Return To Veterans Accounts Index
THE ATTACK ON KIN-U VILLAGE
By
Lieut. C. Besly, M.C., B.A.
Page 1
....On
January the 6th 1945 my battalion was advancing South down the main road
which runs through the length of Burma.
We were a British Infantry Battalion in the 19th Indian Division, and
on that day we were leading the advance. The Japanese had withdrawn rapidly
in front of us, and we did not expect any opposition until we reached
the village of Kin-U, some miles ahead. We had an easy march down the
road until we were two miles from the village. Then 'B' Company—
in which I was a Platoon Commander— were ordered to strike off on
their own, and approach the village down the railway, which at this point
runs parallel to the road about a mile to the West of it.
The rest of the battalion continued down the main road.
....We reached the outskirts of the village
(which had been deserted a long time) but as soon as we entered it we
were fired on. So the Company Commander, Major
Hill, ordered us to dig in around the big cross-roads beside the railway,
while we carried out further reconnaissance. This went on all afternoon,
and cost us two casualties. We discovered that there was quite an extensive
enemy position in the centre of the village, and we thought there were
other positions outside. By dark we were well dug in, and although we
were so close to the enemy we passed an uneventful night.
....Next morning we awoke with that familiar
feeling of longing for a rest. But, as usual, we were disappointed. During
breakfast the Company received orders to put in a full scale attack on
the enemy position in the middle of the village. This was a very different
proposition from anything we had ever done before, this was the moment
to all our training, and all the preliminary skirmishing of the last few
days led up. It was the real thing at last. But there was so much to do
that we had little time for thinking, which was just as well. First came
a reconnaissance under Major
Hill, then preparing my orders, then giving them out to my Section
Commanders— a matter of considerable moment— and lastly, getting
the platoon keyed up, and in position on the start-line. The attack was
timed for 11.30 a.m.
....The object of this attack was to pass
straight through the village to the Eastern edge. Mine was the left-hand
platoon and we had to keep South of the Broad Road, our objective being
The Pagoda. The other platoon were to keep level with us on our right,
and their objective was the White House. There were only two platoons
in the Company because we were so under strength. This was a colossal
task for one company of 70 men, and, to cover the front at all, we simply
had to spread out in a single line, with no 'follow-up troops' whatever,
which was very bad. The only reserve which the Company Commander had was
one section of men taken from my Platoon.
....We had several minutes to wait on the
start-line until the end of the mortar-barrage, which preceded our attack.
We had been told (we knew not on what authority) that the enemy were only
in open fox-holes, so this mortar-fire looked devastating to us. The men
showed no outward signs of emotion; they were just quite, and tried not
to catch each other's eyes. The mortar-fire stopped, and in we went.
....We were all fresh troops, so the men
were at first rather lacking in dash and personal aggressiveness. They
were not quite confident that they were fully on top of the job. But they
went in with a good steady determination nevertheless.
I am not very clear what happened in the next few minutes, but we soon
found ourselves right amongst the enemy positions. The area was a confused
mass of derelict huts and undergrowth, ideal for camouflage, and a defender's
Paradise. And far from being in open fox-holes, the Japs were in bunkers,
or covered slit trenches, which was a different matter altogether.
P 1
:: P 2 :: P
3 :: P 4 :: P
5 :: P 6
:: P 7 :: P
8 :: P 9
Image required
Map of Kin-u village.
Platoon Commander Mjr. Charles Besly's 9 Page
account at Kin-U.
Japanese Katana obtained by Mjr. Charles Besly Burma 1945. A sword was
once owned by Mr. Tenshu Fukumoto.