Experiencing Hellfire

Solemn soldiering: OC C/2RAR Major Richard Barrett and CSM WO2 Nik Haddock team up to cart a bag of cement during the refurbishment of the Burma/Thai Railway at Kanchanabri.

By Capt Mick Deer

EX Temple Jade provided significant challenges to C Coy 2RAR, including the obstacle of overcoming a cultural aversion to eating scorpions and cockroaches, on a survival activity and coping with high temperatures and humidity.

The exercise is a reciprocal company exchange that was conducted this year between 2RAR and 1 Btn, 6 Inf Regt, Royal Thai Army (RTA) over the period Apr 23 - May 23. This year the company travelled to Sanphasitthiprasong Barracks, Ubon-Ratchatani, Thailand.

At the Barracks C Coy was exposed to in-barracks training activities designed by the Thais after their recent operational experiences in Southern Thailand.

Field training took place under arduous conditions, with temperatures reaching a maximum of 48C and about 85-90 per cent humidity. These conditions, coupled with the differences in tactics and doctrine, meant that the company was forced to reevaluate some of its methods, providing invaluable training, with lessons being learnt by soldiers and commanders at all levels.

The soldiers gained an historical and physical appreciation of the hardships experienced by Australian Prisoners of War in the construction of the Burma-Thai “Death Railway” while doing remedial work at Kanchanabri with the Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum.

The soldiers completed the work ahead of schedule, and to a very high standard, using tools constructed from local materials. They carted and tamped rock on the railway, assisted in the construction of a memorial rock wall, and provided the manpower for an environmental project.

This restoration of the railway and memorial, conducted on behalf of the RTA and the King of Thailand, proved a highlight of the trip for many of the soldiers involved.

The soldiers recognised that they had performed a worthy task in assisting to maintain a part of our history, and all felt immense satisfaction when the refurbishment was complete.