Burma-Thailand Railway - 5 Days In the Footsteps of Sapper Herbert Sumner Allday

Day 1: (Transfer from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi via Ban Pong; Museum & Cemetery)

Meet at 9:00am at your Bangkok hotel and travel to Kanchanaburi (about 3 hours from Bangkok) via Ban Pong where Herbert Allday first arrived from Singapore on the third train of “H” Force (H3), on the 12th May 1943. Follow his travel route and on arrival at Kanchanaburi, visit the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre (Museum) for an informed and thought-provoking discussion on the railway and to discuss plans for the days ahead.

Go through the Museum and then visit the adjacent Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. Spend time at Herbert’s grave (1.P.35) and place some flowers (we will return here later).

When ready, check in at the River Kwai Bridge Resort, a good standard, well-located resort on the River Kwai, with a close view of the nearby “famous” bridge and located on the site of the former POW of Tha Markham. This camp was also an early interim camp for survivors of “H” Force after completion of the railway.

The rest of your day and evening are free as you wish.

Includes: Transfer from Bangkok in air-con vehicle with TBRC Guide, lunch, admission to Museum/Research Centre, accommodation, flowers for grave site.

Day 2: (Local historical tour with TBRC Researcher, long-tail boat ride and Bridge on the River Kwai)

Pick-up at 8:30am for a personally guided tour around Kanchanaburi visiting several significant railway locations. This includes sites of F & H Hospital Camp, Kanchanaburi Aerodrome and Officers Camp and the Chungkai Cemetery and POW Camp location. Explore the nearby work area of the men from the Chungkai camp, consisting of large embankments, bridges and cuttings. Then take a long-tail boat on the Kwai rivers to the famous Bridge on the River Kwai. Learn the true story of the Bridge including the nearby Tha Makham Camp that supplied the labour for the bridge. Finish with a visit and walk on the Bridge before returning to the River Kwai Bridge Resort for the remainder of the afternoon and evening as you wish.

Includes: Breakfast, lunch, local historical tour in air-con vehicle, admission to Museum/Research Centre, long-tail boat ride, accommodation.

Day 3: (Start of 2 Day personal historical tour with TBRC Researcher/Historian)

Check out at 8:30am for your full day pilgrimage ‘up country’ following the march route of “H” Force and Herbert Allday on their way to the railway visiting the stop-over camp locations along the way and learning the deep history of events. Proceed directly north through Lat Ya, Tha Dan, across country to Tha Sao where they linked up with the railway. Learn about this site and its significance to the railway in general as well as “H” Force before continuing through the sites of Tampii/Kannyu and to Herbert’s destination of Malay Hamlet where he arrived approximately 22nd May 1943. Sadly, this is where Herbert died from cholera on the 20th June 1943, less than a month after arrival. He was cremated and his remains buried at the time, in Gave No. 6 at the Kannyu Jungle Cemetery.

While here, take time to learn the war-time events of this remarkable area for the men of ‘H3’ and others and visit the relevant locations including the nearby well-known

Australian Government Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre and walking trail along the old railway bed and some of the most difficult work on the railway.

When ready, proceed to Home Phutoey River Kwai Resort which incorporates the Weary Dunlop Memorial, a small memorial honouring the highly regarded Australian Colonel Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop, Commanding Officer of Dunlop Force which also worked in the Hellfire Pass/Kannyu/Hintok area. View the memorial followed by the adjacent Jack Chalker Gallery recognising British Bombardier, artist and former POW Jack Bridger Chalker. Dunlop later commissioned Chalker to make a pictorial record of the brutality, conditions and medical techniques employed in the camps and an interesting representation of Chalker’s POW art work is on display in this gallery.

Dinner and overnight at Home Phutoey River Kwai Resort.

Includes: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, all day historical tour in air-con vehicle with TBRC Researcher/Historian and TBRC Guide, accommodation.

