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NX77799 - BUSINE, Sydney Herbert Thomas, Pte.
Asia 1988 - by Jim
Busine
After returning from my journey to Burma and Asia
in 1986, I knew I would not be satisfied with having visited my
fathers grave at Thanbyuzayat once. I felt a part of me was in
Burma and that part would keep drawing me back to Thanbyuzayat.
My involvement with some of the Australian embassy staff re the
construction of a cairn at the beginning of the Railway In
Thanbyuzayat has also kept me close to my attachment with Burma.
When advised of a tour to Burma/Thailand in April
1988, I decided to join the group for the first part of my trip
to Asia. The intention was to visit Thanbyuzayat via Rangoon the
1st week with 19 of the group than another 17 people would join
in Thailand for a week in the River Kwai area. My plan was to
then travel to Java in Indonesia to follow my fathers movements
and to find the bicycle camp, where he was interned for 6 months
before going to Burma via Singapore. The last week I reserved
for relaxation in Malaysia and Singapore before returning home.
I wanted my family to accompany me this time
through Burma and Thailand but my wife Judy, was unable to, so
my two sons Mark and Darren agreed to join me. Darren was
married the week before we departed and his wife Cathy also
joined us.
We arrived in Rangoon via Bangkok on 16th April
and were met by Australian embassy staff, including Phil Henry
the 2nd secretary, now a good friend who some of the 2/30th have
met when he visited Australia in 1987. We were taken to the Inya
Lake hotel in Rangoon where the Australian Ambassador, Chris
Lamb welcomed the group, but advised due to recent trouble by
insurgents in the area that the train passed through on the way
to Thanbyuzayat, the Burmese government would not give
permission for our group to travel there. As we only had 7 days
in Burma my family and myself decided to utilise the time by
going north to Mandalay and Pagan by train. The embassy did not
recommend flying, so we left the next day by rail travelling
overnight to Mandalay. Unable to go to Pagan we stayed 3 nights
in Mandalay travelling to the old cities of Ava and Saigan, and
visiting the mountain town of Maymyo, an old British out station
in the summer months.
We returned to Rangoon after another all night
train trip on 21st April. The journey was: an Incredible
experience which will not be forgotten by us.
On 22nd April a Memorial Service was held
involving the embassy and our group at the Htaukkyan War
Cemetery on the outskirts of Rangoon. It is a large cemetery
maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and is a
credit to the people who look after it, as are all the War
Cemeteries I visited in Asia.
Four of the Australian P.O.Ws laid a wreath of
Australian wild flowers from Western Australia followed by
Florence Bennie and myself laying the wreath on behalf of the
2/30th that I had taken with me from Sydney. The Ambassador
Chris Lamb then laid a wreath on behalf of the Australian
Embassy. It was a very moving and emotional service and although
we could not be at Thanbyuzayat both Florence and myself felt
very close just being on Burmese soil.
Florence was married to Cliff Bayliss who is
buried at Thanbyuzayat and had received a photo of his grave
taken while I was there in 1986. She too had the same inner call
to visit. We became very close before, during and since the trip
and it is a privilege to know such a lovely lady as Florence and
I know she will not give up until she visits Thanbyuzayat.
After the service the group laid a flower posy on
each of the 35 Australian graves. They had been identified
before our arrival with a small Australian flag. Most were
Australian airmen who had flown with the R.A.F. I laid a posy at
the grave of W.E Schuberth of 2/30th Battalion.
That afternoon we were guests of the chairman and
committee of the War Veterans organisation of Burma. The
chairman's name is U Myint Maug and the organisation has over
130,000 members. In his role as chairman he also has some
political authority and our meeting was covered by the press and
featured on the front page of the Guardian, a daily Rangoon
paper. In the evening a cocktail party was held in honour of the
group by the the Ambassador, Chris Lamb, at his residence. This
was an experience to be remembered, meeting the various
representatives of other Embassy's and the Burmese officials.
On the last day in Burma the 23rd, a service was
held at the Rangoon cemetery, again containing some 30
Australian graves. Mainly airmen and the graves were again
marked by an Australian flag. The wreath was laid by 2 daughters
of P.O.W.'s, Gail Duns and Robin Kelen and my son Mark. This
small cemetery in the middle of Rangoon is very well maintained
and the caretaker and his father have looked after the cemetery
since it was built. The Burmese Government now want to re locate
it, but Chris Lamb has advised them If they want to anger the
spirits they do It at their own risk.
