Description
Object description
Burmese private served with the Burma Auxiliary Force in Burma and India, 9/1939-11/1943; officer served with 2nd Bn Burma Rifles, Headquarters, 3rd Indian Infantry Div in India during Second Chindit Expedition in Burma, 1/1944-6/1944; served with Force 136, Special Operations Executive in Burma, 1945; served with Burma Rifles and Burmese Army in Burma, 1945-1949
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Rangoon, Burma, 1923-1939: family; education; differing attitudes of Burmese and non-Burmese to British presence. Aspects of period as private with Burma Auxiliary Force, British Burma Army in Burma, 9/1939-12/1941: role of unit; presence of Japanese civilians in Burma, 1939-1941; story of lying about age to enlist. Recollections of operations as private with Armoured Car Section, Burma Auxiliary Force, British Burma Army during Japanese invasion of Burma, 1/1942-6/1942: initial Japanese Imperial Air Force attack on Mingaladon, 12/1941; civilian evacuation of Rangoon, 12/1941; clash with Thai troops near Martaban, 19/2/1942; rearguard action towards Sittang Bridge; reaction to premature blowing up of Sittang Bridge, 23/2/1942; problems of crossing River Sittang; how he crossed River Sittang and marched to Pegu; treatment for leg wounds.
REEL 2 Continues: retreat towards Mandalay; role driving supply vehicles and ferrying wounded between Mandalay to Meiktila; problems of thefts by Chinese National Revoluntionary Army troops; aid given to Imperial Japanese Army troops by Burmese civilians; misbehaviour of British Indian Army troops towards refugees; aid given by Kachin villagers in crossing River Chindwin, near Kalewa; trek from Kalewa into India during Monsoon, 5/1942- 6/1942; arrival in Tamu-Imphal area, 6/1942. Aspects of period as private with Burma Auxiliary Force, British Burma Army in India, 6/1942-10/1944: recovery from retreat in Ranchi; reforming of unit at Mhow, 10/1942; resisting being turned into gunner; application for officer training, autumn 1943. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn Burma Rifles with Headquarters, 3rd Indian Infantry Div in India, 1/1944-2/1944 commissioning and joining 2nd Burma Rifles.
REEL 3 Continues: briefing about Chindits; reaction to prospect of operating behind Japanese lines; reasons why fellow recruit dropped out of training; Major-General Orde Wingate's reaction to unit's treatment of mules at Ranchi; nature of training; question of consequences of not observing training instructions later during expedition. Recollections of operations as officer with 2nd Burma Rifles, Headquarters, 3rd Indian Infantry Div during Second Chindit Expedition Operation Thursday in Burma, 2/1944-6/1944: flying into Blackpool landing zone by Douglas Dakota; officer wounded in first night action at Blackpool Landing Zone; patrol from Blackpool Landing Zone towards Namkwin Chaung; mistaken clash with Burma Rifles unit in jungle; evacuation of Blackpool Landing Zone; conditions in Blackpool Landing Zone; impressions of Major John Masters; Imperial Japanese Army troops' killing of Chindit wounded; living off jungle roots during evacuation of Blackpool Landing Zone.
REEL 4 Continues: withdrawal to Lake Indawgyi; building of Karen church and service conducted by Chaplain John Matthew at Moksosakhan, 29/5/1944; mission to contact 77th Indian Infantry Bde and his losing contact with 111th Indian Infantry Bde; role with Major Walter Andrews to contact Chinese to carry out diversion for 77th Indian Infantry Bde attack on Mogaung; contracting tick typhus. Aspects of hospitalisation in India, 7/1944-8/1944: transfer to 49th Indian General Hospital, Indian Medical Corps, Dibrugarh 7/1944; stay at Viceregal Lodge in New Dehli, 8/1944; teasing of Irish nurse at 49th Indian General Hospital, Dibrugarh, 7/1944; training for prospective third Chindit expedition in India, spring 1945. Recollections of operations as officer with Force 136, Special Operations Executive in Burma, 1945: volunteering for Special Operations Executive, 5/1945; nature of training at Kandy, Ceylon; reaction to having to serve behind Imperial Japanese Army lines again; parachuting into Mawchi Mines area to work with Karen Levies; question of why little activity was carried out by this party with Karen Levies.
REEL 5 Continues: move to Ye; providing medicines for ex-prisoners of war, 8/1945. Recollections of period as officer with Burma Rifles and Burmese Army in Burma, 1945-1949: security duties during signing of Japanese surrender in Singapore, Malaya, 12/9/1945; reorganisation of Burma Rifles, 1945; checking loyalty of former troops; purge of British trained officers on Burmese Independence, 1948; decline in discipline in Burmese Army, 1949; pursuit of Chinese bandits on border, 1949; dependence of Chinese bandits on opium smuggling; circumstances in which he left Burma, 1/1950. Reflections on participation in Second Chindit Expedition Operation Thursday in Burma, 2/1944-6/1944: opinion of Imperial Japanese Army troops; question of achievements of expedition.
REEL 6 Continues: Participation in Karen rebellion at Meiktila, Burma, 2/1949 including how he fell under Karen suspicion.