The Death Railway by Charles Kappe

Author:Charles Kappe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History / Military / World War II
Publisher: Frontline Books
Published: 2022-04-29T00:00:00+00:00

Camp Strength Sick Engineer Work Parties Camp Work Parties*

* Includes all officers and hospital staff.

Despite the apparently large number on camp works these still were inadequate for the proper care of the sick, hygiene duties, fuel collecting etc.

At the beginning of the month the workers were being handed over to the Engineers at 0730 hours (this meant Reveille at 0630 hours, first light being at 0745 hours) and were being returned to camp at varying times between 2000 hours and 2130 hours.

On 11th September Col Banno arrived at the camp accompanied by his medical officer, Lieut Tanio, who made a cursory inspection of the camp lasting less than 15 minutes. The opportunity was taken by the S.M.O. to represent the case for a reduction in the strength of outside working parties. The Japanese doctor promised that he would take up the matter with Col Banno. The situation regarding the shortage of drugs was pointed out and the S.M.O. was asked to submit a list of requirements for one month, Lieut Tanio stating that he considered the move south would have commenced by the end of that period.

Two days later, the officers in charge of working parties were informed that work on the railway earthworks and bridges had to be accelerated and accordingly the men would have to remain on the jobs until the work was completed, a period estimated at between 72 and 96 hours. On the grounds that this was a certain way of killing many men a protest was lodged with the administration by the Camp Commander who was informed that superior orders had stipulated that the railway must pass No.3 Camp by 15th September at any cost.

Heavy rain fell throughout that day and in the evening conditions became so bad that the flares by which the night work was to be performed were doused by the rain, resulting in the men being returned to camp at 2130 hours.

Next day – 14th – weather conditions were a little better and working hours much longer. The men went out to work at 0630 hours but did not return until 0230 hours the following morning. Before turning in they were ordered to parade again at 0630 hours which meant at the most three hours rest. Sixty workers had to be replaced by men from hospital, the medical officers being kept busy throughout the night examining and classifying men with the object of saving the worst cases from further hardship. Needless to say, all camp duties with the exception of cooking and nursing of the sick had to cease.

On 15th September the Camp Commander had been promised that work would cease at 1530 hours that day but it was 0200 hours on the 16th before the men staggered back into camp. The strain now, both physical and mental was terrific. Men were too exhausted even to speak and acted more as automatons than human beings. It was only the thought that the end was in sight that sustained them in these days of sheer torture.

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