Hellfire Pass Dawn Parade ANZAC 2009 with BangkokDayTours.com

May 10, 2009 - PRLog -- ANZAC Day is celebrated on April 25th each year and marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers in those forces quickly became known as ANZACs, and the pride they soon took in that name endures to this day.

ANZAC Day in Thailand is commemorated in Kanchanaburi Province, commencing with a Dawn Parade down into Konyu Cutting at Hellfire Pass, followed by a Wreath-laying Ceremony at Don Rak War Cemetery in Kanchanaburi town.

During the Second World War, thousands of forced local labourers and Allied Prisoners of War suffered and died constructing and maintaining the Burma-Thailand railway. Hellfire Pass is the name of the railway cutting on the Death Railway known as Konyu cutting. Work by torchlight at night by Allied POWs gave the pass its name.

The Konyu cutting was a particularly difficult section of the line to build due to it being the largest rock cutting on the railway, coupled with its general remoteness and the lack of proper construction tools during building. The Australian, British, Dutch and other allied Prisoners of War were required by the Japanese to work 18 hours a day to complete the cutting.

On 24-25 April 2009, Bangkok Day Tours escorted a large group including a number of families to Kanchanaburi to participate in the ANZAC Day ceremonies.
http://bangkokdaytours.com/Kanchanaburi/ANZAC-2009.html

Saturday included a walk on the Bridge over the River Kwai and a train ride along the Death Railway and over the Wang Po viaduct. Some of the group went up to Hellfire Pass to see the museum and down into Konyu Cutting, while others visited Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua Yannasampanno more commonly known as the Tiger Temple. Dinner was enjoyed at the Floating Restaurant beside the River Kwai in the shadow of the historic bridge.

Sunday started with a three o’clock wake-up call in order to be at Hellfire Pass in time for the Dawn Parade. The New Zealand Ambassador Dr. Brook Barrington delivered a very moving speech reminding all present that while ANZAC usually celebrates the sacrifices of both Aussies and Kiwis, Hellfire Pass has a special place in Australian history.

Following the Dawn Parade a traditional Gunfire Breakfast was served in front of the Hellfire Pass Museum, including ANZAC biscuits and a tot of Bundy rum.

The tour group then returned to their resort in Kanchanaburi for a full breakfast before attending the Wreath-laying Ceremony at the Don Rak War Cemetery. This was a very hot day and the constant provision of cold water delivered by local school girls throughout the ceremony was much appreciated.

Following a hearty lunch the tour group returned to Bangkok arriving mid afternoon.

If you would like to be part of ANZAC 2010 check the details and book early. Families are especially welcome.
http://bangkokdaytours.com/Kanchanaburi/ANZAC-2010.html

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This is a travel business based in Bangkok, which specialises in day trips around Bangkok and 2-3 day tours to the neighbouring provinces.
It's English-speaking management have wide experience in dealing with all aspects of tourism in Thailand.