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Notes:
British Sumatra Battalion
This was the first camp which the British Sumatra Battalion worked in, when they arrived there were already 500 Australians at the camp.
The camp was built in a valley, on one side a road and the railway, on the other a slope running up to a range of hills, ranging up to about 1000 feet. The buildings consisted of atap huts, built with bamboo and palm leaves for a roof. The valley had a small stream with clumps of bamboo and scrub bushes.
The Japanese were housed in well built wooden huts in a clearing at the centre of the camp. The cookhouse was in a corner and near the gate the guard room, marked with two large wooden posts.
The camp was open with no fence, the water being carried from the stream, Capt D.P. Apthorp organised toilets and washing facilities. After the work parties had left the camp, Lieut/Col Coates MO held a sick parade and giving treatment.
The Japanese guards were replaced after two weeks by Koreans. It was also about that time when Pte Pagani of the 18th Div. Recce Corps escaped, walking off into the jungle in the early afternoon, with no provisions, he made it but did not get home until 1945.
On 3rd January 1943 the British Battalion were moved to the 35km Camp called Tanyin.
2nd May 1943
By now the monsoon season was upon the British Sumatra Battalion and Americans who arrived back to the Helpauk Camp. They were put to work loading the sleepers and rails onto the small diesel trucks, bogies.
The march to work and back was done in the dark with many bridges to cross, the prisoners crossed these on hands and knees feeling for each sleeper.
Halfway through May the rail head was moved to the 30 Kilo Camp at Rephaw.
Information from British Sumatra Battalian by A.A. Apthorp
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Helpauk (18 Kilo)
Also Named:
Japanese
III Group
