Death railway

Relates the story of the building by prisoners of the Japanese of the Burma-Siam Railway during the 1939-1945 war. Uses interviews with survivors, contemporary colour footage of the area and B&W archival footage. Interviewed are: Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop; Frank Rich; Norm Anderton; Lance Lowe; Ken Dumbrell; Alf Monfort; Jack Flannery; Reg Stuart; Bob Beaumont; Les Venables; Bill Cunneen; Bill Dunn; Bert McKay; Saw Yoe Shoo. Historical footage shows a formation of Japanese Aichi D3A ("Val") fighter bomber aircraft and the surrender of Singapore to General Tomoyuki Yamahita by Lieutenant General A.E. Percival. Footage from Japanese propaganda film of POWs. Footage of musical instruments made in the POW camps. Explanation of the 'speedo' period. Footage of local Asians drafted to work on building the railway. Photographs of make shift hospital facilities in camps, decision about amputating limbs, ulcers and treatment of cholera. Footage of bombing of the railway and jungle, survivors from torpedoed ships being rescued. Radio receiver hidden in a mop. Scenes of Japanese as captives at the end of the war. Includes scenes from AWM films F01157, F07336, F07337 & F10215.