Nai Thong Hmen (นายทองเหม็น)

Thai. ‘Mr. Smelly Gold’. Name of one of the eleven heroic leaders who in 1767, at the end of the Ayutthaya period, fought the invading Burmese in defence of the Bang Rajan camp in Singburi (fig.). He joined Bang Rachan camp and participated  in the planning of the 4th campaign, in which he served as the right wing. He, together with Nai Choht (นายโชติ), Nai Dok, and Nai Thong Kaew (นายทองแก้ว), led some 200 warriors across a canal to attack the enemy in the back. As a result, the Burmese were defeated and the Burmese General Surin Chokhong was killed. In this battle, the Burmese had brought out their artillery guns and upon seeing this Nai Thong Hmen and some of his villagers attacked the gunners, riding on buffaloes through the enemy camp, he himself leading on an albino buffalo, yet he was captured and killed by the Burmese. In iconography, he is therefore usually depicted riding a buffalo and yielding a battle ax. 回