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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Extracts from an unpublished book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