Bombs, Baccy and Buddhism: The First World War Diary of Sergeant Kleuap Kaysorn

Oct 20, 2024

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Bombs, Baccy and Buddhism: The First World War Diary of Sergeant Kleuap Kaysorn

Kleuap Kaysorn was from Phetchaburi and worked in animal medicine before volunteering to join the Siamese Expeditionary Force in the First World War. He kept a diary of his experiences, recently translated into English and published with a commentary. The story is an extraordinary account of distant travel, comradeship and danger at a time when leaving the homeland was unheard of for common Thais. Interestingly, most of the soldiers were from professional families and all were volunteers besides a few existing officers. They were assigned to The Royal Siamese Transport Corp driving Renaults, to pilot training, or medical duties. Those who failed the driving test worked in the kitchens.

Kaysorn wrote a unique account of sadness, risk and humour. He described in remarkable detail the Buddhist ideas at the time of a common soldier, the sadness of the deaths of some of his colleagues and the difficulties of coming home.

Insights from an essay by his daughter also say a lot about the dark side of interactions between some bad French officers and Asian troops, even though they were all allies. The warmth of the Americans shines through. Kaysorn had the opportunity to read his diary to His Majesty King Vajiravudh, who was delighted. From letters in Gloucester Archives, UK, His Majesty described his reasons for going to war with the Allies. After a period of instability post-war, Kaysorn eventually settled, and was greatly respected when he read his stories.

About the speaker

Khwanchai Phusrisom is director of Baan Dong Bang Museum and Education Centre which she founded in central Isaan to help education at all levels, particularly around art, history, recreation and enjoyment. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Khwan was a Government Officer in Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Focussing on the long nineteenth century, she is the author of papers on traditional Thai Culture and on the First World War. She has written books on educating art history and translated the First World War diary of Kleuap Kaysorn into English with a commentary.

Stephen Martin is a retired British professor of medicine, who also trained as a historian. He supports Khwan with the running of Baan Dong Bang Museum and Education Centre. Stephen’s interests include eighteenth-century portraits and the interface of Europe and Asia. He previously lectured at The Siam Society on how the fall of Ayutthaya prompted Dr Ferdinand Dejean to return to Europe and sponsor Mozart. For this talk, he reads the quotes of Sergeant Kaysorn.

 

Copies of Khwan’s book Soldiers of Siam – a First World War Chronicle, Lemongrass Books, will be for sale at the discounted price of B 250.00.

 

When

Thursday, 6 March 2025 at 19:00

Where

Lecture Room, 4/Floor, The Siam Society

Admission

Members and Students (to undergraduate level) — Free of charge
Non-Members — THB 300

For more information, please contact

To book your place, please contact Khun Pinthip at 02 661 6470-3 ext 203 or pinthip@thesiamsociety.org

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