An Asian workforce also toiled on this railway. Almost half paid with their life. An estimated 80,000 Malays, Chinese, Tamils and Burmese died here, more than all PoW's put together. The Australians suffered a death for every five prisoners. Their lower death rate is attributed to Army discipline, heroes and the power of mateship.
Doctors are the easy heroes to find here.
They secretly bought drugs from the Thai underground, though always short on medical supplies they were creative. Stills made to produce distilled water for intravenous drips were fashioned out of petrol cans. Slithers of bamboo were used as needles. Thicker bamboo for artificial limbs. Their strict rules of hygiene and seats on latrines saved lives.