THE BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER KWAE

THE BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER THE BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER KWAE is, know to most people through KWAE is, know to most people through

Pierre Boulle’s novel and the movie Pierre Boulle’s novel and the movie based on it According to Boulle the based on it According to Boulle the

finest espionage agents British Force finest espionage agents British Force 136 could muster risked tiller lives to 136 could muster risked tiller lives to

plant explosives on the bridge the plant explosives on the bridge the Allied prisoners of war built for the Allied prisoners of war built for the

Japanese.Japanese.

The actual WoThe actual Wo rld War II history of rld War II history of the “Death Railway” is somewhat the “Death Railway” is somewhat

different from the novel. The prisoners different from the novel. The prisoners built several bridges at the site of the built several bridges at the site of the

present steel bridge.present steel bridge.

All three bridges were bombed not All three bridges were bombed not by British underground agents but by by British underground agents but by British Air Force planes. The planes British Air Force planes. The planes

flew to Thailand from bases in Ceylon flew to Thailand from bases in Ceylon U.S. Air Force planes also flew mission U.S. Air Force planes also flew mission

in the area from Chungking, in the in the area from Chungking, in the south of China.south of China.

Two wooden bridges were built by Two wooden bridges were built by British, Dutch, Australian, and British, Dutch, Australian, and

American prisoners of war. One bridge American prisoners of war. One bridge was built at the site of the metal bridge; was built at the site of the metal bridge;

the other was approximately 100 the other was approximately 100 meters downstream from the metal meters downstream from the metal

bridge. The remaining wooden support bridge. The remaining wooden support of the downstream bridge can be seen of the downstream bridge can be seen

during the dry season.during the dry season.

The metal bridge was brought from The metal bridge was brought from Java by the Japanese. It was brought Java by the Japanese. It was brought up to Kanchanaburi by barge and was up to Kanchanaburi by barge and was assembled by the prisoners. Bombing assembled by the prisoners. Bombing of the bridge took place several times of the bridge took place several times

during the summer of 1945. during the summer of 1945.

Bullet holes can still be spotted on Bullet holes can still be spotted on the original spans of the bridge. But the the original spans of the bridge. But the bombs did no great damage to the steel bombs did no great damage to the steel bridge until the eighth, ninth and tenth bridge until the eighth, ninth and tenth

attacks, which destroyed three spans of attacks, which destroyed three spans of the bridge. The spans destroyed were the bridge. The spans destroyed were the fourth through the sixth from the the fourth through the sixth from the

Kanchanaburi side. (After the war they Kanchanaburi side. (After the war they were replaced by two larger spans.)were replaced by two larger spans.)

After the war, the state Railway of After the war, the state Railway of Thailand bought the railway from the Thailand bought the railway from the

Allies for 50 million baths. The Allies for 50 million baths. The destroyed spans were replaced by the destroyed spans were replaced by the

State Railway. The repair work was State Railway. The repair work was done by a Japanese firm as part of war done by a Japanese firm as part of war

indemnity.indemnity.

The railway bridge is still The railway bridge is still used by the Thai State Railway, used by the Thai State Railway, which runs a passenger train to which runs a passenger train to

end of the lines, Saiyok No.1 end of the lines, Saiyok No.1 Waterfall (Nam Tok) once a day. Waterfall (Nam Tok) once a day.

The train leaves Kanchanaburi at The train leaves Kanchanaburi at 6:00 a.m. and return in the 6:00 a.m. and return in the

evening. The track west of the evening. The track west of the Nam Tok Station was dismamtled Nam Tok Station was dismamtled

after the war because it was after the war because it was unsafe.unsafe.

““Kwae” is a Thai word meaning Kwae” is a Thai word meaning “the branch of a river”. The Big and “the branch of a river”. The Big and

Little Kwae meet at the town of Little Kwae meet at the town of Kanchanaburi. The branches join to Kanchanaburi. The branches join to

form the Maeklong River, which flows form the Maeklong River, which flows to the Gulf of Thailand.to the Gulf of Thailand.