2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment

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Trouble Ahead
Extracts from an unpublished book
by
L/Cpl. William Joseph Lowe 14640525
Page 2

 

.....It was well over zero hour by the time we arrived at our spot, having to cover 500 x 5 mins through thick jungle, planes were already overhead, so we had to make a very quick move back to avoid being hit by our own planes. A/C refused target so we moved forward meeting no opposition, meeting up with Battalion on the railway line.

.....The following day we pushed on to Kambalu. We stayed just outside the town for the night and early next morning moved off down the track running parallel with the railway, passing through Tangon. 8 F.F.R. took the lead after a few miles trucks were mined and Japs opened up on them. Battalion was then sent on the left flanker over very rough country, a very rough march bringing us out behind the Japs, hitting the road leading from Zigon, from her the Battalion was split up. ‘C’ Company was sent to the left flank. We soon came under fire, and after a lot of messing about, we went back and formed a box. From early that morning till 11 o’clock next day we had no food. We passed through Tantabin and Madaunghla.

.....We again hit Japs at Kinu, here Battalion had one of its biggest battles. ‘B’ Company with ‘A’ Company on their right bumped into the Japs. ‘C’ Company were then sent in to clear a raised road on the eastern side to town. We went in after a regiment shot only one Jap. We had to spend the night on top of the ground, as it was too late to dig in.

.....During the next few days the other Companies had some very big battles. 4/4 Ghurkhas were sent round south of town as a cut off. ‘B’ Company did very well. Major XXXX won the M.C. for going up to Jap bunkers and throwing grenades inside, and grand leadership of Company. Captain XXXX also won the M.C. for fine work carried out with his Platoon, himself being wounded. C.S.M. XXXX was killed carrying ammo to Captain XXXX Platoon. Private XXXXX won the M.M. for going up to a bunker and throwing in a grenade and escaping from the Japs. Private XXXX, the Platoon runner, also won the M.M. for good work.

.....During the night the Japs withdrew and 4/4 Ghurkhas caught them out in the open killing 80 odd Japs. Next morning ‘C’ and ‘B’ Companies formed one company and had Major XXXX as First in Command, Captain XXXX as as Second in Command, Pl. Comdrs. Lt XXXXX, Sgts. XXXX and XXXX. After two hours of sorting out we moved off, the main road to Shwebo.

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

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