THE BURMA CAMPAIGN
36 DIVISION

Extracts of Interest
Compiled by David Evans

Re: Divisional Badge 36^th Div. 

Burma Star Magazine 125

H. Bustard Maidstone. 2^nd Bat Royal Welch Fusiliers

The 36^th Division consisted mainly of two independent brigades namely, 29^th & 72^nd.These fought together in 1942, May 5^th, in Madagascar, Arakan 44. They were flown into Northern Burma via Ledo to Myitkyina. By August 14^th, 44, these two brigades fought the Railway Corridor and celebrated Christmas 44 on the banks of the Irrawady. 

2^nd RWF were flown out in a formation of USA Dakotas, seen off by General Dan Sultan 9.5.45(approx.) to Delhi. Without these planes we wouldn’t have got in or been fed or got out. 

Best kind of wings 36^th Div. 

Letter DEKHO Summer 1998 

FWW BAILEY 

Dear Sir, 

I am afraid that H Bustard of Maidstone Branch has got his facts wrong regarding the landing and fighting in Madagascar. He stated that 29^th Brigade and 72 Brigade fought together at Madagascar, this is incorrect as the 72^nd Brigade was not formed until March 1943.

The 72^nd Brigade consisted of the three Bns, the 10^th Gloucesters, 6^th SW Borderers and the 9^th Royal Sussex Regt. The 29^{th Bde} had four Battalions 1^st Royal Scots Fusiliers, 2^nd Royal Welch Fusiliers, 2^nd Bn South Lancs Regt and 2^nd Bn East Lancs Regt. The 29^th left Madagascar in late October 1942 and went to South Africa for a rest. The Bde went up to Pietermarisburgh 90 miles from Durban and our equipment was left at Durban in store. 

The 9^th Royal Sussex left Liverpool on the “Athlone Castle” on the 29^th October 1942. They were then a tank Regt known as 160th (Royal Sussex) Regt RAC. In Secunderabad on the 2^nd of March 1943 they reconverted to an Infantry Bn. They then moved to Kharakuasla near Poona and commenced invasion training and joined the 72^nd Bde. Later that month the 36^th Div was formed commanded by Major General FW Festing CB CBE DSO. By the way I wonder if Mr.Bustard can tell me who tarred the Welch Fusiliers Goat Mascot at Pashan Camp, Kirkee near Poona? I was in 29^th Bde as a Sgt Artificer in 455 Independent Light Bty RA, joining the 29^th Bde March 1941 at Inverary Scotland. 

Letter DEKHO 127 98

M.A. Demetriaidi.  OBE.

Dear Sirs, 

With regards to Mr. Hinchcliffe’s letter iss.126 Dekho. 

Enquiries about the divisional sign of the 36^th Div. The history is that 29^th independent infantry Brigade was formed in 1940 under the command of Brigadier Sir Oliver Leese, hence the white “ O “ 

The following year Brigadier Leese was succeeded by Brigadier J.M.L. Grover who moved to command 2^nd Div, in October, being himself succeeded by Brigadier Festing. 

In 1942 the Bgde.Gp sailed to take part in the Madagascar operation, 2^nd RWF being one of the Battalions. 

From there the brigade moved to India in1943 round the nucleus of 29 th Independent Brigade Group was added 72^nd Brigade, thus forming the 36^th Division (of only two Brigades) with the linked two circles. The RED one added for 72 Brigade as it Div sign, and in1944 the Div, was sent to Arakan which in the previous year had seen action by an enlarged 6^th infantry Brigade of 2^nd Div with 1 RWF as one of its Battalions. 

The two circle Divisional sign was therefore in being before the Div went down to Arakan. Later in1944 36^th Div was transferred to North Burma Area of operations. During November at PINWE, 130 Field Regiment RA with the remaining battery of 178Regiment fired over 10,000 rounds from 56 guns in two days into an area 500yds sq. 

At the end of the year a third Brigade.26^th, of four Battalions and additional divisional artillery was added to 36^th Div. 

Divisional Sign 

Extract DEKHO Autumn 1997 Issue 123 

By Major DS Young MC  

THE TUNNEL 

“A loud explosion from one of tanks firing was followed by a few more explosions. As a Sapper Lieutenant, I rushed up to the tank to see what was happening. The tank had fired into a tunnel, which was stacked with Japanese ammunitions and supplies. Some of it had exploded. Luckily the tunnel did not collapsed”. 

