Mike Pryce speaks to a man who survived the infamous bridge on the River Kwai, as the nation pauses to remember all those who sacrificed their lives for their country

THE drone of the approaching American bomber told Private Evan Jasper trouble was on the way.

From high in the sky, the plane began its descent on to one of the most famous targets of the Second World War - the bridge on the River Kwai.

To the pilot, the figures on the bridge far below looked like two Japanese soldiers about to meet their maker.

One was indeed a sergeant in the Imperial Japanese Army - but the other was Private Jasper of the 1st Battalion the Cambridgeshire Regiment, one of the thousands of Allied prisoners of war forced to work until they dropped on the spectacular, but murderous, Thai-Burma railway.

Today, 86-year-old Mr Jasper lives in retirement in Bewdley, but memories of that close encounter all those years ago still loom large.

"We were carrying supplies across the bridge when I heard the sound of a plane coming towards us. I could tell by the drone it was an American B29," he said. "I guessed it was going to drop a bomb.

"I told the sergeant to run for it, but he didn't seem to be bothered. Then I saw the bomb flaps of the plane come down and I knew what was going to happen.

"I shouted in the bit of Japanese I knew and started running. Then he did too. It was a good job, because the bomb dropped smack in the middle of the bridge and blew it to smithereens.

"We were probably about 200 yards away. The Japanese was furious. He was cursing in a strange mixture of Japanese and American, but I couldn't stop laughing. I thought it was great."

The downside, of course, was that next day, the prisoners were put to the backbreaking task of trying to repair the damage.

Evan Jasper had been captured at the fall of Singapore and incarcerated in the notorious Changi prison camp.

"After a while we were told we were going 'up country'," he added. "They crammed us into metal railway carriages, 30 or 40 to a carriage, and slammed the doors shut. The heat was unbearable and there was no concession for anyone who has dysentery or anything like that.

"We travelled for four days, stopping only briefly twice a day for rice and a thin vegetable stew."

At the end of the journey lay the Thai-Burma railway, the snaking supply route Japanese engineers had designed through some of the most inhospitable terrain on the planet, across gorge and canyon, over mountain and through river and near impenetrable jungle.

Even today, it would test the most advanced machinery. In the 1940s, it was built on the backs and lives of thousands of prisoners of war and Asian labourers toiling in the most primitive conditions.

"I saw one chap with his hands black and bleeding," said Evan, "and I asked him what had happened. He said he had been creosoting the bridge timbers. He'd had to keep dipping his bare hands into a tub of creosote and use a piece of old sack to rub the stuff on.

"To the Japanese, you were completely expendable. Because you had surrendered, you were worthless.

"But they were just the same to their own. One day a train came through carrying injured soldiers. There was blood seeping on to the ground from the carriages and some of us went over to take a look. It was terrible. There were badly wounded men just piled together, some with the most horrendous wounds. Yet they were being ignored.

"I asked if they could be given some water, but an officer waved me away. Eventually we gave them some of our own small supply.

"After they had gone, I asked the officer why his countrymen had been treated like that. He replied they had been dishonourable to the Japanese Emperor by allowing themselves to be shot."

REMEMBRANCE DAY

THE sacrifice made by the men and women who have died in Britain's armed forces in two world wars, the Falklands and in two Gulf wars, as well as many other conflicts around the world, will be honoured this Sunday.

The following are just some of the Remembrance Day services taking place in Worcestershire:

Worcester City Centre

The Remembrance Day parade will gather at Queen Street at 10am before heading along Mealcheapen Street, St Swithins Street along the High Street to the cathedral for the Remembrance Service. The Mayor of Worcester, Coun Aubrey Tarbuck, will take the salute from the parade after the service.

St John's, Worcester

Members of the St John's and Hallow branch, a sub-branch of Claines, along with youth organisations, including Scouts, Guides and Army cadets, will parade from Swanpool Walk to St John's Church, off Bromyard Road.

The church service will begin at 10am. Wreath and poppies will be laid at the War Memorial at about 11am.

Pershore

The parade will gather in the High Street car park at 10.20am with the start scheduled for 10.30am. It will then march to Pershore Abbey via High Street, Broad Street, Church Walk and Church Row.

Great Malvern

Members of the Malvern branch of the Royal British Legion will be joined by representatives from the town council, emergency services, St John Ambulance, the Red Cross, cadet forces, Scouts and Guides for the laying of wreaths at the Graham Road war memorial at 2.30pm. The service of remembrance will take place at Malvern Priory from 3pm.

Powick and Callow End

Those wishing to attend the morning service should meet at the Red Lion car park at 10.30am for the parade to St Peter's Church, Powick. An afternoon service will be held at St James' Church, Callow End. Assembly will be at the village hall at 2.10pm for the 2.30pm service.

Upton-upon-Severn

At 10am the parade will assemble in New Street and march to the parish church for a service at 10.45am. After this the parade will re-form and march to the old churchyard for the Act of Remembrance and the laying of wreaths.