Bridge on the River Kwai

**Critch** · 05-24-2009 10:58 PM

Was watching the movie Bridge on the River Kwai and for the first time I noticed that the Japanese icon

soldiers were carrying No 1 Enfields. I'm sure it was just a typical Hollywood, "Hey, we've got these rifles, will they do?"

For anyone who has never seen, it is still a great flick.

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**Highly Recommended** · 05-24-2009 10:58 PM

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**me2** · 05-24-2009 11:17 PM

Uhhhhhh, I think H-wood calls it "artistic license".

**Devils Own** · 05-25-2009 05:34 AM

It is conceivable that POW guards. not in the front line, may have been given captured SMLEs. After all, the Japs picked up quite a few when Singapore fell.

Steve

**Mk VII** · 05-25-2009 05:54 AM

Ron Searle's drawings done in captivity do indeed depict Japanese icon

guards with Enfields in some cases.

**Devils Own** · 05-25-2009 05:55 AM

Aye, its the ultimate insult, being guarded with your own rifles.

**Peter Laidler** · 05-25-2009 06:29 AM

They captured so many Brens that they reprinted the Bren Infantry Training manual into their own language........... but left the drawings/sketches as British icon

!

That what I call artistic licence!

**Critch** · 05-25-2009 08:21 AM

Thank you gentlemen.

Not to hijack my own thread, but, The American character (William Holden) mentions that he was on the USS Houston when it went down. I would love to see the same folks that did A Bridge too Far, Tora Tora Tora and Midway do the Battle of Sundra Strait, (I think that's the right one).
What a magnificent show of bravery, British icon

, Aussies, Dutch, and Americans figiting together. Somewhere I have a copy of The Forgotten Fleet, that tells the story of that and other naval engagements early in the war.

**Gibbs505** · 05-25-2009 09:24 AM

There is also the book, "The Battle of The Java Sea" which covers the mains sea battles in the area.

**Amatikulu** · 05-25-2009 10:50 AM

From 1970 to 1972 I lived in Thailand and visited the "Bridge over the River Kwai" area. I thought you might enjoy some of the postcards I collected at the site.

No pictures of Lee Enfields, but some genuine pictures showing the railroad on which so many Allied Servicemen gave their lives - Somehow it seems poignant on Memorial Day here in the USA icon

.

**Critch** · 05-25-2009 12:34 PM

Thank you for the pics.

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