Memorial of the Siamese Expeditionary Force in World War I, Bangkok

World War I Memorial, Bangkok

A Spanish Flu Connect

Also see: FAM Trip of Thailand 2022

I always have a passion for World War I (WWI) Memorials. Starting from my own city Kolkata to other Indian cities like Delhi, Chennai or Pune I have visited and documented several WWI memorials (Also see: World War I (WWI) Memorials)

Memorial of the Siamese Expeditionary Force in World War I, Bangkok

Thailand, then Siam, is the most likely place for a WWI Memorial as Thailand was never been colonized and it has remained neutral for the majority of contemporary international events.

The Siamese Expeditionary Force in Paris Victory Parade, 1919
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is a city that never sleeps and is known for its vibrant nightlife and lip-smacking street food.

It is also a city of temples with bright golden spires (Also see: Bangkok Wat (Temple))sharing the city skyline with towering skyscrapers.

Bangkok also has its share of memorials many of which like the Victory Monument or Democracy Memorial are prominent landmarks of the city.

Apart from prominent memorials, the city has its share of unknown memorials dedicated to the oddest of subjects, including one dedicated to a pig (Also see: Pig Memorial, Bangkok). Unknown even to many of Bangkok’s residence the city as a small but beautiful memorial dedicated to the fallen Thai soldiers of World War I.

Siamese troops in Marseilles, France
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Thailand (then known as Siam) was neutral during the early days of World War I.

At the very beginning of the war, Siam had a good relationship with Germany as well as many of the allied countries.

It was only July 1917 Siam declared war against the combined German and Austria – Hungary forces.

The then King Rama VI (reign 1910 – 25) decided to send a military force to the war theatres of the Western front.

1284 men were selected and consisted of aviation (414) and motor corps (870). The aviation corps consisted of pilots and aircraft mechanics.

A Siamese Bugler
Source: Wikimedia Commons

The motor corps consisted of drivers, mechanics, medical and para medical staffs.

On 20 June 1918 they were given a grand send off by the king on the banks of the River Chao Phraya in Bangkok.

They reached Marseilles, France on 30 July 1918 just about 3 months before the end of the war.

The Siamese Expeditionary Force never got involved in active warfare. Their activities were restricted to backend support.

Nineteen members of the Siamese force died but none of the deaths were caused by enemy fire or other battle-related injuries. Of the 19, 2 of the members died in Siam even before the contingent started their expedition. Out of the remaining 17, 9 died in France while 8 died in Germany.

Diseases and accidents were the cause of other deaths. The Siamese Expeditionary Force returned home in two batches. Half of the death were caused by the influenza pandemic, which later came to be known as the Spanish Flu.

South face of the Memorial with English translation

The aviation corps returned on May 1919, while the motor corps returned on September 1919. With them, they brought back the ashes of their fallen comrades. The ashes of the nineteen dead were interred in the base of the monument by King Rama VI on 24 September 1919. The monument was publicly unveiled on 22 July 1921, the fourth anniversary of Siam’s declaration of war.

North face of the Memorial with English translation

The memorial represents a typical Thai stupa and contains the ashes of the 19 fallen men. It has beautiful floral designs with plaques on all four sides. The plaques are in the Tahi language and are written in beautiful calligraphy.

East face of the Memorial with English translation
Click to enlarge and read

The plaques on the south and north elaborate on the reason for Siam joining the World War I. Two of the plaques have the names of the 19 fallen soldiers while the other two. The other two provide the list of fallen soldiers with 9 names on the western side and 10 names on the eastern side.

West face of the Memorial with English translation
Click to enlarge and read

Today the Memorial of the Siamese Expeditionary Force (also known as the World War I Volunteers Memorial) stands at the heart of Bangkok just north of the oval field of Sanam Luang (Google map location).

Although the memorial is hardly visited but offering like food packets, soft drink bottles and flower can be seen at the memorial. Thousands of people, including Bangkok residents, pass the memorial every day without giving it a second glance. Every year on 11 November, the day marking the end of World War I, the memorial gets its due honour with the laying of wreaths.

Memorial of the Siamese Expeditionary Force in World War I, Bangkok

The memorial is located bang opposite the National Museum and the Grand Palace is just a stone throw distance away. It is also located at the southern edge of Khao San Road, favourite hunt for backpackers visiting Bangkok. So next time in Bangkok do visit the beautiful memorial as you explore some of the more famed tourist spots of the city.

Note:

• Translation source
• This blog post is part of a partially sponsored FAM (Familiarization) Tour organized by Tourism Authority Of Thailand (TAT), New Delhi and Holiday Inn Express, Bangkok, Siam

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