Day 4: (Day 2 of personal historical tour with TBRC Researcher/Historian, Train trip)

After breakfast head further north through the camp and work area of Hintok up to Kinsaiyok where you will locate remnants of the war-time railway while gaining a good understanding of the significance and size of this camp, railway station and work area.

Explore this interesting area and other relevant work and camp sites until ready to take the return trip. On the way, visit the northern end of the Wang Pho Viaduct and Tham Krasae, learning more of the history of this substantial and remarkable project.

 Return on the last leg of the journey by taking the train on the still-working section of railway from Tham Krasae back to Bridge Station at Kanchanaburi arriving back late afternoon. Take the short trip back to the River Kwai Bridge Resort where your evening is free as you wish.

Includes: Breakfast, lunch, refreshments, all day historical tour in air-con vehicle with TBRC Researcher/Historian and TBRC Guide, admission to national park, train ride and accommodation.

Day 5: (Local cultural sights and remaining historic locations on return to Bangkok)

Check out at 8:30am and visit the interesting Prasat Muang Sing (ancient Khmer ruins). Return to the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery for a farewell visit and Wreath Laying Dedication by the family for Herbert Allday.

Early afternoon, depart for Bangkok, visiting the Tiger Cave Temple on the way to Nakhon Pathom where there was a large hospital camp set up for the chronically ill in 1944 and where Weary Dunlop was based from mid-1944 until the end of the war. Visit nearby Phra Pathom Chedi, the largest Buddhist Pagoda in Thailand and a substantial landmark very visible at the time to the men in the Nakhon Pathom camp. Continue back to Bangkok and your hotel.

Includes: Breakfast, lunch & refreshments, TBRC Guide, admissions, wreath on behalf of the family, return to Bangkok by air-con vehicle.

·      Pick-up/Drop-off at your Bangkok hotel

·      Accommodation (4 Nights)

·      Meals and refreshments as indicated (Note: Drinks not included with meals)

·      Experienced, English speaking guide

·      Burma-Thailand Railway Researcher/Historian on tour as indicated

·      Comfortable, air-conditioned minivan with driver

·      All touring as indicated

·      Entrance fees to museums and parks (including unlimited access to the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre)

·      Long-tail boat and train ride as indicated

·      Flowers for grave (Day 1) and wreath for Wreath Laying Dedication (Day 5)

·      Airfares, passports and visa expenses

·      Bangkok accommodation

·      Drinks with meals

·      Comprehensive travel insurance

·      Personal expenses (e.g. telephone, internet, laundry, drinks, souvenirs etc.)

·      Tips to Guide and Driver

·      If a tour member cancels greater than 30 days prior to the tour start date, a 10% cancellation fee (maximum $126 per person) will apply.

·      If cancellation is advised 30 days or less (but more than 14 days) prior to the tour start date, a cancellation fee may be charged (or retained from paid instalments) up to 50 % of the total tour price. There will be no refund for ‘no-show’ or cancellation within 14 days of the tour start date.

·      If a cancellation is made by any tour member and is replaced by a new tour member, the original tour member will be entitled to a full refund.

·      If the tour cannot proceed due to a Government ordered shutdown (e.g covid outbreak), all instalments paid to that time, will be subject to a refund.

Day 1:

·      Thailand-Burma Railway Centre (museum) – Low

·      Kanchanaburi War Cemetery – Low

Day 2:

·      Local Kanchanaburi POW Camp Sites – Low-Moderate

·      Long-tail boat ride – Moderate

·      Bridge on the River Kwai – Moderate

Day 3:

·      “H” Force Camp Sites – Low-Moderate

·      Malay Hamley Site – Low-Moderate

·      Hellfire Pass – Moderate

·      Weary Dunlop Memorial & Jack Chalker Gallery – Low-Moderate

Day 4:

·      Kinsaiyok – Moderate

·      Wang Pho Viaduct & Krasae Cave – Moderate

·      Train ride – Low=Moderate

Day 5:

·      Local historic locations – Low-Moderate

·      Wreath Laying Dedication – Low

·      Phra Pathom Chedi