The Nightmarish Construction Of The Burma Trainline | Moving Half The Mountain 

My grandfather was a POW in Burma. He was captured in Singapore. He ended up a double amputee, one of only two to survive. I know he was operated on by an Australian surgeon. They had no anaesthetic, he was held down by 4 men, and told to bite down on a piece of bamboo. His life expectancy was 3 weeks. He passed away age 97, and still asked for the last post to be played. Still get emotional about it all, and he didn't tell us all that much.

My Father was a POW on the Burma-Siam railway... he was captured in Java and sent there.. he was part of the Australian Contingent. He didnt speak about it very much. He was an amazing human being. RIP old man

My late Dad was forced to work on this 'Death Railway'. He was a survivor of the sinking of the USS Houston CA-30 on 03/01/1942 in the battle of Sunda Strait (as was William Holden's character in the 1957 epic movie- 'Bridge on the River Kwai'). The testimonials given in this piece are very, very important in their depiction of the true reality of what went on with the forced slave labor used to build this railway. A railway that was aiding the war effort of the enemy- the oppressors. Bravo to these brave British POW's in speaking the truth. Appreciate greatly the documenting and making available of this profound, important piece. My dad only ever wanted but a sincere apology from the Japanese for their treatment as he felt that and only that could begin the process of perhaps leading to 'forgiveness'. Obviously passing in 2006 he never received such an apology. The Japanese appearing in this piece albeit perhaps one, did little to nothing in contribution of that wish. I simply as a son ask everyone to consider all of this before possibly running out to buy a Toyota, Mitsubishi or Nissan automobile!

This documentary should be used in our classrooms to help kids remember the history.

Even thousands of Tamil workers were also massacred in the construction of death railway.Please mention this too.Every person while documenting the Death Railway are not recording the plights faced by our Tamil community by Japanese in Siam

I had a dear friend of our family who was captured in Singapore and worked on this railway. George Williams was a wonderful man, husband and father. He would dress up as Santa and visit all his friends children on Christmas eve. With his trusty sidekick Red they would put a ladder up on the very snowy roofs and bang on them to simulate the sleigh much to our delight. They did this until they were in their 70's and their wives insisted they quit climbing ladders in the snow. George was also the local Scout leader for some 30 years. He would not talk about his time as a POW and I understand why but I really appreciate learning what he went through. George lived a good long life in Canada after the war and was loved by all. God bless all who serve and thank you for your sacrifice.

May the sacrifices made by those men and their friends who died never seeing home again live on in our minds forever. Lest we forget

For those interested read the "War diaries of Weary Dunlop". Dr Dunlop was an Australian surgeon who voluntarily went into captvity on the Burma railway and kept an illegal diary during the period. It is published with minimal editing and is horrific reading.

Perfect documentary, being able to hear directly from those who were there.

I knew two men who became POWs after the fall of Singapore. One worked on the Burma railway, his experience effected him physically, and mentally the rest of his life. He had massive scars on his legs from jungle sore ulcers, and ultimately he took his own life. The other was my father-in-law. He was a Colonial Service doctor who had been seconded to the army as an interpreter in the last days of the defense. He spent the duration of his captivity in Changi prison, and lived into his 90s. Post war he took several years to recover. My wife, as a young child, two of her siblings, and her mother were evacuated by ship to Ceylon/Sri Lanka, and then from Ceylon to South Africa where they spent the remainder of the war.

Those are some of the toughest men to have ever lived.

“My colonel literally lost his head!” 😫 I can’t imagine how horrifying this kind of thing must be.

It's so revealing how the Japanese in this film have such a light-hearted view of what they did and tend to blame the prisoners for dying because the didn't 'behave' well! Even after so many years, they have no remorse or sympathy for their victims or crimes.

I think these men deserve a web forum that they can talk to people, and answer questions with their time left. Their legacy and knowledge and experience needs to live on in others. These memories of great and honorable men need not be lost to history. Other than the limited replies given in this documentary.

My dutch grandfather was POW who lost his life building this railway. He is buried in Thailand. His wife, my grandmother, did not know he had died until the day she was released along with my father and his siblings from a Japanese concentration camps in Indonesia. Her Japanese captors did not even have the decency to tell her that.

