Kanchanaburi War Cemetery
- Country Thailand
- Total identified casualties 6858 Find these casualties
- Identified casualties from Second World War
- GPS Coordinates Latitude: 14.03195, Longitude: 99.52582
Please note
Please be aware that there may be snakes in the Cemetery.
PLEASE NOTE
The municipal pavement in front of Kanchanaburi War Cemetery is extremely uneven and a trip hazard. Please take care when visiting.
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery
Our site is led by a Senior Head Gardener with 40 years of experience, and our dedicated team of six staff members takes immense pride in caring for the Commission’s fallen and the grounds they rest upon.
Through expert horticultural care, structural upkeep, and diligent site management, they ensure the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery remains a pristine and respectful place of remembrance.
“We care for the cemetery as if this were our own home, giving our best in return for everything the Commission has provided us.’’ - Wittaya Dabkaew, Senior Head Gardener, Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, pictured above in the centre with his team.
Given the site’s deep historical connection to the tragedies of the Second World War, it attracts a vast number of international visitors each year. The team strives to exceed standard expectations, especially for the relatives of the fallen who travel from different continents to honour their loved ones.
Our 39,000 trees for 2039 project involves local students in hands-on planting alongside our expert team, providing the new generation with direct experience.
By fostering a connection to eco-friendly spaces as well as inspiring them to champion biodiversity and long-term sustainability.
Meanwhile, we continue our essential coconut mulching project, which protects our shrubs from intense heat, often reaching 37°C, by retaining vital soil moisture throughout the six-month dry season.
Our work is truly special, dedicated to honouring the fallen, maintaining the horticulture despite the intense heat, and welcoming visitors who travel under the same sun.
No matter how challenging the day is, our team serves with passion and a deep sense of connection to bridging our local hometown pride with our commitment to the global Commission.
One thing they never forget is to smile, embodying the spirit of Thailand as the Land of Smiles!
Location information
The town of Kanchanaburi is 129 kilometres North-West of Bangkok and is best reached by road, along the National Highway which runs north from the capital. There are bus and train services from Bangkok.
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery is situated adjacent to Saeng Chuto Road which is the main road through the town. When approaching from Bangkok, the cemetery is on the left side of the road, towards the far (northern) end of the town.
A Commission signpost faces the cemetery on the opposite side of the road.
Visiting information
ARRIVAL
The route to the cemetery is signposted and the cemetery is located at the side of Saeng Chuto Road, the main road through the town.
PARKING
There is a large car park at the cemetery with space for vehicles, the car park is firm and level. There is also on street parking nearby.
MAIN ENTRANCE ACCESS & LAYOUT
The main entrance to the cemetery is marked by a large, stone, triple arched memorial entrance building with two steps into building. Inside are stone benches.
There are bronze memorial panels inside the entrance building.
In front of the entrance building are two information signs.
The cemetery is a large rectangular shape, at the furthest point from the main entrance is the Cross of Sacrifice; behind it is a seating area with a stone bench. The cemetery is generally level and turfed throughout.
On the far-right side of the cemetery is the Stone of Remembrance. To the far-left side of the cemetery is a memorial shelter, which contains a stone bench. In this part of the cemetery there is a second seating area with a stone bench.
A register book is held at the site office for Kanchanaburi War Cemetery.
ALTERNATIVE ACCESS
It is possible to access the cemetery through the service entrance, next to the office building, where there are no steps.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Opening times for the cemetery are as follows:
0800 hrs – 1700 hrs Monday to Friday
0800 hrs – 1200 hrs Saturday.
Please be aware that there may be snakes in the cemetery.
History information
The notorious Burma-Siam railway, built by Commonwealth, Dutch and American prisoners of war, was a Japanese project driven by the need for improved communications to support the large Japanese army in Burma. During its construction, approximately 13,000 prisoners of war died and were buried along the railway. An estimated 80,000 to 100,000 civilians also died in the course of the project, chiefly forced labour brought from Malaya and the Dutch East Indies, or conscripted in Siam (Thailand) and Burma (Myanmar).
Two labour forces, one based in Siam and the other in Burma worked from opposite ends of the line towards the centre. The Japanese aimed at completing the railway in 14 months and work began in June 1942. The two sections of the line finally met near Konkoita towards the end of October 1943 and the completed line, 424 kilometres long, was operational by December 1943.
The graves of those who died during the construction and maintenance of the Burma-Siam railway (except for the Americans, whose remains were repatriated) were transferred from camp burial grounds and isolated sites along the railway into three cemeteries at Chungkai and Kanchanaburi in Thailand and Thanbyuzayat in Myanmar.
KANCHANABURI WAR CEMETERY is only a short distance from the site of the former 'Kanburi', the prisoner of war base camp through which most of the prisoners passed on their way to other camps. It was created by the Army Graves Service who transferred to it all graves along the southern section of railway, from Bangkok to Nieke.
Some 300 men who died (most from a Cholera epidemic in May/June 1943) at Nieke camp were cremated and their ashes now lie in two graves in the cemetery. The names of these men are inscribed on panels in the shelter pavilion.
There are now 5,085 Commonwealth casualties of the Second World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. There are also 1,896 Dutch war graves and 1 non-war grave.
Within the entrance building to the cemetery will be found the KANCHANABURI MEMORIAL, recording the names of 11 men of the army of undivided India buried in Muslim cemeteries in Thailand, where their graves could not be maintained.
The cemetery was designed by Colin St Clair Oakes.