NEIKI NEIKI WOOD CAMP 1944
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SONKURAI-NEIKI DEFENCE LINE
June to August 1945
Affidavit by 2/4th’s Robert Ronald RIEBE WX8952
Nieke Nieke was mentioned within the Williams Force Story when they crossed over into Thailand and continued rail laying until the completion of the rail link in October 1943. The Camp is believed to have been located in the vicinity of the 283.92 km point from Non Pladuk just to the north of the New Headquarters Camp at the 281.80km point on the rail link.
From the ‘F’ Force Story we know the Headquarters Camp at 281.80km was a rail centre from Dec 1943.
A work party was sent to Nieke-Nieke for three months from August 1944 to cut billetts of wood for the wood-fired steam locomotives.
2/4th’s John Waddell and John Andrew Baker were members of this group – the Japanese commanded several parties of 30 or more POWs as wood cutters for the railway.
The Sonkurai to Nieke region was the location chosen by the Japanese to build a defensive line consisting of Anti-Tank ditches and tunnels in the hillsides.
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This ‘defence line’ built by the POWs was a fortified area, featuring trenches, bunkers, and other defensive structures, designed to slow down the advancing Allied forces.
2/4th’s Robert Ronald RIEBE WX8952 who originally was with ‘F’ Force Thailand S Battalion, was sent from Non Pladuk to work on the Sonkurai-Nieke Defence Line. After the war Riebe submitted an affidavit to War Crimes about the dreadful conditions at this Camp and in particular about Sgt Kimoura Takeo who viciously pursued the POWs.
WX8585 Cyril Jack VIDLER also worked on this Defence Line. Vidler returned home but died within 12 months.
The following is Affidavit provided by Vidler.
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