Rebellion of the Sergeants

August 1935 coup attempt in Thailand

Rebellion of the Sergeants

| Date| 3 August 1935; 88 years ago (1935-08-03)

|

Location|

Thailand

Result|  Plotters were arrested before it started
Belligerents
2nd Infantry Division|  Phraya Phahon Cabinet
Royal Thai Army
Commanders and leaders
Sawas Mahamad|  Phraya Phahon
Plaek Phibunsongkhram
Casualties and losses
† (Sawas Mahamad)

The Rebellion of the Sergeants was a military coup attempt against the government of Phraya Phahon by a group of army sergeants, led by Sawas Mahamad on 3 August 1935, but the plot was leaked. Sawas was executed and twelve plotters were sentenced from sixteen years to life imprisonment.

## Coup plot[edit]

In March 1935, King Prajadhipok announced his abdication while still in Europe, the new nine-year-old king Ananda Mahidol was still in Switzerland. [1] A group of army sergeants who in charge of an armory, led by Sawas Mahamad, plotted a revolution plan against the government of Phraya Phahon. The plot started at the 2nd Infantry Division in command of Major Luang Prahanripu, located in current Ministry of Education office. They planned to kill important military officers and government officials, included Pridi Banomyong, and the regent, Prince Aditya Dibabha,[2] to arrest Phraya Phahon and Plaek Phibunsongkhram, and to take over Ministry of Defence Headquarter. They planned to release political prisoners and force them to join the group. In the end of the plot, they would bring Prajadhipok back to the throne.[3]

## Crushing[edit]

The plot leaked to the government by one of the group of sergeants. The plotters were arrested on 3 August.[4][5] On 10 August, fifteen plotters were held by the government.[1] The special secret military court conducted trials against around 100 sergeants. [6]

The court, without a lawyer,[4] sentenced Sawas Mahamad to death, eight to life imprisonment, three to twenty years, and one to sixteen years. Eleven accused officers pleaded guilty.[2]

## See also[edit]

* Siamese revolution of 1932
* Boworadet Rebellion
* Songsuradet rebellion

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "15 Soldiers Held In Plot In Siam; Government Takes Vigorous Action To Crush Signs Of Disaffection In Army". The New York Times. 11 August 1935.
2. ^ a b "Siam Convicts Plotters". The New York Times. 10 September 1935.
3. ^ "5 สิงหาคม 2478 กบฏนายสิบ" [5 August 1935 Rebellion of the Sergeants]. ย้อนรอยประวัติศาสตร์รัฐประหารไทย (in Thai). 20 November 2011. DNN.
4. ^ a b วิมลพรรณ ปิตธวัชชัย, เอกกษัตริย์ ใต้รัฐธรรมนูญ: บทที่ ๑๐ ความขัดแย้ง (ต่อ) หน้า 2: เดลินิวส์ ฉบับวันอังคารที่ 7 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2555 ขึ้น 15 ค่ำ เดือน 3 ปีเถาะ
5. ^ อริน, เกลือเป็นหนอน กบฏนายสิบ พ.ศ. 2478 ฝ่ายปฏิปักษ์ประชาธิปไตยล้มเหลวซ้ำสอง: นิตยสารโลกวันนี้วันสุข ปีที่ 6 ฉบับ 281 วันที่ 16– 22 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2553 หน้า 13
6. ^ "Siam Tries 100 for Revolt". The New York Times. 14 August 1935.

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History of Thailand (1932–73)

| Politics| Individuals and institutions| Key events

|
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The Monarchy

* Prajadhipok (Rama VII)
* Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII)
* Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX)

Regents of Thailand

* Rama VII
* The Prince of Nakhon Sawan
* The Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong
* Rama VIII
* The Prince Anuvatana
* Prince Aditya Dibabha
* Chao Phraya Yomarath (Pan Sukhum)
* Chao Phraya Bijayendra Yodhin (General Um Indrayodhin)
* Luang Praditmanutham (Dr. Pridi Banomyong)
* Rama IX
* Phra Suthamawinichay
* Phraya Nolarajasuwach (Thongdi Nolarajasuwach)
* Sa-nguan Chuthatemi
* The Prince of Chainat
* Phraya Manovaratsevi (Plod Vichear na Songkhla)
* The Prince Adireksorn Udomsakdi
* The Prince Bidyalabh Bridhyakon
* Luang Adulyadejchrat (Bhat Phuengphrakhun)
* Queen Sirikit
* Princess Srisangwan

Prime Ministers of Thailand

* Phraya Manopakorn Nitithada (Kon Hutasingha)
* General Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena (Phot Phahonyothin)
* Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram
* Major Khuang Aphaiwong
* Thawi Bunyaket
* Seni Pramoj
* Pridi Banomyong
* Rear Admiral Thawan Thamrongnawasawat
* Pote Sarasin
* Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn
* Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat

Military

* Field Marshal Phin Choonhavan
* General Phao Sriyanond
* Lieutenant-General Kat Katsongkhram
* Marshal of the Air Force Fuen Ronnaphagrad Ritthakhanee

Others

* Direk Jayanama
* Luang Wichitwathakan

Institutions

* Khana Ratsadon
* Free Thai Movement
* Coup Group
* Communist Party of Thailand
* Southeast Asia Treaty Organization
* Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Key events

* Siamese revolution of 1932
* Constitutions of Thailand
* April 1933 Siamese coup d'état
* June 1933 Siamese coup d'état
* Boworadet Rebellion
* Rebellion of the Sergeants
* Songsuradet rebellion
* Franco-Thai War
* Japanese invasion of Thailand
* World War II
* Thai cultural restoration
* 1947 Thai coup d'état
* 1948 Thai coup d'état
* Korean War
* Army General Staff plot
* Palace Rebellion
* Manhattan Rebellion
* Silent Coup (Thailand)
* 1957 Thai coup d'état
* 1958 Thai coup d'état
* Vietnam War
* Communist insurgency in Thailand
* 1971 Thai coup d'état
* 14 October 1973 Uprising

← Rattanakosin Kingdom (1782–1932) • History of Thailand (1973–2001) →

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Coups, rebellions, revolts and revolutions in Thailand

Rebellions, revolts,
and revolution|

* Palace Revolt (1912)
* 1932 Revolution
* Boworadet rebellion (October 1933)
* Rebellion of the Sergeants (1935)
* Songsuradet rebellion (1939)
* Palace Rebellion (1949)
* Manhattan Rebellion (June 1951)
* 1964 Rebellion

Coups and
coup attempts|

* April 1933 coup
* June 1933 coup
* 1947 coup
* 1948 coup
* Army General Staff plot (1948)
* Silent Coup (November 1951)
* 1957 coup
* 1958 coup
* 1971 coup
* 1976 coup
* March 1977 coup attempt
* October 1977 coup
* 1981 coup attempt
* 1985 coup attempt
* 1991 coup
* 2006 coup
* public opinion
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* 2014 coup

Popular revolts|

* Peace Rebellion (1952)
* 1973 popular uprising
* Black May (1992)

Protests and crises|

* 6 October 1976 massacre
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