2011 Quiet Lion Tour Report

By Eric Wilson

2011 QUIET LION TOUR.

The final party was comprised of 86 travelers including 2 juniors.

Of the exPOWs Neil MacPherson again traveled but Bill Haskell and Snow Fairclough had to withdraw due to illness.

The Esperance contingent of twenty two people included eleven girls, three teachers and school nurse Christine Brandenberg from the Esperance District Senior High School. There were several repeat travelers among the parents and some of the juniors had had older siblings on earlier tours.

The Neil MacPherson group included Alan MacPherson, Krishna Vanderweide, Gypsy O’Dea, Shannon Pearce and Jemima Butterworth.

The EDA were again represented with a junior who happened to be Wally Holding’s granddaughter Emma Egerton-Warburton.

The Fire & Emergency Services Authority of WA sponsored junior Ryan Sutherland of the Roleystone Brigade.

The exPOW Association sponsored junior Nicolas Hortense from Mount Lawley Senior High School.

Wagin Lions Club sponsored Tara Lydiate.

Through their Chaplin, Doug McGee, the Moora Senior High School was represented by Cameron Lennox, brother of Tarlee who was the 2009 FESA junior.

A group numbering eleven from the Harrington family was led by Phillip Harrington. (This family is related to our long time supporters Roma Parker of Mingenew and Brian Donellan of Wongan Hills).

Mingenew and Three Springs/Carnamah collectively had seven juniors plus two teachers. (A number of the juniors had had older siblings on earlier trips).

Chairman Hugh Warden’s granddaughter Alexis Taylor of Bunbury traveled.

There were four couples, a single lady and a family of four from the Eastern States. There were many travelers who had kin on the Burma Thailand Railway.

Richard and Sally Steel of Toowoomba, Queensland. Richard's father was John Hart Steel VX24121 of 2/2 Pioneers who died at Tamarkan;

Ron and Bronwen Walker of Mildura, Victoria. Ron's father was Harry Walker VX 22708 of 2/2nd Pioneers. Went to Japanese coal mines (he survived);

Jenny and Peter Caddy of Port Pirie, South Australia. Jenny’s uncle was Edward Thomas Sorrell, 2/3MGB Dunlop Force. Died at Tarsau Hospital 11/11/43 after time at Hintok. (Bill Haskell knew him well from Java on);

Jan and Phillip Burbury of Woodbury, Tasmania. Phillip’s kin was Claude Samuel Iles, TX4214 CCS.

John and Francis Kennedy of Arcadia, Victoria and their daughter Bronwen Stewart and grandson Matt of Sebastopol, Victoria. John Kennedy’s uncle was a prisoner at Mukden after being captured in Java.

Max Cunnington’s father was Sandy Cunnington, David Piesse’s father was Ron Piesse and Susan Harrington’s father was Frank Thaxter. All these fathers were 2/3 rd Machine Gun Battalion.

Jan and Phillip Hawkins and Jan’s brother Terry Cant. of Melville. Jan and Terry’s father was Albert Ronald Cant 2/7th Field Battery.

Committee members were Krishna Vanderweide, David Piesse and Eric Wilson.

The Mandurah group consisted of three cadets sponsored collectively by The Holding Trust, Peel Health Campus, Mandurah RSL and Neil MacPherson.

The tour left Perth on Good Friday (22 nd April) and traveled straight through to Kanchanaburi on the Saturday for the Anzac Cup Australian Rules Football Match. A lunch at the Ban Rao restaurant preceded the match. On this occasion the opposing side was from China – the China Reds. The Thailand Tigers went to extreme lengths on this occasion. There was a large back-drop which included, among many features, a giant silhouette of Bill Haskell. Tee shirts were on sale which included the same scenes as the backdrop.

After the match the group had an early book-in at the Pung Waan Kanchanaburi followed by a gala welcome dinner.

On Day Three there was a visit to the Thailand Burma Railway Centre and the Kanchanaburi Cemetery. At the TBRC those travelers who had kin on the “Railway” were able to receive information folders from the TBRC staff.

The group then traveled on the original railway from Kanchanaburi to Wampoh. After traveling over the viaduct the party lunched at a new venue – the Tam Krasae Resort, which provided a good view of the viaduct and the returning train from Namtok.

The group checked into Home Phu Toey where the juniors had their first drill instruction for the wreath laying ceremony. There was a reception for many visitors for Anzac Day including the Governor General Quentin Brice and her party. Her Excellency mingled with the guests and spent time with our juniors.

A sound and light show was provided before a gala dinner by the river.

Day four started early with the Dawn Service at Hellfire Pass. The Governor General again mixed with the POWs (Tom Uren, Cyril Gilbert, Bill Schmitt and Lex Arthurson from the Eastern States and Neil MacPherson) and the juniors. A gunfire breakfast followed before returning to Home Phu Toey for breakfast. The group then traveled to Kanchanaburi for the Wreath Laying Service. The Governor General addressed the ceremony and again mingled with the POWs and our juniors after the service. By arrangement, Eric Wilson delivered the address which Bill Haskell would have made had he not been too frail to attend. Our juniors again escorted the wreath layers and assembled before the VIP tent to acknowledge the Gov. General and the POWs. Lunch was at the restaurant beside the Bridge over the River Kwai. There was free time at Home Phu Toey followed by dinner by the Green Beach. DVDs were available for viewing after dinner.

On Day Four the group attended the Hintok Mountain Camp where Eric Wilson addressed the group in lieu of Bill Haskell. The address covered the Mountain Camp, the Valley Camp, Cholera Gulch and the Road Camp.

