Hindaine - Thailand
Hindaine – Thailand
Hindaine was located about 8 kilometres south from Brankassi and close to Hindato on a small tributary of River Kwae Noi.
‘D’ Force V Battalion Group 6 were here from 10 July 1943 to 31st August 1943. This camp was under canvas and as usual the tents would not do what they were designed to do.
Major Alf Cough wrote:
‘This camp is just hell, the whole area a sea of black stinking mud, very little food; and men dying every day. For the last three weeks we have eaten nothing but rice and dried fish; for three weeks prior to that we had rice and dried cabbage at the rate of one cupful of rice plus a dessert spoon of fish or cabbage. The men cannot last much longer unless we get some decent food and medical supplies. I am tired of reading burial services and watching my men die without being able to lift a hand to help them; they are full of courage and keep their chins up until the last moment.’
On 27 July Lt. ‘Scotty’ Howell was detached to Brankassi with about 80 other ranks as W Party. ‘D’ Force V Battalion now consisted of three separate groups – one at Onte, one at Hindaine and W Party at Brankassi.
On 10th August 1943 40 heavy sick including Capt. John HIll of 2/4th were evacuated.
28 men died at this camp including several 2/4th machine gunners; indicative of the remoteness of this camp and access to trading food.
On 30th August Major Alf Cough was ordered to take 100 of his fittest men to Kuii. The remainder of this group returned to Branakassi Camp.
Read further details of 2/4th men at Hindaine Camp.
Additionally read the story ‘D’ Force V Battalion Group 6.
BOREHOLE BULLETIN OCTOBER 1992
‘Reports on Various Camps
By POW Dr. I.L. Duncan who graphic descriptions of Kinsaiyok, Hindaine and Brankassi Camps on Thai-Burma Railway. Annexure ‘B’
HINDAINE was a Jungle Camp situated on a small creek, deep in the jungle. It was a tented camp mainly consisting of rotting tent flies. In a west season the camp lines became a muddy morass. Here conditions were probably the worst we ever experienced. All the usual illnesses were very prevalent and in addition, it was here that cholera struck. Again rations were minimal and had to be obtained from Brankassi about 5 miles away as did any medical supples that could be coaxed out of the Japanese.’
‘The picture in respect of each (camp) is largely the same. Cholera arose in Hindaine – the Japanese insisted that 75% of total camp strength be sent out to work. Where the number fell under this figure the men were actually beaten to work.
The nature of the work was extremely hard, food and diet was minimal and at Brankassi the nature of sickness broadened – malaria, beri beri, pellagra, various diarrhoeas, tropical ulcers, pneumonia and dengue fever.’
Machine gunners who died at Hindaine Camp included the following :
WX6976 Clare, John Mostyn died 8/8/1943 chronic diarhorrea aged 36 years. (Photo below)
WX9327 Hunt, Edgar Harold died 18/8/1943 Bacillary dysentery aged 29 years.
WX14327 Nybo, Lawrance Roy died 4/9/1943 beri beri aged 22 years. (photo below)
WX16274 Whitacker, Fred died 6/8/1943 Dysentery aged 36 years.
