History
The Siamese Army was the official military force of the country then known as Siam. In the early 1900s, the army began to modernize. They bought new weapons and updated how they trained their soldiers to match other powerful nations. When World War I started in Europe, Siam stayed neutral for a long time. In 1917, the country decided to join the side of the Allies. They wanted to show the world that they were a modern and strong nation. Siam sent a small group of soldiers to Europe to help the French and British armies. While they did not see heavy combat, their presence was important. It helped Siam gain respect from other countries and helped them fix old treaties that were not fair to them. After the war, the army continued to grow. They helped keep order inside the country and defended the borders. The soldiers were proud to have served alongside other world powers, and this experience changed how the army viewed itself in the years that followed.
