Nikhe Wood Camp, Ni Thea, 131 Kilo, 284km - Thailand

Nikhe Wood Camp 131km (284.10)

Williams Mobile Force 26 Dec 1943 to 11 Jan 1944

This camp was located high in the ranges and was cold at night.  It was a day’s march for the men from 122 Km Camp.  Those too sick to walk were carried by stretchers.  On 26 December 1943 the sick were moved to Nikhe 281.80 km Camp and on 11th and 12th January 1944 this group moved by train over a period of 24 hours to Kanchanaburi, Thailand.  From here the sick marched 5 kilometres back to Tamarkan Base Hospital Camp No. 2.

At 131km Nikhe Wood Camp there was a series of small hills. Rail laying was suspended whilst cuttings were excavated through these obstacles.  Once the cuttings were completed the rail laying gangs recommenced  on 13th October 1943.

Then began ‘Speedo’.

On 17 October 1943 Dr. Rowley Richards wrote in his book “The Survival Factor” page 17, he was ‘trying to be a doctor without equipment and trying to keep the men in the hospital from Anderson Force at 131 camp alive’.