Guestbook

My high school headmaster at Highett High , F.E. Farmer , was a survivor of the Rakuyo Maru sinking .. He only once mentioned his harrowing experiences , during a morning assembly of the whole school. We students were too young and silly to appreciate just what he had gone through. Mike

I have just finished reading ‘The Burma Railway, Hellships & Coalmines’ Wow i found it hard to put this book down! It brought a tear to my eyes in many parts and embeded in my mind the hardships that these men suffered at the hands of the Japanese. It also reminds me of the harsh reality that material things mean very little and that true friendships, mateships mean’t the difference between life and death.

My maternal Grandfather McKINNON, EDWARD Signalman NX26294 30/06/1943 age 35 8th Div. Australian Corps of Signals Rests peacfully grave 10. F. 2-10. L. 4. KANCHANABURI WAR CEMETERY Edwards service record list beri beri as cause of death. Any information on Edward greatfully cherished. God Bless and thank you

Hi, to those interested i reccomend this pilgrimage to anybody. I was a part of the 2008 QLT as the FESA Junior and i would do it all again tommorrow if i could. The whole tour was extremely well organised and expertly done, i met some great new friends and even discovered some old ones. I would like to thank everybody for making me feel at home and a special thanks to Robert Tingely and Eric Wilson you guys have done a great job. But my most greatful thank you go’s out to the ex -POWs you are the best of the best and thank you so much. Regards Dwayne

Great site, great information. I can remember my father, Pte Garry Hooper, 2/2 Pioneer Btn, telling me about some of his experiences on the Burma Railway. Sadly he passed away in 1998 and, as I get older and my grand children arrive, I wish I knew more to pass on to the children. I have managed to piece together a rough outline of his service through his stories and reading various books and sites like this. I know there is a book about the 2/2 Pioneers…can anyone tell me where I can get a copy?

It was the greatest experience in my life! I would like to thank every one for the support and effort they have put into the QLT 2008. I was looking forward to the trip but did not think in my wildest dreams that I would learn and grow that much! The whole Anzac day and the build up to it showed me what a great gift we have received from our anchestors who fought in the WWII and other wars. They gave their lives so that we can have freedom and liberty – may we never forget that! I will make it my own personal mission to tell all my friends and my own children one day, about the priveledge to be an Australian. The exPOWs are true heroes and we are so privledge that they are still here to share their story with us. THANK YOU!!!

I am a teacher at the ESHS and was lucky enough to accompany the 10 students from our school this year. As a born South African who spend my last 8 years in UK I was not emotionaly or mentally prepared for what was installed for me! I was looking forward to learn more about Thailand and to hear the war stories from the people who have been there. My family and I got aquinted with Ernie Redman through out our fundraising events during December 2007, I was looking forward in accompanying him and relive a part of history. However – it became a personal journey for me … I only came to realise that every single person in this generation has a link to WWI and WWII – my own grandfather was an POW in Italy after he fought under the British flag in Egypt. My husband’s grandfather was a POW in Java – comming on this tour gave me personal growth in realising that all these people, soldiers, mothers, wifes, sisters, uncles or children had paid a price. I came to realise that it was worth it for each one of them as they truely loved their countries and believed in what they were doing. Most of all I went as an oursider but came back an AUSTRALIAN – and I am proud of it! Thank you very much to the tour opperator Eric for a most interesting, funfilled tour. Thank you very much to the chairman Roger and his team for making history part of my story. However I am the most greatful to our exPOWs, Bill, Snow, Ernie, Wallie and Neil for sharing their emotional momories with us! You guys are GREAT and we will ALWAYS be thankful!

I have learned a lot on this tour – the greatest lesson of all was the one about Mateship. Neil’s poem at the reef laying service was very dear to me but became truely meaningful when after the serice Snow was doing the rounds and visited all his mates who died, saluted them and made a toast to each one of them. I hope that I will also one day be just as priveledge to have great mates. Another picture comes to mind when Bill was telling a story of Toby at the cutting and with tears in his eyes he had to stop as he became so overwhelmed. Ernie’s mate Toby meant a lot to all! Thank you for sharing with us – we are very priveledge!

To all those who make the Quiet Lion Tour what it is today, Thank you so much to every one who make the Quiet Lion Tour go on each year. I had the best time on the tour. It was the best thing i have ever done and i hope to come back next year. I would like to put out a special thankyou to eric wilson who does so much for the tour… i appreciate it eric. and also to mr bill haskell. you are an amazing man bill. for you to get up there to thailand with your leg in a brace just for us kids is amazing. thank you so much for your stories and songs. love alysha jolly Carnamah District High School

I took part in the 2008 QLT. Best experience of my life, met loads of people and it changed my view on life. Thanks everyone for making it happen. Hope to meet up with you all soon. xo