Archive for Thailand

Burma Death Railway Spike

Posted in Odds & Ends with tags , , , , , , on November 18, 2017 by The Dude

Flag_of_ThailandFlag_of_Japan.svgFlag_of_AustraliaFlag_of_the_United_KingdomA couple of cool and evocative finds here from a contact in Thailand. These are Thai 1940 dated railway spikes from the ruined railway line that ran over 415 km from Thanbyuzayat in Burma to Ban Pong in Thailand. Many people know it only from it’s depiction in the movie “The Bridge on the River Kwai” where it crosses the Mae Klong river. I visited the site and Hellfire Pass in 2014 and I cannot believe the misery under which the slave laborers, both civilian and Allied POW, must have worked and died. A digger over there walked sections of the rail line that were never reused after the war and retrieved these spikes.

Japanese Type-38 Infantry Rifle

Posted in Firearms with tags , , , , on January 12, 2014 by The Dude

Flag_of_Japan.svgThis rifle is the standard Japanese infantry rifle issued from 1905 until the end of World War 2. It is chambered in 6.5 x 50 Arisaka calibre. This one has had a bit of a hard life with it’s stock being a bit beaten up from use but it still has its Imperial Chrysanthemum as well as its dust cover. The sling is also original and has kanji on it that would indicate it’s issue history if I could just find someone to translate it for me. The receiver has the concentric circle stamps over the chrysanthemum indicating that it was part of the shipment supplied to the Thailand government in 1940 as the Type 83 (แบบ ๘๓). I have the representative ammunition for this rifle here.

Border Service Medal

Posted in 1945 + Medals with tags on May 1, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_ThailandThis Thailand medal is issued to all border troops and customs agents for service. It is identical to the one issued in WW2 although I think this is a 1956 issue. I can’t speak Thai so god only knows what it says.

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East Asian Combat Service Medal 1942

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , on April 25, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_ThailandThis Thai medal was awarded to soldiers who were in the war zone. There was a ribbon device that indicated whether the recipient was actually under fire. Meh. The writing on it means “We fight for Thailands honour”.

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The Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant, 7th Class

Posted in 1945 + Medals with tags , on April 25, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_ThailandThis is the Khrueang Ratcha Itsariyaphon An Pen Thi Choet Chu Ying Chang Phueak or The Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant, 7th Class. It’s a Thailand order that is the most awarded in the country. In Thai the name is  เครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์อันเป็นที่เชิดชูยิ่งช้างเผือก. Ha. Say that out loud!

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East Asia War Home Front Service Medal

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , on April 25, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_ThailandThis is a Thai medal, issued to soldiers who took part in the war to take over Cambodia and Laos from the French after the fall of France. This was issued to those who crossed the border but didn’t actually do any fighting. What can I say?

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Indochina Home Front War Service Medal

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , on April 25, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_ThailandThis is a medal issued by Thailand to forces, mobilised for the takeover of French Indo-China in 1940 but never actually deployed to the war zone.

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