Is there an historical event you are connected to?

My grandfather was in Singapore when the Japanese invaded, during WWII, and he was caught and used as slave labour by them. He was actually at the bridge on the river Kwai when it was bombed. He said it had been destroyed more than once but had always been rebuilt up until the final time that is shown in the film. He said they were forced to pick up the bits of the Japanese soldiers that had been blown apart on the bridge. He also told me that he witnessed the Japanese beheading anyone that refused to bow to the rising sun.