Anzac Day Hellfire Pass 2015

[F4UCorsair]

I searched but couldn't find a thread already open, but if there is, please move my post.

I booked airfares over six months ago to make the journey, and wasn't sorry I did.

Leaving the hotel, Pung-waan, 20 kms from HFP at 1.30 for the bike ride was necessary to ensure a seat in the stand, seated by 2.30, a 3 hour wait passed surprisingly quickly, chatting with others.

The service wasn't protracted as these end to be, but a moving service nevertheless, emotional and spiritual, and soon after dawn, with the soft hooting of an owl in the distance, and pipes playing Amazing Grace, I don't think there was a dry eye amongst the couple of thousand attendees.

I'd been trekking along various parts of the old railway bed all the way to Three Pagodas Pass for the past 20+ years, but had never attended a dawn service since they started about 12-13 years ago.

[loppylugs1]

Interesting. I too have tried to trek the pass. Over Hintok road to the point where it is impossible to proceed,next time will go to close to the swing bridge is, and start off in that direction going back towards Hintock

[Torrens54]

Any pictures that you can share?

[F4UCorsair]

Any pictures that you can share?

Sorry, I took only a couple and they were of the crowd leaving through the pass.

The MC requested that no flash pics be taken, which of course didn't stop the more ignorant in the crowd from doing so, and I couldn't get anywhere near the cenotaph even 15 minutes after the service to grab a few.

I've had an email from the centre manager and he said the crowd as estimated at 3285 which sounds like a very accurate 'estimate' to me, or maybe there was an electronic counting device?? I presume that included the crowd watching the big screen in the carpark in front of the museum, and they were teeming down the boardwalk as those who were in the pass at the actual service were teeming up the boardwalk.

The disappointing thing from my point of view is that about half of the only seating was reserved for 'dignitaries', most of whom were military, including Thai, and their wives/gf's.

[loppylugs1]

Any pictures that you can share?

Sorry, I took only a couple and they were of the crowd leaving through the pass.

The MC requested that no flash pics be taken, which of course didn't stop the more ignorant in the crowd from doing so, and I couldn't get anywhere near the cenotaph even 15 minutes after the service to grab a few.

I've had an email from the centre manager and he said the crowd as estimated at 3285 which sounds like a very accurate 'estimate' to me, or maybe there was an electronic counting device?? I presume that included the crowd watching the big screen in the carpark in front of the museum, and they were teeming down the boardwalk as those who were in the pass at the actual service were teeming up the boardwalk.

The disappointing thing from my point of view is that about half of the only seating was reserved for 'dignitaries', most of whom were military, including Thai, and their wives/gf's.

Many times I have stood over one particular grave there in Kanchanaburi,a 20 year old Royal Engineer,died 1943,20 years later that could have been me 20 years old and in the Royal Engineers.

It really pisses me off these bloody "dignitaries"who the <deleted> they think they are? the army is nothing but a waste of time with those sort of bastards running the show. My army best friend committed suicide because of it all,friends shot down by the IRA,I could kick those <deleted> up the arse and spit on every one of the <deleted>,that is why I never attend.