The group bussed to the site of the main camp at Kinsayoke where there was an opportunity to swim in at the Sai Yok Yai falls followed by a raft trip, with lunch, down the River Kwai to the Hintok River Camp (now the site of an Eco Camp). There was an address there before traveling to the Konyu River Camp site for an address and a walk over the swinging bridge.

There was then a visit to the Hellfire Pass Museum after driving up the Hintok Road.

Day six saw the group walk the Heritage Trail walk from Hintok Cutting through to Hellfire Pass. There was an address at the end of Hintok Cutting and the site of the Three Tier Bridge by David Piesse in lieu of Bill Haskell. In the afternoon the group visited the Sai Yok Noi Falls and the site of the Tonchan South camp. This was followed by a visit to the Thadan Bridge where the youngsters (and the oldies) enjoyed a display and rides at the Elephant Park. There was then time to visit the Jack Chalker Gallery and the other features of the Weary Dunlop Park.

On day seven there was a series of events at Home Phu Toey. Junior Lochie Davies of Coorow and Scotch College gave a demonstration of a replica (quarter scale) still (distilling plant) in honour of the still made at Hintok Mountain Camp by members of Dunlop Force. Lochie has participated in an International Baccalaureate Program and this was his choice under Eric Wilson’s mentorship.

There was then an Obelisk Ceremony in memory of all those personnel from Hintok Camp, particularly the medical personnel.

A Buddhist ceremony followed in Weary Dunlop Park where a group of nine Monks conducted a service to rest the souls of all people who died in the area.

This represents a novel, one-off, experience for our juniors.

A special Memorial Service was then held at the tomb in the nursery and scout area of Home Phu Toey in memory of the late Khun Oonjai Wanachote. The Esperance Group again gave an outstanding rendition of The Wind beneath My Wings, on this occasion led by Janet Silburn.

A visit to Takanun via Brankassi and Hindat followed. The group enjoyed the 300 step climb to the Takanun Wat, overlooking the town of Takanun and the site of the Takanun Aussie Camp. Lunch at the Electricity Generation Authority of Thailand Employee’s Mess and a tour of the Khao Lam Dam area followed.

That evening there was a farewell dinner hosted by Khun Kanit and his family.

The traditional concert was held during and after dinner. It was compered for the first time by Janel Silburn of Esperance. Our dear friend Dot Drinnen was not on the tour. Janet did a great job.

One special item was presented by the eleven “First Generation Descendants of POWs”, they being sons or daughters. (There were many other direct descendants but a generation removed}.

Khun Kanit was presented with copies of the Quiet Lion Journal autographed by all on the tour

Max Cunnington organised a novel fund raiser which collected a significant amount to help the local school. The amount was then doubled by a member of the tour. The proceeds were quietly presented to resort manageress Khun Thom for suitable expenditure.

On Day Eight the tour group traveled to Kanchanaburi via Lat Ya where lush gardens of the Shinto Peace Park Shrine in the vicinity of the “Raja” or “Temple” camp sites ( which had been a stopping point for all POW groups travelling north from Ban Pong” were enjoyed. Lunch was on a raft which traveled along the Kwai Yai River, past the confluence with the Maeklong River and under the Bridge on The River Kwai.

There was a visit to the site of the Tamuang POW Camp which was notable in that all parties traveling up and down the railway stopped here and it was the assembly point for Japan parties. An aged local resident, who was boy free to run around the camp whilst his father was a cook in the camp, was interviewed there.

Later the group visited the Chunkai Cemetery and Cutting before checking in again to the Pung Waan Resort.

Day 9, Saturday 30 th April, saw the group return to Bangkok. En route they visited the Damnoen Saduak Floating Markets where they experienced a trip through the klongs in long tail boats before shopping in the vast markets. They visited the giant chedi complex at Nakom Pathom where the story of the huge Nakon Pathom Hospital established towards the end of hostilities was told.

A tour highlight was the sumptuous lunch followed by an elephant show and a cultural village display was enjoyed. Accommodation at the Royal Benja Hotel.

On day 10 there was a visit to the Royal Summer Palace at Bang Pa In and the ancient Thai capital Ayutthaya. Time was spent at Ayutthaya Historical precinct where old ruins of a city sacked by the marauding Burmese in the fourteenth century were examined. Prior to departure for the day’s activities the guides and bus crews were collectively and individually thanked for their great work and juniors presented each with suitable gratuities provided by the tour on behalf of the travelers.

Lunch was taken on a river cruise from Ayutthaya to Bangkok along the Chayo Praya River. There was time for shopping in the afternoon and evening.

Day eleven was a free day for shopping and touring. Special shopping tours were arranged for those requiring same whilst most took advantage of the trouble free city to shop at will. The unattached juniors (those not with a school group) were taken on a shopping tour using the sky train.

On the last evening there was a final dinner when tributes were paid to those who helped on the tour. Tour Leader particularly thanked committee members Krishna Vanderweide and David Piesse for their efforts and assistance. Neil MacPherson was thanked for his help and for his meaningful commentary.

On Tuesday 3 rd May the majority of the group left early to return to Perth. Others left at intervals to return to other capital cities whilst some left for other parts of Thailand.

The 2011Quiet Lion Tour was very successful with 60 enthusiastic adults and 26 equally enthusiastic juniors. The juniors were particularly well behaved, were vitally interested in learning the story of the Railway and were a credit to their schools, parents and sponsors.

The last few days were marred when the news of Bill Haskell’s untimely but not unexpected death occurred. Bill had been the heart and soul of the Quiet Lion Tours from the time they commenced and every effort will be made to ensure that the tours continue for many years to come as that would be his wish.

Eric Wilson

Tour Leader and Organiser