Marshall, Michael Leicester John (Oral history)

British officer served with 4/5th Bn Gurkha Rifles in India and Burma, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Background to joining Gurkha regiment. Voyage from GB to India, 1942. Recollections of period with 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles at Regimental Depot, Abbottabad, India, 1943: characteristics of unit; reception with unit 4/1943; atmosphere at Abbottabad; initial relations with Gurkhas; reputation of Japanese Army, summer 1943; posting to 4/5th Bn Royal Gurkha Rifles. Journey from Abbottabad to Arakan, Burma, 9/1943. Recollections of operations as officer with B Coy, 4/5th Bn Gurkha Rifles in Arakan, Burma, 1943-1944: reception by senior officers of unit at Taung Bazar; dispositions of unit in paddy fields; previous accidental death of B Coy commander in River Kalapanzin. REEL 2 Continues: inexperience in relations to Gurkha officers, 10/1943; character of patrols; problems of leeches in paddy fields; opening fire on Japanese sampan whilst on patrol, 10/1943; British losses on subsequent patrol in same area; advance towards Buthidaung, 1/1944; action in which Gurkhas used kukris; Gurkha attitude to the dead and Japanese troops. REEL 3 Continues: wounding in B Coy attack on Japanese positions, 4/2/1944. Recollections of period in Admin Box, 2/1944: evacuation to battalion headquarters; formation of Admin Box; Japanese massacre of Field Ambulance unit; accommodation in temporary hospital; method of carrying out amputations without anaesthetic; surviving his own arm being amputated with help of antibiotic; flight out of Admin Box. Medical treatment for wounds in India, 1944. Period of jungle training with 56th Gurkha Rifles in India, 6/1944-9/1944. Recollections of operations with 4/5th Bn Gurkha Rifles in India and Burma, 1944-1945: rejoining unit at Kohima, 9/1944; story of act of meanness towards his Gurkha orderly by his host during leave in Assam, 12/1944; night time marches during advance down Gangaw Valley, 1/1945; attack on Kalnla, 4/2/1945. REEL 4 Continues: loss of commanding officer John Turner, 2/1945; unit casualties at Kalnla; crossing River Irrawaddy, 2/1945; reason for unit receiving commanding officers from 7th Gurkhas; problems with snakes at Pagan, 2/1945; Gurkha method of dealing with snakes; appointment as company commander to A Coy, 3/1945; advance to Yenangyaung oilfields, 3/1945; story of loss of 3rd Carabineers tank commander at Minbu and meeting his parents after Second World War; promotion to Major; character of Japanese resistance in Pegu Yomas, summer 1945; condition of Japanese POWs; contracting malaria, 7/1945; evacuation to India with medical complaints. Aspects of service with 4/5th Bn Gurkha Rifles in Burma, 1943-1945: health problems especially in Arakan. REEL 5 Continues: attitude towards Japanese; attitude of Burmese civilians to war; contact with Indian National Army; attitude of Gurkha VCOs to Indian National Army POWs. Return to Nepal on leave, 8/1945. Period as camp commandant of 7th Indian Div, 14th Army in Bangkok. Story illustrating potential power of Gurkha officers over British officers. Memories of John Masters in Rangoon, summer 1945. Last months of service with 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles, Abbottabad, India, 1946-1947. Partition of Gurkha regiments between GB and India, 1947.