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.....One night when
doing my share of night guard duty with a sharp eye, and my ears pricked, I
did hear the Japanese moving around, waking Sgt. xxxx and reporting that I
had heard Jap movement out there, he said rubbish, his reasoning, that a standing
patrol was outside Fort Dufferin and there was no sign of Japanese in the morning,
as soon as it got light, Sgt. xxxx said come along Shave we will soon find
out if Jap is there, in fact I heard them all night, with Cpl. xxxx, and another
private totaling four of us, away we went. About fifty yards out from our perimeter
we soon found that my assumption was right, I was the leading scout, the Japs
were firing at us, to mother earth we flew, we started to move, I got shot
in my right shoulder, I said to the sergeant, I’ve been hit, he thought
I had said I’ve been hit in the head, and replied Oh you’ve had
it. I replied if that was so I would not be talking to you. By this time my
shoulder was very painful. I was ordered to crawl back and report to our Coy
commander, I was attended too with Morphine injections and put on a light aircraft
to a field hospital.
.....While this was going on the other Private was killed. The platoon was
sent into the area to again sort out the Japs. The Sgt/Cpl were awarded the
M.M., with the loss of my comrade, and myself being wounded. This affected
me very much, if the Sgt had taken my report seriously it may not have happened.
.....When I arrived at the hospital, I was ordered to take off my cloths I
was embarrassed, and somewhat ashamed as most of my cloths stood up on there
own, especially my trousers, remember my cloths had not been removed for many
weeks, when in the jungle you just washed your face and hands, the only opportunity
you got to have a complete wash is when you came to a river, and then you were
guarded.
.....I stayed in hospital for eight days, and returned to Maymyo by a light
aircraft where my Coy was resting. My trip back in the aircraft with an American
pilot was not on friendly terms, as he kept asking me to look out for a landmark
which was a Pagoda, now there were hundreds of the dam things, I could use
another word, but being a gentleman I will not. Before going any further I
must add that while in Mandalay a Coy of Gurkha's had the task of clearing
the Japanese out off Mandalay Hill which was covered with Pagodas a magnificent
sight unfortunately or fortunately for the Japs they could not get at each
other, we were ordered to assist the Gurkha's, petrol was used to burn them
out, not one Japanese soldier was taken alive, the Japs just could not surrender.
It was said that it could have been bombed, but Mandalay Hill with its magnificent
pagoda’s had to be saved.
.....We moved off from Maymyo April 1945 once again in pursuit of the enemy
crossing two more rivers the Sittang and Salween both very wide, which took
us up the Mawchi Road to the borders of Siam, Thailand. The terrain was very
rugged, a good concealment also camouflage for the Japanese they were on the
retreat but they were still very stubborn and an obstinate fighting force,
giving us many anxious moments, shelling and using everything in there power
to hold us up, which on many occasion they did causing casualties both killed
and wounded.
.....I do remember a Sgt. xxxx who had just returned from England, who was
in charge of a patrol into one of the hills where the Japanese had a gun position,
and giving us hell unfortunately he was killed by gun shrapnel which took his
right arm off he died a few moments later we were all upset as he had been
with B Coy since going into Burma other than that his short period of leave
in England also at a time when hostilities were coming to an end, he was sadly
missed.
.....Although the war in the Far East was supposed to have ended 15.08.1945
we were pursuing the enemy up till Sep/Oct 1945. When it finally ended our
role was called Duty in aid to civil power keeping the peace. Peace it was
far from it to me it was like another conflict, we had decoits bandits to contain
with, and many a night we had a hail of bullets firing through our sleeping
quarters very scary many a night we set up an ambush to catch them, but suspect
that they were watching us.
.....My memory has just jolted me to mention that when in the hills of the
Shan States which consisted of dense forest our Coy commander who had been
with the Battalion six years was due to leave us he was a very courageous leader
also the holder of Military Cross we did miss him, as we felt we were always
safe with him around. The story is our new Coy commander said to his Batman
on joining, xxxx there’s gold in them hills, xxxx replied yes Sir little
yellow men with gold teeth. I must mention also mention that we always had
a Chaplin with us, I’m not a religious person but believe me I said a
prayer or two, especially before going out on patrol that padre, Barry I believe
his name was, at no time carried a weapon, although at times he was up front
to give us comfort, and he survived the journey all the way through Burma.
.....Another incident that involved myself, then a Cpl, I was in charge of
a convoy consisting of around 30 trucks with 30 Japanese drivers, taking rice
up the Mawchi Road, now those hills are steep, with many staircases sharp
corners now the drop on our right or left was frightening. Now what ran through my
mind, to have got through this war, and I don’t want to go over the side
with a Japanese driver, which did happen at times, so I decided to drive, as
I had driven Jeeps and other vehicle’s at camp, off we went, we hadn’t
gone far when I had to pull rather sharply to the left, to let a jeep pass
which to my astonishment was carrying a high ranking officer a general, as
he passed he baulled out, if you drive like that you won’t get back to
blighty. Now I had a sweat on thinking that I would get reported but I heard
nothing. A relief. The Jap was not too pleased, he tapped me on the leg saying
master very dangerous, any rate off we went with no further incident.
.....On returning from one of these trips, I got excited, my name came up that
I was going back to England on leave, my hopes were soon dashed when a fellow
Cpl pointed out that it was not my number, I said a mistake was made as there
was only one Shave in the Battalion, as it turned out our 1st Battalion of
2nd Division was disbanded, and transferred to our 2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire,
any rate this Cpl had his leave lucky chap and joined our Coy when we met up,
believe me we looked like brothers same build, by this time I was made up to
Sgt, he likewise our superiors were deluged especially with the Coy C.S.M.
as having two Sgt’s with the same surname, they soon solved the problem,
me being dark skinned so they used the Indian rank of Havidar. We became good
buddy’s, when it was my time to return to England he gave me an Ack Anna
which is an Indian coin one penny to charm away warts that I had on my finger,
to my astonishment by the time I reached England they were gone, never to return.
.....Now my memory has just jolted me, way back at Meiktila after crossing
the Irrawaddy River there was a lull in the pursuit of the enemy, we were given
orders to clean ourselves, and check our weapons, I was cleaning my rifle,
using an old shaving brush unknowingly I had my finger on the trigger consequently
a shot went off, I looked around not a soul could be seen, then heads pop up,
my comrades were surprised to see me still cleaning my rifle, what happened
was, with my finger on the trigger, I had pushed the safety catch forward allowing
a round to go off, the Sgt must have seen the funny side, as he let me off
of being put on a charge.
.....My war time memories are nearing its end. I must mention some of the area’s
where I had been, and had been in contact with the Japanese. Singu, Madaya,
Meiktila, Thazi, Toungoo, Zeyawadi, Mandalay. The Shan States up the Mawchi
Road leading to the borders of Siam. Thailand. 1946/7 I was stationed at Kalaw
which was up in the hills, Maymyo also a hill station, Pegu, Rangoon, Mingaladon,
also Shwebo where I stayed to recover from my gun shot wound. My journey down
through Burma took me across the four main rivers the Chindwin, Irrawaddy,
Sittang and the Salween plus other small waterways.
P 1 :: P
2 :: P 3 :: P
4 :: P 5
C.S.M. Theodore Martin Shave