Map of Fort Dufferin and Mandalay Hill
Theatre Of War Index
.....Mandalay Fort, (renamed Fort Dufferin by the occupying British in 1885),
lies at the heart of Mandalay City and at the foot of Mandalay Hill, constructed by order of King Mindon in 1857.
.....This large complex along with its gold and white Pagodas produce an
immense feeling of power to all that gaze on its beauty and splendour,
secure within the immense eight meter high walls constructed from red bricks
and backed up by earth ramparts some three meters thick at its base. Surrounded
on all sides by a moat, 70m wide and 3m deep. As you can see a formidable
task for the forces that had to take this last obstacle of Japanese defiance
along with the task of taking Mandalay Hill.
.....During World War II the Japanese installed
a military camp within, which was shelled and bombed by the allies, until
nothing remain of the ancient palace buildings.
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The walls of Fort Dufferin to the left of the picture and in the distance you can see Mandalay Hill.
The part played by the Berkshires is best recalled in the words of the men who fought there.
Sergeant Gilbert Scott Selwyn 14400465:
.....The most important episode was the assent and capture of Mandalay
Hill, already published, but the way the 4/4 Gurkha's took the forward
slopes will remain forever in my mind; against all odds they drew their
Khukuri’s and swept up the final yards to the summit. The Berks then
took over, and after many casualties cleared the remaining Pagodas, another
2 days clearing the Pavilion and remaining Pagoda’s, before moving
down into the City to assist in clearing up the remnants of the Japanese
Rearguard.
CSM Theodore Martin Shave 14749852:
.....At this time we B Company were leading the whole Division followed
by our Battalion March 1945 we were getting close to Fort Dufferin which
was surrounded by a Moat, very wide, and deep, before an assault could
be made the walls had to be breached, but our 25Ib guns could not penetrate
those thick walls, so aircraft were called to bomb it.
.....I never felt any animosity towards the Japanese although they were
cruel I don’t think they new any different they were taught what
they had to do, us likewise, it did upset me when we entered Fort Dufferin
seeing some British prisoners wearing loin cloths, and near to starvation,
also covered in sores. I can’t forgive them for that.
.....Unfortunately, at the end of World War II, the British shelled the
fort to force out the small group of Japanese and local soldiers that held
it, and in the process destroyed all of the wooden buildings of King Mindon's
palace.
.....The main palace buildings were rebuilt and are now open to the general
public, but much of the fort still remains the property of the army.
This image was kindly donated by, Mr Nigel Harris of Ottawa in Canada.
2nd Battalion
The Royal Berkshire Regiment
(Princess Charlotte of Wales's)
1939 - 1959
Come you back, you British soldier;
come you back
to Mandalay!
Rudyard Kipling
1865-1936