That afternoon we left Burma returning to
Bangkok.
The next day 24th April my son Mark returned to
Australia and the group was joined by another 17 people for the
Thailand sector of the tour. Among them were Kevin and Dorothy
Ward of the 2/30th battalion both experienced travellers in
Thailand.
On the 25th April the group travelled to
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery for the Anzac Day Ceremony. This was a
large gathering of Australians, New Zealanders, English, Thais
and various representatives of countries and Thai government
departments. Again our group laid two wreaths one by the ex
P.O.Ws and the other, Florence Bennie and myself on behalf of
the 2/30th Battalion.
After lunch at the River Kwai and a walk over the
Bridge we continued on to the giver Kwai Village Hotel.
On the 26th April a walk was organised by Ken
Bradley to the Hintock cutting, a very interesting experience
for all of us, walking through the jungle to the cutting,
especially for those who had worked there during the
construction, like Charles Warden. We climbed down the
embankment at the end of the cutting where a bridge once stood,
and down amongst the railway ballast. We were able to retrieve
some old bridge spikes and rail spikes. That evening we were
guests at the "Home of English". This Is a private village owned
by a Thai millionaire, and is by invitation only with no costs.
There is accommodation but as we were already at the Kwai
village our stay included a tour of the complex, cocktail
drinks, dinner and a display of Thai dancing, followed by a
spectacular light and sound show down on the river with a small
replica of the Bridge on the giver Kwai. As the history was
described a fire works display was set off with the show
culminating with the bridge blowing up in exactly the position
and span as it really happened. An event not to be forgotten by
all who attended.
On the 27th April a visit to the Hell Fire Pass
area with another wreath laying by the ex P.O.Ws.
On the 28th April the group travelled by coach to
the Three Pagodas Pass with a visit of the New Mon State
Village.
On the 29th we travelled by long boat on the Kwai
River to Lum Sum and after a short walk to the Railway to catch
a train to NAM TOK passing over the wooden viaduct.
On the way back to Bangkok on the 30th, a stop
was made at the CHUNCKAI War Cemetery and another wreath was
laid by the ex P.O.W's with a further stop at NAKHON PATHOM
before arriving at the Indra Regent Hotel. The group then went
various ways, my son Darren and his wife Cathy on to London to
work and tour for a year or so.
I then flew to Jakarta by myself for 4 days
staying at a hotel that was once the Bicycle Camp where my
father had been interned for 6 months. I was very impressed with
Jakarta and surrounding country visiting Bundang in the
mountains, swimming in hot springs, climbing a volcano and the
sight of the green rice fields and tea plantation won't be
forgotten.
After returning to Malaysia and going to the
Genting Highlands and Kuala Lumpur for 3 days, I had a stopover
at Singapore for another 3 days. I made a visit to Krangi
Cemetery and was entertained by Major Derrick Coupland OBE and
hie wife on the last day before returning home.
Ron Maston had referred me to Derrick and had
spoken very highly of his hospitality along with several other
members of 2/30th Battalion, but I was overwhelmed by the
friendliness of Derrick and his wife Esta and their friends.
Derrick receives the MAKAN and thinks highly of the 2/30th
association and those who have met Derrick and his wife will no
doubt agree with my opinion.
During the 4 weeks I was away I had the
opportunity to listen to a set of tapes I had been given for
Christmas, Australian P.O.W's under Nippon. The tapes which run
for about 13 hours enhanced the feelings I experienced during
the journey. Many of the voices were people I know or have met,
and many times, especially one section by Stan Arneil I had to
turn the tapes off, as I became too emotional. My thoughts were
constantly with the people I know, like Les Hall, who had been
to the places I visited where I felt the presence of the spirit
of those left behind. In cemeteries the feeling was always
there, but more so in the middle of the jungle in places like
Hintock cutting.
Overall a very memorable journey with many new
places visited and many new friends. Am I now satisfied with my
pilgrimage?
No, I can't wait to go again.
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Last updated
31/08/2021 |
