The Ambassador with James of
CC Riders and Tom the secretary of the Mad Dogs.
Bert Elson
For members of the Royal British Legion here in Thailand, November
is our most active part of the year, we have our membership renewal, the
period we call Remembrancetide and our annual Poppy Appeal.
Last year, for our Poppy Appeal Event, we held four major golf tournaments
around Thailand, this year we still had our Poppy Golf in Pattaya along with
an event we named the Kwai Challenge to mark the 70th year of work
commencing on the Thai/Burma railway. This is also referred to as “The
Railway of Death” due to the fact that over 13,000 POWs and over 100,000
Asian labourers lost their lives building it.
The Challenge started on 5 November when former U.S. Marine, Frank DeSomer,
left Sangkhla Buri just South of Three Pagodas Pass to Cycle and Trek his
way to Kanchanaburi, following the route of the original railway wherever
possible. Frank told us, “We often left the main road to follow tracks and
trails to the original location of POW camps and cemeteries, following the
instructions of the historians at the Thai Burma Railway Centre. At one of
these locations just off a jungle trail we found two of the original graves
still as they were when the bodies were moved to Kanchanaburi; we placed the
first of nine wreaths here.
Frank lays our first wreath.
“Another of the many former POW Camps we visited was
Tonchan South which is just north of the end of the present day railway at
Nam Tok. There is a waterfall here that is now a haven for tourists - little
do they know that either side of the top of the waterfall were the long huts
housing the POWs and at the bottom was the railway and cemetery. All in all
we laid nine wreaths, the last one being at Chungkai just outside
Kanchanaburi. Chungkai was the hospital cemetery and remains in its original
location.”
Frank covered a total of 280 kilometres during the Challenge, climbed a
total of 1,300m in elevation - mostly on the first day. He was on the road
for a total of five days; trekking along the railway was hard going and he
injured his foot on the third day. “We took a rest day but still managed to
be in Kanchanaburi on 10 November, ready for the Remembrance Service on the
11th - this, of course, was part one of the Challenge, part two was still to
come.”
At 05.30 am over fifty of our newly formed Royal British Legion Thailand
Riders were also at Sangkhla Buri. These were made up of members from CC
Darkside Riders, Mad Dogs, Black Sheep and other individual riders. They all
placed poppy crosses and a poppy wreath at the start point before they made
their way to Kanchanaburi. The riders called in to Hellfire Pass to place
another wreath and pick up more riders before arriving at Kanchanaburi and
joining up with Frank for the Service of Remembrance at 10.30 am.
The remains of one of the
original graves at Shimo Songkurai Cemetery.
Waiting to meet and greet the Challenge were a number of
VIPs, including British Ambassador Mark Kent, the defence attaché Captain
Ken Taylor and the president of the Royal British Legion Thailand Graham
Macdonald. Everyone arrived safely, had a great time and raised a lot of
much needed funds for the Poppy Appeal and Thai Veterans Hospital.
After the service, food and drinks were provided compliments of Acorn
Distribution and the British Embassy, tents and seating were provided by the
Queen Victoria Inn and all the hard work needed to organise such an event
was given by our members free of charge.
Our Poppy Appeal this year is being run by members Ron Smith, Rodney Charman
and Steve Ryan who are all busy collecting in the boxes. Once again Kim
Fletcher from Jameson’s has put in a fantastic effort reaching well over
65,000 baht from his poppy boxes with more to come. We will update you on
the total of the appeal once we have it. We also have Poppy Appeals in
Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Korat, Hua Hin, Kanchanaburi along with many other
smaller locations.
Some of our members also met Foreign Secretary William Hague at the British
Embassy and discussed such things as pensions, medical care, consular issues
and consular closures. “Same, same” many people will say but keep chipping
away and one day we may see a crack!
Young Burmese monks bless
Frank on day one.
So a busy but enjoyable time for Legion members, the Kwai
Challenge was of course our main event and we hope to raise in the region of
400,000 baht from it. Nothing happens without the good will of sponsors and
the main ones for this event were: MBMG, Pattaya Realty, Chillington Tools,
DTC Travel, Thailand Riders and Champion Wildlife to whom we are most
grateful.
Our Poppy Golf this year was sponsored by the Amari, Tom Cotton and MBMG. We
would also like to thank the many bars, restaurants and individuals who have
been involved in the Poppy Appeal and look forward to your help again next
year. Last but certainly not lease the Pattaya Mail for it’s continued
support of the Royal British Legion. Our members will be putting their feet
up for a month or so in preparation for our next major event which will be
back to Kanchanaburi for Anzac Day on April 25.
Anyone wishing to join the Royal British Legion please contact Bert (details
below) or call in to Tropical Bert’s any Sunday from 2pm and should anyone
after reading this wish to donate to the Poppy Appeal please see Bert or go
to our website www.rblthailand .com where you will find a PayPal Donate
button.
Finally a Big Thank You to Frank DeSomer and all the bikers who took the
time to take part in the Kwai Challenge.
Bert Elson, Secretary/Welfare Chairman, Royal British Legion Chonburi
Thailand, 382/3-5, Moo 9, Pattaya 2nd Road, Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi
20260, Thailand, tel. 089 8072335, email
[email protected]
Nobody said it would be easy,
Frank climbed 1,300m in elevation on day one.
Thankfully it wasn’t all
mountains and Frank had time to enjoy the view.
Frank at the site of Kui Yae
POW Camp.
The British Ambassador Mark
Kent greets some of the bikers.
Some of the riders in Hellfire
Pass.
Two of the riders at Hellfire
Pass, you may well recognize Patrick of Patrick’s Belgium Restaurant on the
right. Patrick served many years in the Belgium Airborne and the French
Foreign Legion.
05.30am and the riders lay
their Poppy Crosses at the start point.
It seemed never ending, but
how must they have felt 70 years ago.
We laid one of our wreaths
next to this monument at Hellfire Pass.
Frank walking the line.
The Thailand branch stretches
far and wide; here branch member Mo Morrison (left) is collecting in Kabul
Afghanistan, we raised $1,300.
A small Poppy Cross on an
unknown Grave.
Buddhist monks bless all the
graves before our Remembrance Service.
Some of our members with
William Hague, the British Foreign Secretary.
Derek Brook (left) and Graham
Macdonald (right) with the winners of this year’s Poppy Golf.
The riders on the way.
The riders on the ferry in
Bangkok.
Members of the support team
with the British Ambassador, British Defence Attaché & wife and Graham
Macdonald.
Some of the riders and Frank
(left) meet up in Kanchanaburi.
MBMG kindly hosted dinner for
the support staff and of course the ambassador
We fed and watered over 300
after the service.
Grieg Ritchie dishing out
breakfast to 50 hungry bikers plus everyone else.
