2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment

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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,

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