During World War II, British Prisoners of War were used by the Japanese to build a railway linking Bangkok, Thailand to Rangoon, Burma. Over 12,000 POWs were killed building the railway. In this video, British POWs recall building the railway. Remembering the harsh working conditions, one POW says: “If you fell by the wayside, you couldn’t go any father and nobody could help you. You were left to die, or they made sure you died.” Construction of the railway was completed on October 17, 1943.
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