It was the morning of the 28^th March 1944 in the Arakan. My platoon of Indian sappers was supporting 72 British Brigade who had been given the task of capturing the two tunnels on the road from Maungdaw to Buthidaung, five miles south of the famous Ngakyedaukl pass, known to everyone as the Okedoke Pass. The Ngakyedauk Pass had been cleared a month earlier after a fierce battle what became known as the “Administrative Box”. Field Marshal Sir William Slim wrote in his book Defeat into Victory, that this battle “ was not of great magnitude, but it was nevertheless, one of the historic successes of British arms. It was a turning point of the Burma Campaign” 

I was proud to have had a small part in this “turning point”. My platoon was part of 30^th Indian Field Company, Bombay Sappers, attached to 72 Brigade, consisting of a battalion each Royal Sussex Regiment, the South Wales Borderers and the 10^th Gloucester Regiment, all part of 36^th Division. A few days prior to the assault on the first tunnel on the Maungdaw – Buthidaung road on the 27^th March, my Co, Major Swain, made an air reconnaissance of the area. He saw that a bridge was destroyed on the road at an S-bend 75 yds before the West Tunnel. The bridge spanned a dry riverbed and Swain estimated that a gap was about 48 ft. There was no way of taking a look at the gap on the ground as the whole area was covered by the guns of the Japanese defences. Bob Swain ordered me to go forward in a lee tank and confirm its confined space; I confirmed the approximate size of the gap. We had to back away cautiously, as there was no turning space near the bridge I then ordered a 48-ft box Girder Bridge to be held in readiness. 

At first light on the 27^th March, 72 Brigade began the attack on the hills immediately above and around the Tunnel. The hill above the Tunnel had been subjected to artillery shelling and was now bare of trees and bamboo. Although the shelling had not broken the Japanese defences, it made it possible for the Brigade to advance, capture the hill and dig in. The expected counter attacks came that evening and the following morning. Both were repulsed. 

Under cover of the assault by the Brigade that morning, Havildar (Sgt.) Santokn Singh and a few sappers of my platoon moved up the dry riverbed behind the advancing infantry and reached the broken bridge. Santokn Singh made an accurate measurement of the gap and investigated the state of the banks on each side, assessing how firm seatings could be created for the box girders of the bridge to rest upon.

As darkness fell, my platoon moved up towards the broken bridge, followed the lorries with the bridge building equipment. As there was no turning place at the bridge site they had to back up, one at the time for unloading. This was slow work in the dark, but eventually all the equipment was unloaded and joined together. Meanwhile the seatings, consisted of sleepers firmly pegged down, were prepared on the West Side of the gap. Everyone held their breath as the first girder was slowly pushed across the gap. A soon as it touched the far bank, some sappers carried more sleepers across the girder to prepare the seating on the far bank. Although we had practised bridge building on night exercises, it was now an unnerving operation as odd shells were lobbed over by the Japanese from the East side of the Tunnel. By dawn the bridge was ready and the first tank went over. 

We thought our work was done and were clearing our gear when we heard the explosion.  We saw a large quantity of stores in the tunnel, which looked mainly like ammunition boxes. We set about clearing them. We found rifles, ammunition, grenades, some Bren guns and even 150mm shells at the far end, which the Japanese had abandoned after lobbing some over the hill during the night. The stores were stacked along one side of the tunnel, allowing for pedestrians or a jeep, but not for larger trucks. Odd wires sticking out indicated a few booby traps, but the stores had clearly been abandoned in a hurry so the traps were not to numerous nor were the wires and explosives too well disguised. I moved forward with Jemedar Nand Singh, my 2i/c, and a couple of sappers detaching the detonators and clearing the booby traps. The remainder of the platoon came along behind us removing the stuff and carrying it back out of the tunnel. The length of the tunnel was about 200 yds. 

Fortunately after some 75yds we found the roadway clear. It took about 3hrs to clear the tunnel so the tanks and vehicles could go through. 72 Brigade continued their advance along the road Eastwards towards the second Tunnel. The Japanese had managed to put down anti-tank mines on the road in the form of magnetic mines sitting on top of 150mm shells. They were not too difficult to detect and we were sent forward to remove them. The sappers did this with their mine detectors, though they felt horribly exposed as they walked in front of the advancing tanks hoping that no sniper would pick them off. The battle at the first tunnel shook up the Japanese so much that they offered little resistance at the feature over the second tunnel. When we reached it we found it was empty. 

30 Field Company consisted of three platoons of Indian sappers, one each of Punjabi Muslims, Mahrattas and my own platoon, who were Sikhs. This was the first time that we had been in action and we were in the unusual position of being the only Indian troops in a British Infantry Brigade. Within a few weeks, along with the rest of 36^th Division, we were flown into Myitkyina to support General Stilwell’s Chinese American forces. That action at the tunnel on the Buthidaung road sealed the trust and understanding between us and the British troops of 72 Brigade and it was to stand us in good stead in the battles to follow in North Burma. 

(Editors note; Lt. David Young and Jemedar Nand Singh were both awarded the MC after this action)

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Extract from a tribute to “The Soldier” by Lieutenant-General Sir Oliver Leese, Bt KCB CBE DSO.

