Moulmein - Burma
Mawlamyine or Moulmein was the first British Burmese capital from 1826 until 1852, before moving to Yangon. During colonial times many traders (Indian and Chinese) settled here. Main industries were teak wood, rubber plantation and rice export.
It became a major centre for the export of teak, and remains an important seaport for coastal shipping.
Below: Teak timber raft
Moulmein, the chief town of the Mon State, lies on the coast of south-east Burma at the mouth of the Thanlwin (Salween) river where it meets the Gulf of Martaban (Mottama).
Above: Moulmein with Jail buildings seen with the Thanlwin in the distance.
THE GREAT PAGODA, MOULMEIN
Before WW2 Moulein city and railway station served as a major colonial hub for rubber and teak with a rail link to Thanbyuzayat and Rangoon.
This was a Transit Camp – some POW groups staying one or two nights and others a little longer. Some POWs reported their accommodation was a former leper colony.
MOULMEIN PORT, BURMA – A rail link existed between here and Thanbuzayat and to Ye pre war. It was possible to travel by train to Rangoon.
It is about 100 miles across the bay from Rangoon in a south- east direction on the Irrawaddy River. Some groups of POWs were kept in an old British gaol (the date 1909 over the door).
It was a town where POWs from ‘A’ Force from Java passed through on their way to Burma Railway and Thanbyuzayat the first to arrive was in 1942.
POWs who successfully sent cards home to their families – they were posted from Moumein Camp, although none were written here.
JAVA PARTY NO. 4 (about 33 men survived, 10 died, 1 remained Singapore, one sent to Sandakan, died)
Was under the command of Lt. Col J.M. Williams. This Party departed Tanjong Priok 8 October 1942 on ‘Kimmon Maru’ for Singapore where they disembarked 12 October 1942.
At Changi, Java Party No. 4 was reunited with Java Party No. 3 who had reached Singapore a few days earlier.
Two days later Java Parties 3 and 4 departed Singapore having boarded ‘Maebashi Maru ‘ to Rangoon, Burma arriving on 23 October 1942. They were transhipped to a smaller vessel called ‘Yamagata Maru’ which took the men up the Salaween River in Burma to Moulmein. They arrived late on 24 October and were accommodated overnight in the local gaol.
It was at Moulmein that Java Party No. 4 was organised into 2 groups, Black and Williams Force. There were approximately 43 men from 2/4th with Williams Force (and about 6 men with Black Force, including William ‘Bill’ Gregory).
Williams Force from Java (884 POWs mainly from 2/2 Pioneers & ‘Perth’ survivors) arrived Moulmein 25 October 1942 via Singapore. Joined by Anderson Force January 1943 to become No 1 Mobile Force.
In late October 1942 Williams and Black Forces travelled from South Moulmein Railway Station 40 miles to Thanbyuzayat which became the HQ for Burma Administration Group 4. Group 4 also included Green, Ramsay and Anderson Forces.
From AWM:
‘Prisoners of war from Java (Williams Force, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel J. M. Williams, and Black Force, including 593 Australians commanded by Lieutenant Colonel C. M. Black) travelled via Singapore and thence to Moulmein, arriving in Burma on 29-30 October 1942. Williams Force was based at Tanyin and Black Force at Beke Taung camp at Kilo 40. In October 1942 survivors from the HMAS Perth were shipped to Singapore, and then to Burma. In October 1942, 385 Australians, commanded by Major L.J. Robertson, left Java on board the Moji Maru ; they joined up with A Force on 17 January 1943.’
Below: Moulmein map prepared by US POWs.
