Prisoners of War of the Japanese 1942-1945 (original) (raw)

Story of the POWs of the Japanese including the Medical personnel who cared for them. This will embrace amongst others the POWs of Burma, Thailand (Siam), Burma-Thailand Railway, Sumatra Railway, Changi, Manchuria and Timor.

61,000 Prisoners of War were forced to work on the Burma-Thailand Railway in the most atrocious conditions. There were additionally about 250,000 natives (coolies) who were previously residents of countries including Java, Ambon, Singapore, Malaya, Burma and Tamils who had been working in some of these countries.

The Railway, which was 421 kms long of single track and 1m gauge, was constructed in a little over 12 months. Over this period approximately 13,000 POWs died. This included 6,500 British, 2,800 Dutch, 133 Americans and 2,700 Australians. Over the same period it is assessed that 90,000 to 100,000 natives died.