Banderra-Chao Phraya River - Thailand

Banderra, Chao Phraya River – Thailand

Banderra lies to the southwest of Lopburi, south of the old Thai capital of Ayuthaya.

Construction of the bridge was started on 3 December 1929 by Dorman Long, Middlesbrough, England, under the supervision of Italian technicians from SNOS (Società Nazionale Officine Savignano). The bridge used to have a double-leaf bascule-type lifting mechanism, which is now unused.

The bridge opened on 6 April 1932, by King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Chakri Dynasty and the foundation of Bangkok, shortly before the Siamese coup d’état of 24 June 1932. In English the bridge is commonly known as Memorial Bridge, however in Thai, it is most commonly known as Phra Phuttayotfa Bridge (สะพานพระพุทธยอดฟ้า), after King Phutthayotfa Chulalok (Rama I), the first king of the Chakri Dynasty. The name is more commonly shortened as Saphan Phut (สะพานพุทธ) or Phut Bridge or Buddha Bridge (meaning: Bridge of Buddha).

On 5 June 1944, as part of the bombing of Bangkok in World War II, a force of B-29 Superfortresses, in a test of their capabilities before being deployed against the Japanese home islands, targeted the bridge. Their bombs fell over two kilometers away, damaging no civilian structures, but downed some tram lines and destroyed a Japanese military hospital and the Japanese secret police headquarters. It was not until 1947 that Thai authorities learned of the intended target. Eventually, it was taken out by the Allies and rebuilt in 1949

Allied bombing raids had damaged the bridge over Chao Puraya River on the Bangkok-Changmai railway line.When the war ended the POWs  were recovered from Bangkok ex-Banderra.

Men from 2/4th sent on a work party to repair the Bridge included:

WX8829  James (Jock) BAGRIE

WX20739 William Ernst CLOTHIER

WX16260 Edward Ainsley CORNELL

WX7987 George HANCOCK

QX6599 Ivan William LAWER

WX11228 Raymond Malcolm LANDER

WX8734 Con RYAN