'Death railway' soldiers honoured with exhibition

The experiences of soldiers who became prisoners in the Far East during World War Two are the subject of a new museum exhibition.

Surviving the Railway at King's Lynn Town Hall features stories of men from the Royal Norfolk Regiment captured by Japan after the fall of Singapore in 1942.

They would spend three and a half years of hard labour building the Burma Railway, which became known as the "death railway" due to the loss of life suffered.

It will be the first time a new roll of honour commemorating all of those who served in the 4th, 5th and 6th battalions goes on public display.

Exhibits include a tiny fragment of a railway sleeper brought back home by Corporal F. G. Backham of King's Lynn.

Also on show is a small aluminium box decorated and personalised from a Dutch chlorine tablet tin by Captain R.W. Cole, an officer in the 6th Battalion.

As well as honouring those who died and telling the stories of those who survived, local families are being asked to fill in any missing details.

Peter Black from the Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum said: "The men who died and those lucky enough to survive deserve to be remembered.

"This small iconic display centres on a nominal roll, and families are invited to fill in any missing details."

Councillor Margaret Dewsbury from Norfolk County Council said: "It's more important than ever that we use our museum collections to keep their memory alive for future generations.

"In this 80th anniversary year of the end of the conflict, this exhibition is a timely reminder of the sacrifice and bravery of these Norfolk soldiers who endured such terrible conditions."

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.