I've been to the railway many times, and have performed on and under The Kwai River Bridge on several occasions, telling the story of its construction. I've had the great honour of playing "Weary" Dunlop three times. I've done a lot of research and I've seen this excellent documentary before. The stories never cease to move and inspire. The last time I performed at The Bridge I finally had the chance to go to Hellfire Pass. As much as I knew the details, actually standing in that chasm was overwhelming and just unthinkable. The Bridge on The River Kwai was at the top of my list of things to see the first time I came to Thailand. I never imagined that Kanchanaburi would wind up becoming a kind of second home. I highly recommend visiting if anyone has the chance.

They also did this in Sumatra Indonesia, between Pekanbaru and Muaro. The engineers from the Thai Burma railway were sent to complete this 220km railway which was finished the 15th of august 1945, the day the war ended. Over 100,000 local slaves were killed along with 703 prisoners of war.

I'm now in my 80's, but as a young man one of the jobs I did was long distance bus, " coach" driving. We still had conductor's at that time. An elderly conductor we called, " Burma Tam' was working on the death railway, always there was one seat near the driver empty for the conductor. Tam sometimes sat and actually passed out, maybe for a couple of minutes, then would "come to" as if nothing happened. The medics at that time contributed this to his treatment on the death railway.

My family was brutalized by the Japanese during their opposition of Korea. History has all but forgotten and forgiven them without them apologizing.

Dr Bill Frankland died 2 Apr last ...aged 108. I wouldn't be surprised if his last words were: "I don't feel old". I'm 77 ... I also "Don't feel old."

My dear Daddy,Jim Elliot Odams of the 26th Royal Artillery died when I was eight from conditions that he endured on the Burma railway

My great grandad Albert Ballard was an RAF pilot who was captured as a POW and forced to work on the railway. He died there in 1942.

I had hoped the men and relatives who Suffered and Died because of this 'Holocaust' would recieve much better 'Reparations' like other survivors of WW2 Atrocities. This is an Appalling piece of History. Thank you for making this Documentary.

A survivor of the Japanese prison camps I was told about never recovered. He had a habit of grabbing people by the head and pressing his thumbs into their eyes (amongst other behaviours) ... he was acting out what had been done to him in the camp. He spent the rest of his life in a Mental hospital after being released from the camp and returning home.

Thnk u so mutch my grandfather workt at the burmaline and kept all his man in live he was a KNIL underlutenent My grandmother and greetgrandmother survived the womenskamp and my father was in the boys kamp. Greeting from the Netherlands

Thank you for posting this video of an often glossed over part of History.. Good to know tgerh are still good Documentaries out there

The gentleman at 55:20 said it best. If I hate them it will do them no harm, but if I hate them it does me harm.

Learned all about this after doing my family tree and finding out that my relative Frederick King 1906-1943 died on the Burma Railway. RIP Freddie. So sad I can't imagine how bad this must have been 💔

'if the POWs behave they not get sick'. Unbelievable they still think that way. Has Japan ever apologised to the ex POWs?

Japanese wars crimes along with the Italian involvement in ww2 isn't really talked about or portrayed in film very much.

Seems that memory loss was very prevalent for those old Japanese soldiers.

Despicable to hear the lies and denial by these elder Japanese -- so shameful.

The horrors of war. Very sad.

I have no words... only tears...

My father worked on the death railway. He was a captain in 2n bt, 17th Dogra regiment Indian army taken prisoner at Singapore. I can remember him telling me about how the Japanese would light the fuses for blasting the rock and only warning the prisoners at the last possible moment. He also got malaria and the only treatment he got was one single aspirin. Even that single aspirin was a miracle find. He also told me that it was the big rough tough John Wayne types that were the first to keel over.

This is why the old people need to talk, and the Young People need to listen.

My grandads cousin perished here building the railway. In memory of Private Francis William Crombleholme aged 24, a gunner in the Royal Artillery

Every soldier in this film blamed others and denied torturing. They try to minimize the atrocities they were part of. The stain will last as long as history.

Harrowing. Thank you for this film.

Up and Over! Thank you! Keep Pushin!

how about a documentary on Unit 731 of the Imperial Japanese army ?

My uncle was a POW, he was taken prisoner at Singapore and spent most of his time in Tiawan he was liberated on the 9 September 1945.

