Bromsgrove School’s sister school in Thailand has honoured Remembrance Day with a visit to Kanchanaburi War Cemetery.
Pupils and staff from Bromsgrove International School Thailand traveled to Kanchanaburi on 10th and 11th November to take part in the Remembrance Day services commemorating the end of World War I and the subsequent wars and peace-keeping missions.
Head of Boarding Mr Khun Todd was accompanied by the Head Boy Kenchayuth Metacharunon and Head Girl Ksenija Brajovic along with two GAP teachers, Tom Knowles and Rachel Johnson, who are both former pupils of Bromsgrove School in the UK.
The ceremonies were presided over by H.E. Mark Kent, the British Ambassador, and Mr Chaiwat Limwattana, the Governor of Kanchanaburi Province. During his speech, the British Ambassador commented that he was pleased to see that not only the war veterans attended the Remembrance Service but also the younger generation as well – a remark that was directed mainly to the students of Bromsgrove School and The Regents School who took part that day.
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, where over 7,000 Allied prisoners of war who lost their lives building the Burma Railway were buried, was a fitting location for the event. Kanchanaburi is a significant place in World War II, and this year marked the 70th anniversary of the start of construction on the railway.
The railway earned the name “Death Railway” due to the severe loss of life brought about by its construction, and features in the novel Bridge over the River Kwai and its famous film adaptation. The Bromsgrove contingent made a visit to the bridge in remembrance.
Headmaster of BIST Steve Challoner said: “Khun Todd, as an Old Bromsgrovian himself, was very proud to lead this trip and the event was featured strongly on BBC World News.
Tom Knowles met with an Old Bromsgrovian on the day too, who had made the trip to attend the ceremony. I had the privilege to lay a wreath at the British Embassy in Bangkok on behalf of Bromsgrove UK and BIST.”