  C-IN-C Allied Land Forces South East Asia Command. 

The appalling climatic and topographical conditions under which the campaign was fought were perhaps even sterner test for the British troops than they were for the troops drawn from India, Africa and Nepal. But, despite this, the British soldier proved once again that he is second to none. The doggedness which will not allow reverse to become final defeat, his genius for improvisation and adaptability to constantly changing conditions were all demonstrated. Separated by hundreds of miles and many long years from all contact with the civilisation which had hitherto been an integral part of his life and outlook, he nevertheless remained cheerful, undaunted and determined to inflict upon the enemy the defeat which he knew lay within his power to accomplish. 

And especially it was the infantryman again, his hardships more often than not increased by the lack of numbers in his Platoon and Company, who bore the chief burden. 

The British who served in Burma have indeed deserved well of their country. 

 (London Gazette 12.4.51) 

THE GALLANT THREE SIX 

Into the Arakan drove the Three Six, the Japanese Army they went there to fix.
Over each mountain they couldn’t go wrong.
Over the plains and through every chaung
Drove the Three Six. 

On through the jungle, not even a moan.
Through rivers and swamps and trees overgrown, 
Moral at its highest and spirits first class, 
They were determined to let nothing pass
The Gallant Three Six. 

On they kept going, The Gallant Three Six, 
Putting a stop to all the Jap tricks.
The Jap tried to stop them from making a pass but couldn’t stop these men who came all enmass.
The Gallant Three Six. 

The British, the African. The Ghurkas and Sikhs pushed the Japs off their fortified peaks.
Then to the high ground and suddenly saw they governed the road to Buthadong to Maungdaw.
The Gallant Three Six. 

The Razabil fortress was nothing to theses they just went straight through like a bird in the trees.
Stopping for nothing not even a break, a name for themselves to mend and make.
The Gallant Three Six.

 Anon. Dekho Winter 1995 Issue 119.

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Extract from DEKHO Summer 98/126 

To NABA Junction and Beyond with 36 Division. 

It was with great interest that I READ THE ARTICLE BY Major John Hill in issue 119 of DEKHO. The article related to the documentary made by Charles Wheeler and his BBC team to commemorate VJ day. 

It was with special interest, I read of the train journey made by the train, from Myitkyina through the “Railway Corridor” to Naba Junction and beyond. How I remember that much battered and shell torn railway track as it was, when I first saw it in Mid July 1944. 

At the time, however, the American railway battalion of NORTHERN COMBAT AREA COMMAND had partially restored the line and the so-called “Jeep Railway” was up and running as far as MOGUANG, some thirty miles south. The American engineers had fitted flanged metal wheels to standard road going jeeps. The jeeps then positioned at each end, pulled and pushed a number of hastily constructed flatbed wagons. 

After hitching a ride, it was quite an experience clinging on to anything that came to hand, bombing along at all of thirty miles per hour, forty with a following wind!!, and being entertained by an American escort, blazing away with their semi-automatics at. every thing that moved in the surrounding jungle. 

The “Jeep Railway was to prove invaluable in the following months to the British 36^th Division, of which I was a member in the advance south. Like any “sharp end” soldier, there would be experiences during my North Burma service that I will always remember. One such experience that readily springs to mind when I think of those long gone days, was the “meeting up” if you can call it that, with “Vinegar Joe Stilwell”. As a member of the 10^{th Bn} Gloucester’s advance party, we had flown in from DIBRUGARTH the previous day, after three month active service with the 14^th Army in the ARAKAN, followed by a short break at SHILLONG where the battalion was brought up to strength.

There was about sixty of us in the party, a handful from each company, the majority of us being “buckshee Privates” of which I was one and a couple of junior NCOs with a Captain, as I recall from Headquarters Company in charge. It was in the middle of  1944 and our small squad was gripped in the throws of considerable “shake up” by our Officer in Charge, the reason being there had been an eleventh hour message that the “ Boss man “ no less than Stillwell himself, was going to pay us a visit to welcome our small British detachment to his command personally. The current “flap” was, to a degree, fully justified because by no stretch of the imagination were we in a fit state to be reviewed and inspected as the general’s visit would most certainly entail. ”Scruffy” would have been a monumental understatement. However, our general appearance was completely unavoidable , the rest of our kit had not arrived, all we had was what we stood up in. 

After arrival at the airstrip at DIBRUGARTH the previous day our entire party had been shoe-horned into two American Air Force Dakotas and to lighten the load, our small kit had been restricted to the barest of minimum’s. 

There was positively no room for cleaning gear, not that it would have made any difference had there been in the conditions that prevailed at the time. We had been wallowing in a sea of mud, since our Dakotas slithered to standstill on MYITKYINA’S only serviceable runway. The monsoon season was at its height and when we arrived the rain was falling like there was no tomorrow and it was still belting it down some twenty-four hours later. 