This is absolutely amazing. It's wonderful so many of these guys are still around to tell the tale. I also get a chuckle out of how the guy sitting in the most posh house by far, has the most working-class accent.

My grandfather survived this and was a railway man.pow,corporal Roland Criddle

This video deserves 10 million likes!

Rest in peace to everyone who lost their lives on the railway lest we forget

Great Documentary. Thanks.

Although I've never fought in a war I do follow our history. I applaud the makers of this documentary for keeping this history alive. In my life I have known a few former POW's and probably a lot more that I wasn't aware of. I know of the acts carried out on Aussies (and probably the Pom's too) by the Japanese in Ambon and Changi. Had it been me I doubt that I would forgive them but for all those who overcome the past and did forgive them I take my hat off to you all. You're all better blokes than me.

I'm a Japanese university student who major in Southeast Asian Studies. And I'm studying about Thai-Burma Railway, " the Death Railway". I have read many articles like books written by POWs, movie( " the Railway Man"), a documentary of a military police translator "Takashi Nagase" etc... And during reading a book about Mikio Kinoshita (12:40) written by his daughter, luckily I could know this wonderful documentary. We Japanese students have never taught about " Death Railway" (neither comfort women, nanjing massacre etc ) in the compulsory history classes. Luckily, I can study history of WW2 from many aspects at my university, but I believe most people including my father's generation don't know much about what Japanese Army did. And some right-wing Japanese say it's not the truth, it is exaggerated. This is a really big problem. I want people all over the world to know this situation about history education in Japan.... But as a student who major in Asian Studies and wish to improve relationship between Japan and Asia, I'll study more about history even though it hurts me a lot. Anyway, thank you for the wonderful documentary.

43:02 "If the atomic bombs had not been dropped, we would have carried on fighting, until everyone was dead..."

The denials of the Japanese ex soldiers is disgusting. No torture, no starvation, no mistreatment and no comfort women.

An absolute masterpiece of a documentary. The true accounts from men who were themselves there. Please keep these coming. Inspiring, Educational, and a haunting reminder of what mankind can become when a global war erupts consuming civilization.

Excellent documentary. Thank you

Thank You For Sharing 🇺🇸

Thank you for your testimony. Alistair Urquhart, thank you for surviving to share your experience. They bore witness to barbarity that we need not. Thank you men that we may learn from history, and need not repeat it. Peace through strength.

Excellent video!!!!

To have survived these horrible events is a tribute to the strength and will if these men and honor is due them. I would also point out that Americans and Australians were among these prisoners and few survived. I had the good fortune to meet some of the survivors and can attest to their great character. I also was part of a crew that documented railroad from the American point of view in 1969 and saw the results.

Nice one

Excellent documentary

I appreciate the honesty and matter of factness of this program. This is history that should not be forgotten. I will not forget it! If you do not learn the history lessons of the past it is sure that history will repeat itself.

Massive respect for these absolutely astounding men who survived and who died god bless them

Such an important part of history.

Brilliant Brits - those men are true heroes and should have been treated as such upon their return. The Japanese apologies ring hollow.

My uncle was there. He survived but was affected by it.

Alistair Urquhart's book is amazing. It disgusted me to read in it that when he returned to the UK he had the cost of his uniform and daily rations deducted from his pay whilst he was a POW by the British Army.

Wow......On every aspect of thought.

Great Documentary “Like you know”

If anyone knows or fought with Roland Criddle,cpl.he is my grandfather,he was starved BEATEN and his pupil was damaged,.I still cannot think of japan it kills me.thry took him from us although he survived.

One of the best history presenters of all time dan snow and his father

I thought this was a beautifully heart gripping timeline thank you for sharing... GOD BLESS ALL THOSE SOULS WHO PERISHED AND PREVAILED AMEN

Wow that Japanese Man at around 46:20 or near that has the audacity to complain about how the British had them work on the Thailand side of the railway after the war when he was now the POW “so they could sale it to Thailand for the best price”. He complains about that happening when he was involved in the horrific treatment of those Allied POWs and local Native people. He has evolved slowly since 1945 obviously.

