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Short Incidents, Madaya And Mandalay
Extracts from an unpublished book
by
L/Cpl. William Joseph Lowe 14640525
Page 4
.....We
moved back down the Mawchi-Toungoo Road, here we found the thickest jungle
ever. We made camp and dug out trenches and then orders were issued to everyone’s
surprise we were to start training. First a rifle range was made and then a
grenade range. During the time three patrols were sent out ranging from 6 hours
to 36. the 36 hour including crossing a stream about 5 feet deep and flowing
rather fast, staying at night in Karen village, usually the patrol went to
a Methodist Church at night for a service, singing in Kareni and English.
.....After a few weeks and some encounters with the Japs, with six to the credit
side we moved forward over the rope bridge erected by the Madras sappers and
miners, and a very good job stretching about 200 feet. With full kit we tackled
a hill 9,000 feet with a rise of 2 in 3 after about a two hour fight with the
mud we reached the top only to be told that we had another mile along the top
to take our positions. Reaching our position and being one of the first there,
I was given the job with a few others to man handle the Cook House up the hill,
so that the Company could have a hot meal.
.....During our first few nights stay here, men on sentry duty threw grenades
at shadows thinking that they were Japs, and wild animals set one of our Booby
traps off. On the last day the R.A.F. paid the Japs a visit on a hill, 2,000
feet up from us about 4 miles away, and we were given the job of taking the
position. So off we went covering about 10 miles to get to our objective, we
went along a native track and got the position without opposition. The R.A.F.
having done a good job. After the Company had got to the top of the hill, the
2 I/C came up the slope and found three mines, lucky for us one had touched
them off. Two days later we had orders to move back to the river, and start
to go up the staircase where the road twists and turns up the hill.
.....From her we moved on every day after the Japs, but never saw a live one,
only the remains of the dead ones.
.....On the morning that peace was declared, the
West African Division, Sgt. XXXX, Sgt. XXXX and Pte. XXXX being wounded by
L.M.G. fire. Sgt. XXXX later died of his wounds. We then retired under cover
of the 3” mortar barrage to cross roads with the railway running along
side from north to south. Here again we were shelled, again from the fort.
.....Next morning C and D Companies pushed on to complete the circle around
the fort giving us a break after 6 days fighting. B. Company were left to block
the road and railway south, also to send out patrols.
P 1 :: P
2 :: P 3 :: P
4 :: P 5 :: P
6 :: P 7
L/Cpl. William Joseph Lowe