We were drawn up in three rain washed mud splattered ranks, outside our temporary HQ, the total of which comprised of a ramshackle silted “Basha” (long deserted by its rightful Burmese occupants) and a couple of supply drop parachutes, strung up between the trees. 

Our situation was a mile or so from the airstrip up a narrow rutted track, scarcely the width of a bullock’s cart, hemmed in on all sides by thick jungle. Suddenly the sound of over revved engines, as their jeep drivers fought for grip, heralded the approach of the Generals entourage. Our Captain, who had been nervously gazing down the track, pulled us up to attention. The jeeps skidded to a halt where upon the Ghurkha escort smartly vaulted out and quickly and quietly disappeared into the dense undergrowth. 

The general clambered from his vehicle in a more leisurely manner, at which our guard commander gave the order “General salute, present arms”. This manoeuvre was accomplished with reasonable dexterity, considering the conditions, although on completing the final drill movement, instead of a crisp thud in unison, as would have been the case on a bone hard parade ground, we only succeeded in giving ourselves a reverse shower bath, as our right feet came down hard on the waterlogged ground. 

I am sure that at the moment, the thought of “Fred Carno’s army” would have instantly crossed our mind. Once on “terra firma”, the General surveyed our rain swept ranks without comment. Then after a lengthy pause commanded in a quiet transatlantic drawl, ”Stand the men easy Captain.  Our Officer Commanding, duly complied with the order, quickly followed by anticipating the General’s next intention “Open order march”. At precisely that moment as if by magic, the rain stopped abruptly, a fierce sun broke through the leaden clouds and we visibly began to steam up as the General moved between the ranks. A small and wiry man in stature, dressed in the same gaitered fatigues as any other American GI the only indication of rank being four tiny painted stars on the front of his steel helmet.

We had heard that “Vinegar Joe” was getting on a bit but not to the extent that was significant as he moved in closer. General Stillwell was certainly no spring chicken. Here was our detachment, all about twenty years of age or so and this man old enough to be a grandfather to most of us. (Note that in 1944 Stillwell was 61)

He was in no hurry as he moved from man to man, his steady piercing eyes, behind steel rimmed glasses, seemed to bore right through you. Every one of us has a quiet word with him in turn like, “How long you been out here son?” or “Where you from/” or simply “Glad to know you son” A truly remarkable man who without doubt left a lasting impression on our little band of “Brits”

On finishing his somewhat impromptu inspection, the General moved out a few paces turned and faced our squad. We waited wondering what he was going to say, we could hardly be complimented for our ”smart turn out”, we needn’t have worried, however, the General was most patronising in the best possible way. He went on to say “I asked for a British unit to assist me in this sector`”, the General eyeballed us once again with his penetrating gaze, he continues”, They sent me you guys and I like what I see and I’d like to tell you that if you fellas are representatives of the 36^th, then I‘ve got myself a damn good outfit. Welcome aboard, glad to have you and I’m sure we’ll get on fine”.

At this juncture, the rain started to fall heavily again, the General continued quite unabashed, the rain now cascading off the rim of his steel helmet like a miniature waterfall. “So I just want to say, let’s get this goddam war wrapped up and get the hell out of here, see you around, so long and stay lucky” and as he turned to go with a wry grin he added, “ Sorry about the weather”. We “presented arms again” Stillwell acknowledged with a sweeping Yank style type salute, the Gurkhas merged from the dripping under growth, still smiling in their usual way, General and escorts, boarding their jeeps, each executed a wheel spinning three point turn, churning the muddy morass to an even greater depth and the convoy was on the track from whence it came. 

Our Captain obviously relieved that things hadn’t gone too badly after all, allowed himself a somewhat sheepish grin then promptly dismissed us with a “Good show chaps, well done”, and so ended the 36^th Division’s unforgettable welcome to Northern Area Combat Command. In the following months a strong Camaraderie was developed between 36^th Division and the Americans largely due, I am sure, to the foundations laid by the Stillwell welcome 

For six months we were to rely almost entirely on airdrops. 

The 10^th US Air Force Dakotas never let us down, flying through appalling weather. In the early days of the advance, they appeared with clockwork regularity. Americans, Mustangs, Tomahawks and the distinctive twin fuselage P 38s also supplied our close support aircraft. 

Within days of our advance party arrival at MYITKYINA, the whole of the 36^th Division had touched down and embarked on the first “leg” of what was to be a formidable “ “slog down the corridor” with all its milestones memories, good bad and indifferent. 

