"In April 1943, work commenced to excavate the cutting. A workforce of prisoners of war began the task of hacking back the jungle removing the loose earth and drilling in rock by hand. Little machinery was available. Most of the drilling work was done by the hammer and tap, a process whereby one man would hold and rotate a drill or tap while his mate hit the head of the drill with an eight to ten pound hammer. When the hole was deep enough, explosive charges would be used, the broken rock removed by hand and the process began again. The process was slow. As work fell behind schedule, and speedo was called, the work rate intensified. Work shifts lasting up to eighteen hours drilled, blasted and removed rock in a continuous operation. At night, the cutting was lit by fires, lamps or diesel torches. The eerie light and shadows of guards and gaunt prisoners of war playing on the rock walls suggested the name the site was given Hellfire Pass."

Find me at: http://www.forestexplorers.com/