War Cemeteries and the Thai-Burma Railway: The Construction of Collective Memories of the Asia-Pacific War in Thailand

Abstract

The Japan-Thai Pact of Alliance and Thailand’s declaration of war on Britain and the USA created ambiguity in later memories of the Second World War in Thailand. This article investigates the formation of a Thai collective memory of the war between 1945 and 1963. It argues that the construction of Prisoner of War (POW) cemeteries, the reopening of the Thai-Burma railway, the publication of anglophone and Thai memoirs during this period became the foundation for the establishment of a narrative directed toward Thai nationals and foreign tourists, that positioned Thailand as a country undefeated in war.