PINWE is well remembered for the major stand by the Japanese army and probably the biggest battle the Division faced in its entire deployment in North Burma: The Gloucesters, 6^th Battalion South Wales Borderers and 9^th Royal Sussex, being particularly badly hit. Among the many officers and men from the battalion who died at PINWE, was our popular medical officer, Captain Gould, RAMC, killed with five of his staff. The Royal Scots Fusiliers eventually and appropriately, entered the town on St. Andrew’s day 30^th November 1944. 

TAUNGGI is well remembered for its darker side, the ghastly crater into which the Japanese had unceremoniously thrown two hundred of their dead comrades, before they hastily withdrew, was a sight easily not forgotten. 

On the other side of the coin, I have many pleasant memories of BMH PANITOLA and a lovely QA in particular, Sister Francis. I remember, at one stage, I was moved from the surgical ward where I had been admitted with a bullet wound, into the small isolation ward with infective hepatitis and malaria At the time I was the only patient in isolation, stuck on my own and missing the lively atmosphere of the surgical ward. I was “lonesome” and going through a gloomy period. During her evening rounds her cheerful greeting of “How have we been today then laddie?” followed by five minutes natter” and dare I say it, the occasional illicit cigarette, did wonders for my morale 

I also remember spending a pleasant Xmas at KATHA, while our battalion was in reserve, gazing across the IRRAWAADDY. Drinking beer and singing carols with some of the boys from an American Signals Platoon, who had come “up the road” to join us. While at KATHA, we restored and cleaned up the small dilapidated C of E Church much to the great joy of our Chaplain, Padre Jack Sparrow, and when we moved on, carved into one of its beams were the words “Restored by the Gloucestershire Regiment 1944” 

KHONKA is remembered if only because this is where I “celebrated” my 21^st birthday on the 22^nd February 1945 and then onto the SHWELI River at MYITSON, where after crossing unopposed we ran into trouble, defending the crossing at NAMMIC CHAUNG, where it joined up with the wider SHWELI. For five days we, that is “D” company, were completely cut off from the rest of the battalion, who in turn became isolated from the rest of the Division. After many anxious moments, bombarded and “Banzied” and with little “ammo”, food or water left, a party from the SWB and one of our own Gloucester companies finally fought their way through to our much depleted company and the situation was resolved. The town of MYITSON was recaptured days after our “mini” siege ended. The Divisions newly acquired 26^th Brigade, and at that time my Burma experience was about to end. 

My malaria had relapsed again and I was back in hospital, first at 66 IGH MANIPUR ROAD, and then at the BMH SHILONG, where eventually I celebrated the Japanese capitulation with the rest of the ecstatic ward. 

I completed my Far East “stint” of three and four” with the 1^st Battalion Gloucesters at JHANSI and returned to the UK on the 6^th September 1946 by the MV “Queen of Bermuda” with many memories. 

One really outstanding memory and above all was the welcome by General Stillwell at the very outset of our North Burma campaign. “Vinegar Joe” with all his “crusty” and fearsome reputation on that distant rainy day, did not come across anything like that to our little band of Brits at all. To the contrary he left us with the distinct impression that after all he really was “just one of the lads” 

Norman Morse Wilton, Somerset

 Summer issue 2000 / 134.

GUNS by PARACHUTE

 Source Jack Stimson Northwich Branch

DEKHO Iss 124 winter 1997 

I recently re-read Murray Gillings’ book “The Shiny Ninth” the 1940-46 history of the 9^th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment. I noticed that on page 60 he says, and I quote “ Concerning Hill 60 that it had been subjected to fire from the Chinese Heavy Artillery. This gunner regiment officered by Americans and Chinese were to form our artillery support for the most of 1944 until our guns could travel up the occupied Ledo Road. 

Murray Gillings was probably not aware that during the monsoon, 366 Field Battery had had their 3.7 pack howitzers dropped by parachute and joined the American, Chinese battery in support of 72 Brigade, until the monsoon had finished and our own transport and remainder of 178 Field Regiment was able to travel by road. 

After we left the Arakan with 36^th Division, 366 Fd Bty were billeted around Shilong. At some stage, I, as a Warrant Officer was told to select six men and go by air from Ledo to Myitkyina and make my way down to the American, Chinese battery where, on arrival, I should contact Captain Ian Leckie (my own troop commander) who was attached as Air OP officer to American Chinese Battery, to assist in selecting and clearing a strip for our guns to be dropped by parachute. 

We flew to MYITKYINA and on arrival tried to obtain some information as to which way to go. One of the comedians I had with me suggested that we ask which way the war was and set off in the opposite direction. We tried to obtain some transport but the only vehicles able to move through the mud were the 6-wheeled American 5 tonners and none were available to take us to our destination. It became a horror story for us, gunners actually walking. Eventually we arrived. On the Arakan with 36^th Division where, after Stand To at dusk everything was quiet with the minimum of movement until Stand Down the next morning. Imagine our concern when the command post was a blaze of light and a battery charger was going throughout the night. 

