The Roles of Ayutthaya Engineer Battalion in the Boworadet Rebellion, 1933

Abstract

The purpose of this article was to study the roles of Ayutthaya Engineer Battalion participated in the Boworadet Rebellion from 11th to 25th October 1933. It is of historical study whose key information was collected via relevant documents. The results revealed that the Boworadet Rebellion started on 11th October 1933 when troops from other provinces – Ayutthaya, Saraburi, and Nakhon Ratchasima – rapidly marched over to Bangkok. They seized Don Mueang Aerodrome and the areas around Bang Khen according to the “Deer Siege” strategy. The rebels, calling themselves the “National Salivation Group,” called on the Colonel Phraya Phahon Phon Phayuhasena government to resign immediately, but the government refused to comply with their demands and began to suppress the rebellion. The fight ended up with defeat of the National Salivation Group which was recognized afterward as the Boworadet Rebellion.

Ayutthaya Engineer Battalion’s main motivation for participating in the Boworadet Rebellion consisted of two reasons: 1) fear of communism caused by people in the Colonel Phraya Phahon Phon Phayuhasena government and 2) the close relationship between some of battalion leaders and the rebel leader. The roles of Ayutthaya Engineer Battalion were as follows: 1) attending planning meetings, 2) boosting morale before military action, 3) bringing troops from Ayutthaya to Bangkok by ship landing at Rangsit to seize Don Mueang Aerodrome, 4) deploying troops to siege the northern part of Bangkok, and 5) withdrawing from Don Mueang, Bang Khen and Lak Si.

After being defeated, Ayutthaya Engineer Battalion leaders were imprisoned and stripped of military ranks and littles. Some of them fled abroad. Finally, Ayutthaya Engineer Battalion was abolished by Colonel Phraya Phahon Phon Phayuhasena.