

Following the capitulation of Singapore those men of the 8th Division that were able to walk, were marched the 17 miles to Selarang Barracks Changi. This Barracks was situated on the north-eastern tip of Singapore on the Changi Peninsula.

At first the Japanese were reasonably lax with their treatment of their new wards and preferred, in the AIF’s case, for the Austalian’s to be autonomous and operate under their own administration. It wasn’t until August that the Japanese began to organize Changi as a POW Camp proper.

The 2/4th Machine Gun battalion arrived at Roberts Artillery Barracks at 0300 hours on the 18th February 1942. Later that day they were billeted out in three bungalows attached to Selarang. There were approximately 192 men from HQ’s Coy 2/4th in house No.38 under command of Capt. “Bob” Phelps, 255 men from ‘A’ and ‘B’ Coy’s in house No.35 under Capt. Tom Bunning and 235 men from ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies in house No. 34 under the command of the newly appointed Major Colin Cameron.

There doesn’t appear to have been too many complaints at this stage of captivity and as the working parties, the likes of Adam Park group moved out, more space became available. By the time ‘A’ Force moved out all remaining 2/4th had been concentrated in house No. 35.

On 4th April 1942 2800 men of the AIF moved out of Selarang Barracks Changi to Bukit Timah area a vicinity of the MacRitchie Reservoir. The 2/4th had been ordered to supply 300 men for the occasion, under the command of Major Alf Cough. There were five sub-camps in this area being Adam Park, Sime Road, Thompson Road (Caldecot Hill Estate, Mount Pleasant Estate and Lornie Road. Three of the camps were former housing estates and the other two were atap style native hutted camps.

Corporal Stan Currie led a party of twenty-seven men from the 2/4th to River Valley Road Camp on 30th October 1942. River Valley Road would later become one of several transit camps where men who had returned to Singapore would mark time whilst they waited for available shipping before being forwarded to Japan and Saigon. Havelock Road Camp was another camp close by separated from River Valley Camp by a footbridge. There were fifty-nine members from the 2/4th at Havelock Road who would, like the rest of the work parties around Singapore , return to Selarang Barracks in December 1942.

Major Bert Saggers took a party of 278 AIF to Serangoon Road Camp on 25th May 1942. This camp had been an internment camp for the Chinese and consisted of atap huts even less palatial than the Sime Road Camp. This group shared their accommodation with a number of British Prisoners of War employed at the Ford Motor Works.

KILOMETRE CHART OF THE THAILAND-BURMA RAILWAY

PoWs often gave English names to places. Japanese adapted Thai names to their own pronunciation. Several names are given to assist readers.

LOCATION ON RAILWAY 1942-1945 (distances from NONG PLADUK)

000 km           NONG PLADUK, Nonpuradukka

002                 Konma (transit camp)

005                 BanPong. Banponmai

013                 Rukke

026                 Taruanoi. To Reoa Noi. Talua

039                 The Muang, Tamuang. Tamoan, Ta Mueng

041                 Tung Tang

047                 Kao Din

048                 Pak Prage

049                 Tung Na Talea

051                 KANCHANABURI, Kanburi

055                 THA MAKHAM,Tamarkan

(Bridge over River Kwai Yai)

057                 Chunghai. Kao Poon, Kapon

069                 Wang Len, Wanran, Wun Lung

078                 Tapon, Won Yen, Wang Yen

088                 Bankao, Bangkao

098                 Takiren, Tarkilen, Ta Ki Len

108                 Arrowhill, Arruhiru, (Wang Sing)

110                 Lum Sum (for waterfall)

114                 Wang Po, Wanpo, Wampo (double viaduct)

121                 Chong Cab

125                 Wanyai, Wang Yai

130                 THA SOE, Tarso, Ta Soe

130                 NAMTOK (Railway ends 1973)

139                 Tonchan (spring camp)

147                 Tampi, Tampines

155                 HinTok, Hintoku

166                 Kanu, Kanyu (several camps)

168                 Sai Yoku, Kinsaiyok sub-camps

172                 Kinsaiyok Main (waterfalls)

181                 RinTin, Rinten, Lin Thin

190                 Kuei, Kui Ye, Kui Yong

198                 Hin Dat, Hindato (hot springs)

208                 Brankassi. Purankasi, Prang Kasi

218                 Takunun, Dha Khanun, Takanun

229                 Namajon, Namajo, Namuchonyai

237                 Tomajo, Tamajo, Tamazyo

244                 Tamuron Part, Tamuronpato

250                 Krian Kri, Kuriankurai, Kreung Krai

258                 Kurikonta

262                 Konkuita, Konkoita, Concreeta

262.87            MEETING POINT 17thOctober 1943

273                 Teimonta, Timontar

282                 Nikbe, Nikki, Nike

294                 Sinkurai, Songkla, Kenngkluay

THREE PAGODAS PASS

(Thailand /Burma border)

301km            Changaraya

311                 Anganan, Aungganaung

315                “100 kilo” Camp, Anganan 2

320                 Kyando, Kyondaw

332                 Aparon, Apalon

                       Steel Bridge

337                 Sparain

343                 Mezari, Mezali, Mesali

349                 Kami-Mezari, “Upper Mezali”

354                 Ronsi, Ronshii

358                 Tanzun, Taungzun

362                 Tanbaya, Tambaya (“Hospital ”)

369                 Anakuin, Anaqueen, Anankwin

375                 Bekitan, BekeTaung

385                 Repo, Retpu

391                 Konnokoi

396                 Rabao, Alepauk

401                 Tettoku

406                 Wegare, Wegale SIN‐TANBYUZAYA

                       “New Thanbyuzayat”

414.92km      THANBYUZAYAT

Burma Base Camp

421                 Kuwanra                              From Moulmein

429                 Karuoto, Kawawthut                        43km

433                 Kamae, Kamawet                 38

439                 Toku, Tawku                          32

453                 Mudon                                    24

453                 Menganen                              19

461                 Pau, Pa-Nuk                           11

466                 Kokani                                    6

471.3              MOULMEIN, Morumein        0

BRANCH LINE THANBYUZAYAT TO YE (going South)

THANBYUZAYAT                                           000 km

Banga                                                             9

Karotshue, Karokpi                                       14

Anke                                                               19

Tenyu                                                             26

Atsunein                                                         35

Nikkayin                                                         45

Ramayin                                                         55

Karunpe, Taugban                                        65

Painwan                                                         71

Paraenki                                                         78

YE                                                                   86.40

 

Hellfire Pass Memorial, Thailand-Burma Railway Fourth Edition Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce 1997