On the Arakan one of our batteries, had been attacked by a Japanese raiding party at night. The attack was beaten off. 14 Japanese were killed, others wounded. Our casualties were 7 killed and 5 wounded. The raiding party damaged one gun 

With this in mind, my party of 7 was extremely nervous and this was the only occasion when we all decided to stay awake. Eventually a dropping strip was found at Mingon, south of Mogaung and prepared. The rest of the battery arrived by Jeep Train. We were warned that on a certain day the 10^th US Air Force would be dropping our 3.7 pack howitzers by coloured parachute as opposed to the normal white hessian type. 

We were further warned by the Americans that as soon as the Chinese gunners saw the coloured silk parachutes they would be out and cutting them from the containers. The coloured parachutes were a good mark indicating where the guns had landed in the jungle. We were also advised that to be sure we did not lose any marker we should mount a couple of Bren guns adjacent to the dropping strip and when the planes appeared overhead to fire a few warning shots to let the Chinese gunners know that we meant business. 

The battery organised in parties to recover and bring in the gun parts. Fortunately, although some loads were very heavy, the silk seemed to float them to earth very gently. At ant rate we had no casualties from airdrops, all gun parts were recovered, although part of one gun was slightly damaged and we very quickly had two troops of guns in action. 

Because we had no transport when we moved position, the American 6-wheeled 5 Tonners were used, no other vehicles could get through the mud. It looked rather odd, a small 3.7 gun being towed by a 5-ton vehicle, but we managed to support 72 & 29 Brigades until the rest of the Regiment arrived after the monsoon. 

An interesting note-we were told that the silk parachutes were expensive and should be returned to Ordinance. Unfortunately a number were lost, but the gunners of 366 did appear in some very gaudy home-made coloured pants, in place of the usually standard dyed green ones 

GUNS by PARACHUTE – A SEQUEL.

Source James Fenton

DEKHO  125 

Reading the interesting account of “Guns by Parachute” in the recent issue, by Jack Simpson, a fellow gunner serving with the 366 Field Battery, prompted me to add a sequel concerning the eventual arrival of the transport, supplies and equipment to meet up with main Battery and guns in Burma. . 

I was with a small rear party assigned to bring in the remainder of the equipment by road. Because of the successful achievement by the troops fighting along the Railway Corridor and the retreating Japanese, we had further to travel than was originally estimated before eventually joining the main Battery at Mogaung. Monsoon weather and the opening of the “Ledo Road” delayed the departure of the rear party convoy from the camp at Dibrugarth into Burma. 

Unfortunately the actual time span taken by the journey has faded into memory but it was a proud boast of 178 Assault Field Regiment RA to be one of the first convoys to transverse the newly opened route. Petrol filling stations and night halts were being established and sometimes-tricky manoeuvres of vehicles along the rough tracks and mountain terrain occasionally gave cause for concern. As we neared our destination it was a heart-warming sight to see hordes of abandoned Japanese equipment in roadside dumps. 

Needless to say we were given a rapturous welcome when we met up with our main unit and 3.7 pack howitzers which had been operating under very difficult conditions without quads to tow them; but at last the Battery had once again the full support of its mechanised transport.  

As a matter of interest, the coloured parachutes on which we were dependent for special supplies, have often been referred as to being made out of silk. They were infact made from synthetic rayon and came in very distinct colours, deep red, bright blue and chrome yellow, with strong white tapes. White chutes, bringing in more mundane rations were made of plain weave cotton and served well as comfortable bedding, (if, and when it was possible to keep it dry). Less fragile items, like blankets, clothing and some foods had to survive a “free drop”, so eyes eagerly watched the planes as a safe guard against being bombarded by loaded sacks obeying the laws of gravity. 

How many readers witnessed the flying antics of a Dakota pilot trying to shake off a sack of supplies that had been caught in the slipstream and fouled the tail- plane, its contents equally divided by the forward edge? His brave attempts were to no avail forcing him to abort his mission and return to base. 

THE FORGOTTEN ARMY 

The maddened sun beats down on sunburnt skins.

That sweat and toil to save this evil word,

All spent to better what is held within

This sphere, around which earthly man is curled.

 No days, no dates, no time is known to those

 Who fight to free the universe from bonds

And Nation’s flags on standards fly unfurled

While humans take up sides with armour donned.

As Burma’s tropic heat retards the gain,

And all the devils of disease that be

Help make the warriors progress seem in vain

To once more set the Far East free.

No cowardice, no fame, is sought by these

Who fought against the foe without fear

And pinnacles star from poles to poles to see

Because they fight for that which they hold dear

We learn of battles fought for which they pay

With sightless eyes prone on the field

Those men fought for us and won their day.

