A railway track setting has been unveiled for a tribute statue to a North East prisoner of war who survived the horrors of the infamous Burma-Siam Death Railway.
The symbolic section of line at North Marine Park in South Shields, created from Metro tracks and sleepers, also commemorates British soldiers who served in the Far East during the Second World War.
The memorial was unveiled at a ceremony marking Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) on August 15.
It was created in memory of North East soldier Len Gibson from Sunderland and his fellow prisoners who endured starvation, disease and brutal treatment while working on the construction of the railway from 1942 to 1943.
The statue represents Len giving the guitar he fashioned from waste materials to help keep up morale at the work camp to a Burmese boy at the war’s end.
It was commissioned last year from artist Ray Lonsdale by Daft As A Brush cancer care charity founder Brian Burnie – a close friend of Mr Gibson.
Around 10 metres of used Metro track has been used to create the finished memorial.
It was installed by a team from Metro operator Nexus as part of a volunteer day, where staff support good causes and social value projects.
Cathy Massarella, managing director of Nexus, said: “This is a fantastic and particularly poignant social value project. We are honoured to be a part of it.
“The used Metro tracks have created a stunning new memorial for British troops who served in the Far East and it complements the Len Gibson statue that Mr Burnie unveiled at North Marine Park last year.
“The use of the Metro rails and sleepers is especially moving, given that British prisoners of war, including Len Gibson, were forced to build the ‘Death Railway’ between Thailand and Myanmar, formerly Burma.
“Our Infrastructure Works Delivery team have done an amazing job putting in the track during their volunteer day.”
Mr Burnie said: “I’m really grateful for the support we’ve had from Nexus on this project. I can’t thank them enough for the rails and their efforts to install the track.
“The finished memorial looks amazing. It’s a poignant commemoration for all the British soldiers who served in the Far East during the war. We will always remember them.”
Len Gibson died aged 101, in 2021.
