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Short Incidents, Madaya And Mandalay
Extracts from an unpublished book
by
L/Cpl. William Joseph Lowe 14640525
Page 2

 

.....On the 10th of March we moved to the west side of the city at about 12.00 hours. With 3 tanks in support we soon bumped into the Japs in force, losing two platoons, Commander Lt. XXXX and Sgt. XXXX. Tanks came up and blasted Japs out with 75mm gun. Pushing on again 4 more men were wounded.

.....We next moved to St. Peters School which the Japs had used as a warehouse, capturing boots, clothes etc. pushing on again the Company came under very heavy fire. One fellow from 4 Platoon was wounded on the crossroads and the Japs covered his body with L.M.G. fire Pte XXXX, the Platoon runner, who had already won the M.M. tried to get him but was killed in the attempt. During this time 6 platoon pushed on covering two more miles bringing them to railway on south side of the city. There they came upon Japs who were wearing white gloves with rifles at the slope who were doing guard over an ammunition dump. These were wiped out with grenades and L.M.G. fire. The Japs were next seen coming down the road in a lorry. A quick ambush was set the Bren-gun opening up at close range killing the driver. The other Jap jumped out and rushed at our chaps. He was shot down and finished off with a bayonet.

.....6 Platoon were cut off for the rest of the night. The rest of the platoons had all become separated from Company H.Q. who going forward on their own came under fire from east side of road. 2 I/C call for 2 inch mortar to move over road and mortar the Japs who were subjecting us to heavy fire.

.....We quickly laid on H.E. and no more fire came this quarter. Major XXXX then caught us up and took us back about a mile as we had surpassed our objective for the day. Moving to cross roads on west side of Fort Dufferin we set up a roadblock to stop Japs coming in from west side. We captured here two 105mm guns.

.....First night Japs attacked us coming along a deep drain which ran down the street. Bren-guns opened up and grenades were thrown. Next morning rifles and other kit were found in drain, left by wounded Japs.

.....Food was brought up by jeep at about 9.30 hours and Sgt. XXXX came in with what was left of his Platoon. On the second night we were shelled by guns from the fort, but although shells fell near we had no casualties. On the third day a battery of 25 pounders shelled a big building in the next street which the Japs were holding. The shells setting of ammo dump.

P 1 :: P 2 :: P 3 :: P 4 :: P 5 :: P 6 :: P 7

 

 

 

L/Cpl. William Joseph Lowe