And sown the seeds prevailing in the mind

Lost friend in Burma’s green morass,

In hearts and thoughts for ever sealed

Brave deeds, no greater concepts can surpass.

Men hold their ground and prey the time is near

Foe Europe’s was to meet a peaceful close.

Then these men too can hold a spear

Together banishing the Eastern foe.

The 14^th Army’s men have won great praise

But many lay at peace in jungle graves/

What towering heights of fame have these men rose

In history is marked another phase.

Source James Fenton, 36^th Division BURMA 1944

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War in the Far East and Pacific theatres, involved both men and women from a great number of nationalities and can be truthfully described as a great Allied effort. British and Commonwealth service personnel from all branches in the Burma campaign often described themselves as “The Forgotten Army”, with justification. The following is submitted as an acknowledgement to the service men and women of the US forces whose contribution to the final victory in Burma were perhaps equal to their comrades in arms, well documented campaigns through out the Pacific area. They too must feel part of the “Forgotten”

Source: DEKHO Iss Winter 1999

Written By David Tschanz and published with his kind permission.  This article is copyright and should not be reproduced in any way. 

This article was sent to the Countess Mountbatten by a US Burma Star, William Houpt, Ist American Branch. 

Uncommon Misery

The 1944-45 Burma Campaign.

“War is hell,” General William T Sherman caustically answered when asked to comment on the “glory” of war. The Allied soldiers who grappled with the Japanese in WW11, from the steaming jungles of New Guinea to the razor sharp coral of Tarawa would quickly agree- they were in hell. 

For the uninitiated, the word “Burma” conjures exotic images of Buddhist shrines, intricate brass work, water buffaloes and exotically beautiful women. It’s an attractive image, but the reality is the men who fought in Burma were up against one of the words worst climates and some of its most forbidden terrain. They had to scale jagged mountains, hack their way through almost impenetrable jungle, cross swiftly flowing rivers and pass over dusty plains where temperatures ranged as high as 130 degrees F. Some units had to cut their way through knife-like elephant grass. Others using “roads”, found their way blocked by mounds of debris pushed up by the Japanese. In the mountains the roads were sometimes so narrow tanks had to creep along with half their tracks hanging over the edge. 

In places it rained as much as 15 inches a day, miring soldiers up to their calves in porridge-thick mud. Swarms of black flies drove men frenzy. After heavy rains trees and bushes became so heavily laden with blood-sucking leeches that one officer described the foliage as like “wheat field waving in the wind”. Vicious, biting, stinging, rapacious insects-from mosquitoes to mites to ticks-descended on the fleshy bounty the warring armies provided them. 

Soldiers suffered from Malaria, Dengue Fever, and Cholera. Scabies, Yaws, Scrub Typhus and Dysentery. At one point casualties from tropical illness outnumbered those from combat wounds by a ratio 145:1, with Malaria accounting for 90 per cent of these cases. 

The character of the Japanese enemy greatly compounded the problem for the Allies – these fanatical fighters almost preferred death to capture. One Japanese sniper, dubbed “little Willie” by British troops, fired from a hole in a tree for three weeks, picking off 8 officers, despite frantic efforts to get him with mortar and small arms fire. He eventually slipped away unscathed. In another documented incident Japanese Infantry attacked British tanks with nothing more that swords. 

Charles Ogburn Jr, a lieutenant with Merril’s Marauders, described his time in Burma as the worst experience I have ever been through. It was so incomparable, the worst that I could hardly believe in it for the rest of my life at all. In a letter to his wife, General Joseph Stiliwell described the situation as “Rain, rain, rain. Mud, mud. Mud. Typhus, Malaria, Dysentery, exhaustion, rotting feet, body sores”. 

THE CLIMATE 

Burma has its rainy season from May to September, the Monsoon. This is rain with a vengeance; in some places as much as 375 inches falls in 12 weeks. It comes down so hard at times, that as one veteran put it,” You literally couldn’t see your hand in front of your face”. The monsoon turns valleys into lakes; rivers rose 30 feet in a single night; and trails became swathes of ankle deep mud. Frequently during a downpour the bodies of properly buries fallen soldiers would rise to the surface. The effect of the rain and mud on operations was profound. Flying over the Northern part of Burma during the Monsoon season, the Supreme Allied Commander in S.E.A.C

Adm. Lord Louis Mountbatten, peered out of the window of his plane and asked what river was below, ”That’s not a river”, answered the American pilot, ”It’s the LEDO Road”. Overland travel slowed to little more than a mile and hour on foot. Units often became isolated. One British officer found it necessary to be ferried by raft from his tent to the camp mess hall a few yards away. 

