Guestbook

Gidday all. My Grandfather was Walter Blake (VX61042) of the 2/2 Pioneer Battalion. Has was captured in Java and worked on the Burma Thailand railway. For most of his life he very very rarely spoke about the war and his experience at all. I did get him to speak about it to some extent only once when I was at university in the early 1980s. He died in 1998. He was a reasonably tall man and quite dark skinned, and I understand he may have been ‘given a belting’ once or twice because of it. I recall his view that the Japanese weren’t as bad as the Korean guards, and also that he expressed the view that the Dutch were sometimes unpopular in the camps. If anyone should happen to come across information concerning which particular camps he was in, or what tasks he/they was doing, or if he is mentioned in anyones recollections, I would certainly love to hear from you. Kind regards James Blake

My great uncle John Patrick (Jack or ‘Bluey’) Lennox 2/15th field regiment was a prisoner on the ‘line’ Jack was a school teacher from Temora NSW born in Mudgee. He was, prior to the war a first grade Rugby League footballer with both South Sydney and St. George. Jack died on the line and is buried in the Thanbuyzat War cemetary. I have researched as much as I can of Jacks time on the line this site adds a little more. Thank you

My Father was a member of the 2/40th Battalion, Sparrow Force, I think and held captive by the Japanese after being captured in Timor. He worked and survived the Burma railway but died in 1978. He was private LAJ (Jim) Maddox of Black Hills Tasmania. He would not tell anything of his enslavement. It would be great to know of a survivor of the railway that remembers him.

Could anybody put me in topuch with my cousin Neil Macpherson from Western Australia,he is not answering my e-mails hope he is still around

My father Major VAH Denne, 2nd battalion The Gordon Highlanders, he worked on the railway, but he never spoke much about it, like a lot of others I think it changed him as a man and father… I’m trying to find out more but not much progress so far, if anyone can help in any way I dont even know which camp he was in many thanks in advance Micky Denne

My grandad served in the royal norfolk regiment, part of the 18th Infantry Division in the defence of Singapore and Malaya. I’ve always wondered exactly which burma camp he ended up in but it seems hard to find out without any further information. does anybody know anything about the norfolk regiment? kind regards

It is with great sadness that I have just learnt of Ernie Redman’s passing – a huge loss to the BTRMA and the people of Esperance. I had the pleasure of Ernie’s company on the four Quiet Lion Tours I took part in. Ernie always wore a smile and was always surrounded by his ‘harem’ as we called them – the (usually female) students from Esperance who treasured Ernie as a second grandfather. Ernie and the other POWs who are the backbone of the BTRMA are enduring examples of the Aussie spirit. I’m sure there’s a special place for you with your mates in Heaven, Ernie. Time to rest, mate, you’ve done your bit.

I feel very privileged to have been on the 2009 Quiet Lion Tour. To spend time with ex-POWs Snow Fairclough, Neil MacPherson and Bill Haskell, “Uncles” so-called by our Thai guides, was an experience to treasure. These men have seen and survived the worst of man’s inhumanity to man but also the best of the compassion and self-sacrifice of mateship. When they related events in their steady measured tones, the impact was very telling. Occasionally a memory would tap them on the shoulder and we could see and share a little of their pain. The trip wasn’t just a sombre pilgrimage however, it was also a kaleidoscope of experiences, travelling by longtail boat, Thai Railways and air-conditioned bus. Enjoying exotic meals on a river cruiser, a floating restaurant, a pontoon raft, a balcony overlooking the River Kwae and luxurious well appointed hotel dining rooms. Then there was the shopping, acres of bustling, colourful, lively stalls with the excitement of seeking the right gift at the right price. The Anzac Day service of Hellfire Pass was the exact opposite and gave us all time to reflect and think our own thoughts on all who “gave their tomorrows for our today.” All in all the Quiet Lion Tour is a credit to the Burma Thailand Railway Memorial Association and I would recommend it to anyone.

I have in my posession a bronze medallion which I believe was made in Bampong for Japanese officers to celebrate the completion of the Thailand/Burma railway. The medallion belonged to a relative who served in the British army and was captured by the Japanese in Singapore in 1942. The Australian war memorial site -http://cas.awm.gov.au/heraldry/REL/19904 – suggests that there are only 6 of these medallions known to exist. I would be interested to contact any readers who have information about such medallions.

Congratulations on Neil’s OAM announced today in the Australia Day honours. If anyone deserves one it is Neil for his untiring efforts in promoting the BTRMA, honouring the memory and experiences of POWs and assisting their families to find out more about them. Neil is an inspiration to me every day of my life. Leonie McGaw