He May Well Have Known My Uncle Harry Who Perished At The Hands Of Nippon.

Tribute to one of UK's last PoWs from River Kwai 'Death Railway' dies aged 97.

TRIBUTES were paid yesterday to one of Britain’s last remaining Burma Railway prisoners of war who has died aged 97.

By CHRIS RICHES

SWNS

Tributes were payed to Alf Davey, one of Britain’s last surviving Burma Railway prisoners of war

Alf Davey was captured by the Japanese in Singapore in 1942 and sent to work on the “Death Railway” from Burma to Thailand the following year. 

He spent three-and-a-half years in captivity and forced to help build the 258-mile railway line through near impossible terrain. 

He was freed by US troops in 1945 – just as the Japanese were about to execute him. Mr Davey, of Blackburn, Lancs, suffered years of nightmares and malaria because of his cruel treatment. 

He died last Monday and community leaders paid tribute to his extraordinary exploits and determination. 

His daughter Jennifer Pickup, 67, of Darwen, Lancs, said: “My father was a remarkable man with a extraordinary life. He would tell stories about the Burma Railway if asked but did not let it dominate his life.”