THE JUNGLE 

Though the Monsoon certainly presented some nightmarish problems, it was not the worst of BURMA’S tortures. The rain was cool, then the men liked to take off their shirts and let the water run over their insect bites and sores. The really bad part came after the rain stopped. In the sweltering jungle, the temperature climbed steadily every day and the humidity grew to be overpowering. Fungi and bacteria multiplied, breeding rot and disease. Even healthy soldiers found breathing difficult and sleep became almost impossible. 

Bamboo groves were in places so thick units were dominated by elephant grass, usually at least as tall as a man. “You never knew from one moment to the next when you’d run into the Japanese”, wrote Ogburn. Soldiers lived in constant agonising anticipation of a sniper’s bullet and were so jittery an entire battery of artillery might be called in to eliminate a solitary sniper. 

The terrors of the jungle left indelible marks on the men in Burma. Many came down with “Jungle Happiness”. When they returned to civilian life they found themselves ill at ease around crowds and bright lights and sometimes even their family and friends. 

DISEASE 

The men not only had to contend with Burma’s physical obstacles, but it’s abundant  microscopic life as well. The jungles of Burma are host to virtually every tropical disease known in the world. Living and fighting in the mud and water, troops came down with trench foot, jungle rot and ailments called Naga Sores- painful ulcers that sometimes ate through to the bone. 

By far the most common and deadliest sickness was malaria. It is caused by a single – celled organism called PLASMODIUM (there are four varieties) and is transmitted from person to person by mosquitoes. The disease causes fever, chills, sweats and swelling of the spleen and liver and kills up to 20 per cent of its victims. The patients are prostrated for days or weeks at a time. Malaria swept through all units engaged on both sides. At one point the British were evacuating 120 men per day due to malaria, compared to ten due to wounds. 

Scrub Typhus a mite borne variant of Louse-borne Typhus, was prevalent as well. Occurring in epidemic fashion, the disease caused pneumonia like illness and fever of about 14 days duration. During the 44-45 campaign, the British 14^TH Army suffered some 5,400 cases of Srub-Typhus, of which about 10 per cent ended in death. At the same time, US forces suffered 6,685 cases, of which 243 were fatal. Overall Allied loses to this disease were actually lower than had been expected because of the liberal use of DDT. The rate of illness and death among the insecticide-less Japanese is unknown but must have been higher. 

During the siege of Myitkyina, 80 per cent of US forces there had Dysentery; some cases were so acute the men cut their pant seats open to be able to relieve themselves instantly. Between 75-100 Marauders were evacuated out daily. Under pressure to keep men in the line, medical officers refused to evacuate any man who had not run a fever over 120 degrees for three consecutive days and had not passed a review board of doctors certifying his illness. 

Manpower shortages became so acute that those still on their feet had to serve long stretches without respite, some finally falling from sheer exhaustion. At the same time, Stilwell’s staff began placing enormous pressure on the rear area hospitals to return all sick and wounded capable of bearing arms. Convalescents were dragooned and shipped back to the fighting over the objections of their doctors. On one occasion angry physicians literally chased after such a truck convoy bound for the front, forcing it to turn back. Another group of convalescents shipped back to Myitkyina was found to be in such poor shape that they had to be immediately turned around and re-evacuated. 

Conditions at the hospitals, when the men could get there were almost as bad as those at the front. The convalescent camp at Margherita, in Assam was located in a pasture described by its inmates as a “pest hole” The bamboo buildings were collapsing from the ravages of insects. Wards were overcrowded and had dirt floors. In the wet months, when the rain would stop temporally, according to Ogburn.” It was like the inside of a kettle”. 

Source

Appendix “B” from * A Fragment of Life* the Burma episode A.W.NUNN. 

Burma has been called the “Forgotten theatre “ of WW 2, but those who fought there would never forget the hell it was. 

The list of the main diseases and illnesses contracted by British troops during the Burma Campaign. In the early days of the campaign the incidents of malaria and dysentery, where hospitalisation was necessary, exceeded the number of casualties suffered in battle. Eventually these two particular diseases were kept under control by strict discipline and suppressant medications 

MALARIA: Intermittent and remittent fever conveyed by the bite of the ANOPHELES mosquito. 

DYSENTERY:  Disease with inflamed intestinal mucous membrane and glands, causing severe griping and the evacuation of blood and mucous. 

DENGUE FEVER: Infectious eruptive fevers causing acute pain in joints and disabling stiffness of neck. 

SANDFLY FEVER: Very high fever conveyed by sand parasite 

SCRUB TYPHUS: Infectious eruptive disease with high fever 

BILHARZIA: Chronic condition produced by the presence of water- borne parasitic flatworm in the human pelvic region. 

SORES, BAMBOO SCRATCHES, BOILS, CARBUNCLES: Always slow to heal in the festering conditions and on an imbalanced diet 

D.C. Evans. 03.03.01