Australian War College’s Educational visit to Hellfire Pass

Military officers from the Australian War College visited the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre on 6 September 2026 as part of an educational excursion to learn more about the history of the Second World War and the construction of the Burma–Thailand Railway.

The delegation comprised military officers undertaking the Australian War College’s Defence and Strategic Studies Course (DSSC), which brings together Australian and international officers from various countries across Asia and North America.

The group was received by Mick Clarke OAM, Manager of the Centre, who provided a briefing on the Centre’s establishment and history, as well as the role of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in funding and maintaining the facility.

During the visit, the delegation also laid a wreath at the Hellfire Pass Memorial to honour and remember those who suffered and died during the construction of the Burma–Thailand Railway. The visit provided an opportunity for the officers to reflect on the human experiences and sacrifices associated with the railway and to gain a deeper understanding of the historical significance of Hellfire Pass as a place of remembrance and learning.

Australian Army veteran Luke Wiffen joined the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre team as a volunteer as part of a learning experience that would allow him to gain first-hand knowledge of the history of the Burma–Thai Railway while contributing to a personal essay about his family’s military service.

Mr Wiffen first visited Hellfire Pass as a visitor in October 2025 and later attended the Anzac Day Dawn Service in April 2026. These experiences sparked his interest in gaining first-hand experience at the Centre and learning more about the stories and history of the Burma–Thai Railway. As he was already developing the idea of writing a personal essay about his family’s military service on the Western Front during the Second World War, he saw an opportunity to volunteer at Hellfire Pass as a way to broaden his understanding of wartime experiences and bring a deeper, more personal perspective to his writing.

As a veteran of the 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, with previous service in East Timor and Iraq, Mr Wiffen’s own military background further contributed to his interest in military history, as well as the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)’s role and commitments in commemoration and the maintenance of war graves and memorial sites.

For more than two weeks in August 2026, Mr Wiffen volunteered at the Centre, assisting with visitor services including greeting visitors, supporting the reception team and providing information to visitors from around the world. The role gave him the opportunity to interact with people from different backgrounds, engage in conversations and learn more about what brought them to Hellfire Pass.

“Welcoming visitors of all nationalities, explaining the Centre to them and working with the local staff have been my favourite parts of the experience here,” Mr Wiffen shared.

He added that his time at Hellfire Pass had deepened his understanding of the suffering endured by prisoners of war.

“Not just the battle, but the human cost of war, which hopefully doesn’t happen again,” he said.

Mr Wiffen also praised the Centre’s ground staff for their professionalism and dedication in ensuring that the Centre is well maintained and presented for visitors.

Asked whether he would recommend the volunteer opportunity to others who may be interested, he said, “Yes, highly recommended.”