2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment

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Short Incidents, Madaya And Mandalay
Extracts from an unpublished book
by
L/Cpl. William Joseph Lowe 14640525
Page 6

 

.....From here, we moved back to the plains. Two days brought us to Wunswin, where two of our Companies were already in contact. Marching down we passed through forward Company, our objective being a cross tracks leading from the Shan hills south. Moving along in open formation, we came in view of Jap O.P. on the hills, and we very soon came under heavy fire. Third shell killing Sgt. XXXX and wounded Privates XXXX and XXXX. XXXX later dying of wounds. Japs put over a further 15 rounds, but we had moved out to the flanks and had no more casualties. Her we made perimeter and stayed for two days. Later marching North to relieve 4/6 Ghurkas. Here we came under heavy shell fire. Japs sending over 42 rounds in just under 10 minutes, just missing our perimeter.

.....From here, Mr. XXXX was sent out on patrol with 3 men. Task was to patrol to Pagoda on hill, overlooking our position where Jap O.P. was. Returning the following day he brought back very valuable information. Company were then ordered to take this hill. Next morning Company arrived at hill, after a very hard march, only to find the Taj Riff there. So Company was sent back and marched south for 6 miles. Again making a perimeter. Here Japs bumped A Companies position. Shell fire was brought down on Japs and next morning abandoned trucks were found.

.....Company then moved south again to form another cut off on X tracks. Here we had the misfortune to have our own shells fall in our perimeter, wounding Private XXXX, XXXX and XXXX. Two S.B.

.....All the night we got no sleep. What with the Japs firing and our fellows throwing grenades at bushes. Next morning Japs appeared to our West and artillery fire was brought down on them. Sgt. XXXX going out with a patrol killed one more and brought in Jap stores.

.....From here, we went to Meiktila for a short rest. Had the beer in and a clean up and off we moved again. This time we stayed in Pyinmana for a few days. From there we started for Toungoo. After being messed about for 4 days we finally reached our destination.

.....Two of our companies who had come down before us, had already sent out after the Japs. We moved off down the Mawchi road to M/S 2.4. From here company did a night march to the right flank. As no A/T was available men had to carry 3 mortar bombs, food and tools. First night company stopped on the top of a hill. Next morning moved back in towards the Jap positions where we stopped for two days. Then moved back to Toungoo staying there for 3 days.

.....Company sent out Platoon to the area we had left under Lt. XXXX. Company joining them later taking up our old positions. We then went round again after digging in and making bunkers. We had orders to attack the crossroads. First 25 pounders pounded the rear. Then the R.A. 3” mortars put down a barrage. Vickers firing from bridge on Mawchi road. We had to hug the ground as bullets are coming past us, about 3 feet high. Firing stopped. Company then went in, in blitz formation. Quickly gaining our objective, we consolidated north of crossroads, losing, L/Cpl. XXXX.

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

 

 

 

L/Cpl. William Joseph Lowe
L/Cpl. William Joseph Lowe

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