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Stories from the Death Railway

The railway from Pekanbaru to Muaro has many tales of survival and sorrow under such brutal and inhospitable conditions. Here you can read about some of these stories.

 

If you have a story about the railway that you want told message us here.

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Click on an image to learn more.

Judy the English Pointer 

Judy the English Pointer ©TopFoto.co.uk

Judy was a ships' dog who had an amazing tale of survival. She befriended a prisoner named Frank Williams and became the only dog ever to be made a POW.

Ivan Pardoe

Ivan Pardoe (Courtesy of the Pardoe Family)

Ivan Pardoe was a New Zealander serving aboard the the British gunboat "Dragonfly". He survived the sinking of his ship and escaped to Padang on the west coast of Sumatra, only to be captured by the Japanese. He was a member of the Aceh (Atjeh) Party and then worked on the railway based at camp 14a, working on track maintenance and bridge building. 

An interview undertaken by the Imperial War Museum of Leonard Walter Williams who was forced to help with the construction of the railway.

Ron Reid

Ron Reid (RNZAF Pilot)

Dave Homewood interviewed the late WWII RNZAF pilot Ron Reid, at his home in Tauranga, NZ. Ron and many others were captured when Indonesia fell to the Japanese and following some time in prison camps in java, was shipped to Sumatra to work on the railway between Pekanbaru and Muaro.

Laurence Hurndell

Laurence Hurndell (Courtesy of the NZ Navy)

Laurence Hurndell was a naval seaman, who grew up in Carterton, New Zealand. After his training he was drafted aboard the the British gunboat "Grasshopper". He survived being sunk and although he was injured he managed to escape to Sumatra. After his eventual capture he became a member of the Aceh (Atjeh) Party and also worked on the railway based at camp 14a first and then camps 8, 9, and 10. 

An interview undertaken by the Imperial War Museum of John Hedley who was forced to help with the construction of the railway.

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