My grandad was a POW forced to build the railway. Captured in Singapore. Lived to tell the tale, but never uttered a single word about his experience. I named my 10 month old after him. I visited Kanchanburi and hellfire pass. It will haunt me forever. 😢

Amazing tribute to the character of these men who suffered so terribly that most seem to not harbour a bitter hatred because of their ordeal. This was also the attitude of my father-in-law (at that time) who was captured in Singapore and became one of these great men. He confirmed the experience as related, but also harboured no lasting bitterness; they truly were the greatest generation. Denial or lying about of the brutality of that time by Japanese veterans is typical, and after visiting the Yushukan museum at the Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo where no mention of any of this made, it is easy to understand why most younger Japanese have no idea or interest in what really happened. They focus exclusively on the atomic bombings and doggedly view themselves as victims.

Excellent food for thought

I read the comments. THANK YOU!!!!

War is evil. Always. I pray that the leaders and peoples of the world work for peace and justice. For this to happen I guess we have to change ourselves.

amazing hearing all these terrible stories

Awesome doco. Thank you.

A brilliant novel, set painfully in this history: The Narrow Road to the Deep North.

Around 39:30, the Japanese soldier said: he is so happy that he has completed something great!!!! (at cost of 110,000 lives!!!)

My friend grew up in Japan and said they are complete atrocity deniers which is reflected by the men in this video, but is still true today. You will only ever hear of hiroshima, nagasaki and the terrible way the Japanese are treated, in the educational system but nothing in reverse.

How could you allow the Japanese guards to lie through their teeth like that? I'm glad they went to their death with these horrible lies between them and their maker. How disgusting. I can't even watch the whole thing with these lying pieces of garbage. They could have at least had the courage to admit what they had done!! They also act like it was ok to turn these prisoners into slaves. I'm disgusted!

Sad and good times at the end?Those that are sharing there ervaring?Are hero's of survival.God bless them all.Amen.

My father was the same, he refused to talk about anything that went on in these camps.

It's STILL amazing how the POW camp guards sound remorseless about their actions. Always "following orders" smh ...

The only part I liked about the video is in 53:30, when the Japanese the old ex-Japanese soldier said: "the dangerous thing is about our Education, that everyone was told be the dame, no one thinks differently" Wow, it totally changed my mind..indeed. He wins my respect.. In any society, there has to be a differently voice that keep those power in check. otherwise, the history will repeat itself.

WarsOfTheWorld is a great channel also full of interesting war stuff.

Read the "Forgotten Highlander"by Alistair Urquhart who's in that documentary. Must read book.

My grandad was on the Burma railroad and was emotionally scarred by it for the rest of his life, he never spoke about it till he was on his death bed, and told my dad about how he and mates suffered at the hands of the Japanese, he must have been like these old boys talking on this documentary I take my hat off to all them, can you imagine how today's snowflake generation be able to cope with that

I don't speak Japanese, but it seems like there saying a lot more words then the subtitles are saying

FASCINATING 🔥🔥🔥

That cruelty that humans inflicted upon other human beings just like themselves. Pure hatred. Pure evil.

Have visited the Kuai River Bridge in Kanchanaburi，Thailand.

The one gent sitting in his living room who opened with the nightmare story, I do not know why but reminds me of bed knobs and broomsticks my favorite movie as a lad his voice, accent and cadence of speech teleported me to portabello Rd and professor Brown. That sad really well done documentary getting both sides that was refreshing in a documentary and the difference even between the men on each side in how they felt was really good to see too

In 2019 we went on a holiday to Thailand, my first ever international trip and I like my history and we stayed at Kanchanaburi 13:56. And vistised one of the locations of the death rail way, The bridge over the river Kwai. Yes I know the bridge that stands there today isn't the original for obvious reasons but still an experience to see the area and be able to walk across the bridge on the tracks and to see the surrounding thick vegetation that the rail line travels through. Its amazing what they achieved... Especially under the horrible circumstances.

Funny how the Japanese soldiers don’t remember torture but everybody else does that were their POWs. An entire nation with selective memory

Said sorry because of the railway, didn’t say sorry about treating the soldiers so bad

California Army Guard Vet Here. God Bless these brothers in Arms.

Has Japan ever made a monetary restitution for the survivors or their families?

Absolutely fudging amazing! Absolutely heartbreaking and also heartwarming!✌❤