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Punjabi troops on the India - Burma
frontier 1943.
Click on picture for larger view
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18th January 1943 |
Troops from the 14th Indian
Division attack the Japanese positions at Donbaik in the Arakan, but
without success.
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1st February 1943 |
In the Arakan, the British
forces renew their attack on Donbaik but can make no progress.
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8th February 1943 |
THE FIRST CHINDIT RAID
BEGINS. This force, more properly called the 77th Indian Brigade, is
led by General Wingate, and it's task is to penetrate behind enemy lines
causing damage and destruction. Above all, the expedition is
designed to demonstrate that the British and Indians can take on the
Japanese in the jungle. The expedition begins at Imphal and sets out
towards Tamu.
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14th February
1943 |
The Chindits cross the
Chindwin in two groups at Auktaung and Tonbe. Wingate is leading the
larger northern group.
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1st March 1943 |
The Chindit force is making
slower progress than had been hoped, partially because it has been
concerned to find clearings for supply drops when in fact, it is
discovered later that it is possible to recover supplies dropped in jungle
areas.
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3rd March 1943 |
After a setback on March 2nd,
the southern Chindit group succeeds in cutting the Mandalay to Myitkyina
railroad just north of Kyaikthin.
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6th March 1943 |
The Chindits make a series of
demolitions on the railroad between Nankan and Bongyaung.
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10th March 1943 |
The Chindits are now operating
in several columns and cross the Irrawaddy in two places; at Tagaung and
Tigyaing, further north.
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17th March 1943 |
The 123rd Indian Brigade is
attacked by the Japanese just north of Rathedaung in the Arakan, and is
forced to fall back. General Kota leads the Japanese attack with
units of the 55th and 33rd Divisions being involved.
(Click
here for wartime map of Burma)
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18th March 1943 |
Wingate's column crosses the
Irrawaddy south of Inywa; this is the last group to do so. The
Japanese have now assembled considerable forces to hunt the Chindits and
their operations are being increasingly circumscribed. In the Arakan,
the more regular British operations are not going well either.
Hitzwe falls to a pincer attack, and on the Mayu Peninsular, a British
attack on Donbaik falls.
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24th March 1943 |
The various Chindit columns
join up between Baw and Pago, but Wingate is ordered to break off the
operation and return to India.
Wingate's forces split up into small
groups and most succeed in reaching base by early April. One returns
later via China. Losses have been heavy - about one third of the
force - but many lessons have been learned and the value to moral and
propaganda has been high.
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5th April 1943 |
The Japanese on the Mayu
Peninsular continue to advance Northwest in the direction of India.
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8th April 1943 |
General Kawabe replaces Iida
in command of the Japanese forces and are now to be organised as the
'Burma Area Army'. The Japanese are planning to extend their hold on
Northern Burma and among the logistics that accompany this, is the
construction of new rail-lines. About 60,000 allied P.O.W.'s
are employed on this work - about 15,000 of them die through
ill-treatment.
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4th May 1943 |
The Japanese have now
infiltrated between Buthidaung and Maungdaw, disrupting British
communications.
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7th May 1943 |
The British are forced to
retire from Buthidaung which is taken by the Japanese.
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11th May 1943
Back
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The British pull back the 26th
Division from Maungdaw which the Japanese occupy on the 14th May.
The 1943 Arakan campaign is over. The British have lost 3,000 killed
and seriously wounded - more than twice as many as the Japanese.
Above all, the moral of the British forces could hardly be poorer and
their health is also weak. Generals Irwin and Lloyd are relieved and 'SLIM' is appointed TO COMMAND THE 14TH ARMY
WITH EFFECT FROM THE 15TH MAY 1943.
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