Finding the location of the original wooden River Kwai Bridge

Did you know that originally there were two “River Kwai” bridges? The first bridge was a wooden one though not as impressive as the one in the movie ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’. A more permanent one was then built a short distance away with concrete and steel. The arches were imported from Japanese occupied Java. After the main bridge was damaged by Allied bombers, the wooden bridge was used as a bypass as it was more difficult to hit and much easier to repair. Today there is no evidence left of the wooden bridge though they’ve recreated a short section at the JEATH war museum.

The aerial photo above gives you an idea of the location of the wooden bridge. The distance between them is about 110 metres. However if you compare it to the satellite photo below, it looks like only the steel bridge remains. None of the present day buildings were around during the war. The town at that time was further away towards the war cemetery. However, at closer inspection there is something that remains the same. I’ve circled it in red. This is the memorial for the dead of all nations built by the Japanese and completed in March 1944. The JEATH War Museum is the structure just below it and to the right. Next to that airplane is the reconstructed wooden bridge. You know it is not real as the angle it comes out is not parallel with the steel bridge as it is in the wartime photo.

MAP: Japanese Memorial