Cree, Gerald Hilary (Oral history)

British officer commanded 2nd Bn West Yorkshire Regt (The Prince of Wales's Own), 9th Indian Infantry Bde, 5th Indian Infantry Div in Burma, 1943-1944; commanded 25th (East Africa) Infantry Bde, 11th (East Africa) Infantry Div in Burma, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Aspects of period commanding 2nd Bn West Yorkshire Regt (The Prince of Wales's Own), 9th Indian Infantry Bde, 5th Indian Infantry Div in India, 1943: background to battalion move from Middle East to India, 1943; nature of jungle training at Ranchi; composition of unit; question of despondency in India after failure of first Arakan campaign in Burma; other units that battalion brigaded with; malaria problem during training; reputation of Imperial Japanese Army troops. Aspects of operations commanding 2nd Bn West Yorkshire Regt (The Prince of Wales's Own), 9th Indian Infantry Bde, 5th Indian Infantry Div in Arakan, Burma, 12/1943-2/1944: move into Arakan; Christmas period on Teknaf Peninsula, India, 12/1943; developing attack on Maungdaw, 1/1944; capture of Maungdaw; probing attack in foothills at Razabil and heavy losses to C Coy; orders to withdrawal towards Maungdaw; failure of company attack on Razabil. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations with 2nd Bn West Yorkshire Regt, 9th Indian Infantry Bde, 5th Indian Infantry Div in Admin Box, Burma, 5/2/1944-23/2/1944: units inside Admin Box; deployment of companies and defensive arrangements for Admin Box; arrival of Major-General Frank Messervy, commanding officer of 7th Indian Infantry Div; Japanese atrocities at dressing station; decision not to recapture hospital at night; recapture of dressing station by A Coy; attack on Japanese at Blood Nullah; intelligence gained from Imperial Japanese Army prisoner of war; recapture of C Coy's hill at bayonet point; memories of Major O'Hara; A Coy's attack on Artillery Hill; disposing of Imperial Japanese Army dead with bulldozer; arrival of reinforcements from 26th Indian Infantry Div; morale and condition of battalion at end of battle. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of move of 2nd Bn West Yorkshire Regt (The Prince of Wales's Own), 9th Indian Infantry Bde, 5th Indian Infantry Div from Arakan, Burma to Imphal/Kohima area, India, 3/1944: aircraft flight to Manipur Road; allocation of new transport; move to Kohima and being sent back to Manipur Road; disobeying orders and return to Kohima; move forward to Imphal. Recollections of operations as commanding 2nd Bn West Yorkshire Regt (The Prince of Wales's Own), 9th Indian Infantry Bde, 5th Indian Infantry Div, Imphal, India, 1944: being last unit into Imphal defensive perimeter; terrain around Imphal; assistance given to Kanglatongbi garrison; supervising withdrawal from Kanglatongbi; accidental attack by Indian Air Force and disciplining of pilot; ambush on D Coy; capture of Japanese position at Milestone 112; covering machine gun fire given to 1/17th (Prince of Wales's Own) Bn Dogra Regt and B Sqdn, 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards) on Nunshigum Ridge; advance down Tiddim Road. REEL 4 Continues: character of fighting on Tiddim Road; problems with scrub typhus; capture of Kennedy Peak; condition of unit and forming of composite battalion with 4th Bn Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regt), 9/1944. Aspects of period commading 25th East African Bde, 11th (East African) Infantry Div in Burma and India, 1944-1945: posting to command brigade on River Chindwin, 12/1944; reception of brigade at Manipur Road; preparation for Operation Zipper; question of British Indian Army's opinion of African troops; change in command of division; loss of divisional transport; move to Ranchi, India; return to GB, 10/1945. Reflections on military service in India and Burma, 1943-1945: opinion of African troops; problem of duplication of African and British NCOs; role of V Force in Arakan, Burma; attitude of Kukis at Imphal to war; role of Lushai Brigade; importance of air superiority; attitude towards Imperial Japanese Army troops; condition of Imperial Japanese Army in Imphal area, India, 1944; capture of 2nd Bn West Yorkshire Regt (The Prince of Wales's Own) patrol in Arakan, Burma. REEL 5 Continues: opinion of Imperial Japanese Army equipment and marksmanship; opinion of United States Army Air Force and Chinese National Revolutionary Army; attitude of orthodox units to idea of Chindit expeditions; memories of Major-General Orde Wingate; effect of Lord Louis Mountbatten's leadership during Burma Campaign.