The late Khun Kanit Wanachote OAM died in Bangkok, Thailand, on 1st April 2014 at the age of 86. After a memorial service immediately following his death a series of Buddhist ceremonies were held at Wat Makutkasattiyaram in Bangkok and at Home Phu Toey, Thailand, between the 19th and 21st July 2014.
Burma Thailand Railway Memorial Association Chairman Eric Wilson and Quiet Lion Tour Leader David Piesse travelled to Thailand for all the ceremonies. Australian Ambassador to Thailand James Wise attended the cremation service which featured an honour guard of 40 Boy Scouts. ‘Weary” Dunlop’s son John and Senator John Williams sent apologies.
This venerable gentleman was born on 15th February 1928 in Surajthanee Province, Thailand. He married Oonjai Wanachote in 1951 (she pre-deceased him) and they had children (Mrs Oonnirun Wanachote, Mr Kanate Wanachote,Mr Kunakone Wanachote, Mrs Aunirun Sittipon and Mrs Araya Wanachote) followed by a number of grand children.
Khun Kanit Wanachote’s association with Australian Prisoners of War and Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop and the Burma Thailand Railway Memorial Association commenced when ex POWs Keith Flanagan OAM and Bill Haskell OAM decided in 1985 to organize the ‘Weary Dunlop Tour” to retrace the course of Surgeon and Commander Colonel (Later Sir) Edward Dunlop and his Force from Java through to Thailand (in World War Two) and having his exploits recognized.
Khun Kanit was prominent in the scouting movement in Thailand (a Baden Powell Fellow presented by The King of Sweden) and a member of the Senior Counci1 of the National Scout Assembly of Thailand. He was readily receptive to the concept of youth perpetuating the story of Weary Dunlop and the Burma Thailand Railway and he always insisted the Quiet Lion Tour stayed as his guests at Home Phu Toey Resort, a 190-hectare estate set in beautiful tropical gardens, eighty kilometers upriver from Kanchanaburi and four kilometers from Hellfire Pass.
All this is possible due to the generosity of a great man whose attributes were instantly recognized by a great Australian, Sir Edward (Weary) Dunlop.
Khun Kanit Wanachote was considered eminently suitable for conferral of the Order of Australia Medal under the Australian Honours and Award system. The award was presented to him by His Excellency Paul Grigson, Australian Ambassador to Thailand, on Australia Day 2010 at the Australian Embassy, Bangkok. The late Bill Haskell and Burma Thailand Railway Memorial Association Chairman Eric Wilson attended the award ceremony.
