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GWR
04-01-06, 11:01 PM
http://www.tourismthailand.org/destinationguide/list.aspx?provinceid=10&typeid=7

World War II Memorial of the Japanese Army (Khao Daeng)
This is located in Khao Sam Lan National Park, next to the south of Wat Phra Phutthachai. There are bomb craters from made by Japanese forces in World War II.

This begs the question as to why the Japanese were bombing areas of saraburi Province during WW2; and why this would make it a suitable area for a Japanese War Memorial.

It's a frequent grumble amongst Japanese War Vets that their government has done nothing to honor their dead; in comparison to the beautifully-kept Commonwealth War Cemetries around Kanchanaburi. I believe there is a Japanese War Memorial in Kanchanaburi, which also attempts to pay tribute to the dead of other countries. Needless to say, it often gets stones thrown at it by vets from other countries; and it seems the Japanese government wants to forget it exists.

Here's another similar entry from Nakon Nayok Province:-

http://www.trailsofasia.com/country/thai/central/nakhonnayok_a.htm

Wat Phramani

5 kilometers from Nakhon Nayok, on the Sarika Waterfall Road (Route 3049), is located near a cemetery for Japanese soldiers dating from the Second World War. A memorial to the soldiers is contained within the temple complex.

Wisarut
04-01-06, 11:11 PM
Nope, there must be some misunderstanding thouhg. That Saraburi memoria is for thsoe Railwaymen alogn with the neighbour folks who wer KILLED by Allied Bomb durign the Air REaids at kaeng Khoi in 1945 ...

GWR
04-01-06, 11:29 PM
Not surprised that it wasn't quite what it seemed. Any pictures or reports, Khun W?

And it seems the other place I mentioned really commemorates the death of nearly 8,000 Thai soldiers. Again, far from clear!:-

http://www.tourismthailand.org/destinationguide/list.aspx?provinceid=17&typeid=7

Wat Phrammani

The Military Memorial is located in this temple, Sarika Sub-district, approximately 5 kilometers on the way to Namtok Sarika-Nang Rong (Highway No. 3050). During World War II, the 37th Quartermaster Infantry of the Japanese Military located their camp at the temple. In 1992, the Friend of Asian Alliance War Association built the memorial to honor the 7,920 Thai soldiers who were recruited to work in the camp and died in the war. Their ashes which were once placed in the temple are now put in the altar of the memorial.

Wisarut
05-01-06, 12:16 AM
Well, the IJA has also set the base at Khao Cha Ngoke (now CRMA) ... and when the Emperor assounce unconditional Surrender, many of IJA officers killed theri horses before committing Harakiri

Scuba22
29-01-06, 06:19 PM
Saraburi has industrial raw materials - Siam Cement, Siam City Cement, and TPI all have big facilities there for limestone quarrying, and I understand that there is iron-rich soil in the area.

Maybe that's why it was a target? Just speculating

Wisarut
30-01-06, 07:50 AM
Yep, for the case of Saraburi -> the raw materials to produce Cement by Siam Cement ... andof course -> Railway yard at Kaeng Khoi