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THE ATTACK ON KIN-U VILLAGE
By
Lieut. C. Besly, M.C., B.A.
Page 5
body of Pte.
Hall; moreover there were two dead Japs inside the Pagoda, who had
committed Hari-Kiri when we arrived. Some of my platoon had seen them
do it, but unfortunately I missed this interesting spectacle. The Pagoda
contained several grotesque images dominated by thee enormous dragons
("Chinthes"). These horrid things were bright red, with huge
goggly eyes' and fierce countenances. In these circumstances they proved
quite unnerving even to the most phlegmatic amongst us. The men frequently
asked me, "What are we going to do Sir? "..... " How are
we going to get out?", to none of which I could give a satisfactory
reply. We just sat around in a subdued and unhappy silence.
....Late in the afternoon we were suddenly
aroused from this condition by a veritable tornado of firing from the
area of the T junction, where L/Cpl.
Bailey and Pte. Dodd
had gone. This redoubled my anxiety because I thought that that area was
safely in our hands, and that it would prove our best way of getting out.
But this heavy firing did not support that idea at all; moreover I was
afraid for Bailey and
Dodd. I was not long
in doubt. Presently two figures came running flat-out across the paddy-fields
towards us, and dropped down beside us at the Pagoda. They were Bailey
and Dodd. Both were
panting for breath, with their hair practically standing on end. For once,
even the implacable Dodd
had had a fright!
....When Bailey
and Dodd set off on
their patrol, they crawled carefully across the paddy-field and entered
the jungle beyond. Then, quite unknown to themselves, they crawled right
into the back of the very enemy position which I had told them had been
wiped out by "D" Company. For some reason "D" Company's
attack had been much delayed, and it came in at the very moment that Bailey
and Dodd got to the
enemy position. These two were hiding, in all innocence, behind a mound
of earth, when they suddenly saw "D" Company coming to attack—
them! At that instant a little yellow head popped out of a hole in the
far side of the mound of earth that they were on, and started firing at
"D" Company. Bailey
and Dodd had actually
been sitting on a Japanese Bunker. Then they fled! Even so, to his great
credit L/Cpl. Bailey
found time to turn round and watch the progress of the attack. He saw
that it was a failure, and that "D" Company withdrew. Thus,
despite the shock which Bailey
and Dodd had had, the
object of the patrol was entirely achieved. For when they had regained
their composure they told me all this themselves.
....As a result of this, my most promising
line of escape was ruled out, which was discouraging. It was now certain
that if we got out at all, we should have to get out by night. But how?
This question was still unanswered. Briefly, I summed up the situation
as follows:-
....First and foremost, our object was to
get out of this place; it was eerie enough by day, and would be far worse
by night. For myself, I felt quite certain that Major
Hill would come and get us out, but it was not so easy to convince
the men of this, when their nerves were already strained through sitting
here all day. Moreover the Japs might come and get us first. Therefore
it was imperative to move as soon as it became dark. Because we had so
little ammunition; because we had such a high proportion of casualties;
and because our morale had been lowered by the day's experience, there
could be no question of fighting our way back to "B" Company.
We had to move by stealth or not at all. There were now three possible
routes left open to us. First, North across the Broad Road; second, West
through the village, the way we had come; and third, East making a long
detour round the South side of the village on to the railway, then along
the railway to "B" Company. I knew from previous reconnaissance
that the railway was clear of enemy.
....For various reasons, I ruled out the
possibility of crossing the Broad Road. Up till the very last minute I
was tempted to go back through the village. This was much the shortest
route, and because the area had been quite all afternoon I nearly lured
into thinking that it was a safe route. But two incidents just before
dark altered my opinion. This was just as well, because I learnt afterwards
that,
P 1 ::
P 2 :: P
3 :: P 4 :: P
5 :: P 6
:: P 7 :: P
8 :: P 9
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