Neill, Dominic Fitzgerald (Oral history)

British officer served with 3/2nd Bn Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles, 74th Indian Infantry Bde, 25th Indian Infantry Div in Arakan, Burma, 2/1944-3/1945

REEL 1 Recollections of operations as officer with 3/2nd Bn Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles, 74th Indian Infantry Bde, 25th Indian Infantry Div in Arakan, Burma, 1944: return to unit in India, 1943 including new leadership after First Chindit Expedition; torpedoing of troop transport to Chittagong by Japanese submarine, 2/1944; situation in Rarzbil area on unit entered front line; terrain in front line; positions of Imperial Japanese Army's 55th Infantry Div; orders to remove Japanese from tunnels in Mayu Range; appointment as intelligence officer; intelligence course in Karachi, India, 4/1944; attitude of Arakanese towards British; shooting of two pro-Japanese civilians; reconnaissance to Point 109 in Godasara Chung area; how reconnaissance patrol was nearly surprised by Japanese troops; loss of mother's signet ring in jungle; failure of Japanese patrol to deceive using Gurkhali language. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operation as officer with 3/2nd Bn Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles, 74th Indian Infantry Bde, 25th Indian Infantry Div during amphibious operation on River Naf to set up advance patrol base at Ponra, Arakan, Burma, 5/1944: plan; use of Arakanese guide Habibullah; intelligence gained from villagers and killing of three Japanese soldiers; ambushing Imperial Japanese Army troops; Imperial Japanese Army casualties and capture of prisoner of war; effect of discovery of family photographs on dead Imperial Japanese Army private; position of patrol as Imperial Japanese Army troops started to advanced. REEL 3 Continues: retreat to beachhead; problems of swimming Gurkhas across tidal chaungs; discovery that Rifleman Bharsal had been left behind in Ponra; reasons for Rifleman Bharsal not withdrawing; rescue of Rifleman Bharsal and discovery that prisoner of war was Burmese villager working for Japanese; taking over positions from British Indian Army troops on Mayu Range; effect of overworking on patrol; orders to capture Imperial Japanese Army soldier. Recollections of operations as officer with 3/2nd Bn Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles, 74th Indian Infantry Bde, 25th Indian Infantry Div during attack on Point Tiger and Point 1433, Arakan, Burma, 9/1944: intensity of Imperial Japanese Army machine gun fire; effect on officers of casualties among their Gurkha troops; plan for advance on Point Tiger from Point Horse, 12/9/1944; Imperial Japanese Army troops' abandoning of bunkers; state of Gurkha corpses killed, 8/9/1944. REEL 4 Continues: discovery of Major Joseph Stephenson's body and failure to retrieve his ring for his relatives, belief that Major Joseph Stephenson should have been awarded Victoria Cross, question of Major Joseph Stephenson's motivation and regimental honour; question of errors in regimental history's account of attack on Points Tiger and 1433, question of rules regarding award of posthumous Victoria Crosses in unsuccessful actions and question of colour of Gurkha corpses on Point Tiger, 12/9/1944. Recollections of operations commanding B Coy 3/2nd Bn Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles, 74th Indian Infantry Bde, 25th Indian Infantry Div in Arakan, Burma, 12/1944-3/1945: taking command of B Coy; birthday breakfast, 12/1944; opinion of Australian troops; arrival at Donbaik and reaction to having to use K rations, 25/12/1944; discovery of Gurkha ringworm problems, 1/1/1945; wounding in accident from premature mortar round; use of aircraft for reconnaissance of Akyab Island, 1/1945. REEL 5 Continues: fatal accident to fellow officer on Akyab Island, 1/1945; declaring Akyab Island free of Japanese presence, 10/1/1945; landing on Myebon Peninsula, 12/1/1945; aerial activity over beaches on Myebon Penisula; question of limited support for infantry during Burma campaign due to priority of European theatre; casualties to 'O' Group; lousy condition of troops; air and artillery attacks on Point 262, 17/1/1945; capture of Point 262, near Kantha, 17/1/1945; landing of 3rd Commando Bde at Kangaw, 22/1/1945; end of action on Kangaw and unit casualties, 2/1945; discovery of Japanese casualties in damaged field hospital; death of only Imperial Japanese Army prisoner of war ever captured by unit; throwing grenade into Japanese machine gun position and capture of weapons; question of fascination with Japanese and their superiority over most British troops; story of commando officer George Knowland winning Victoria Cross. REEL 6 Continues: sight of Royal Air Force napalm attack and effectiveness of napalm on Imperial Japanese Army bunkers; strategy for cutting off Imperial Japanese Army in Ru-Ywa and Tamandu areas, 19/2/1945-20/2/1945; Japanese counter-attacks; disembarkation at Obo Red Beach; advance northwards; incident of Gurkhas heroism in retrieving superior's dead body; question of lottery for gallantry awards; question of inaccuracy of regimental history regarding this period of fighting near Gurung; use of mortars to dislodge Japanese from trenches at Gurung; discovery of Japanese dead after action; Japanese shelling of positions with 70mm artillery, 23/2/1945; nature of Japanese resistance at North Pun, 24/2/1945; problems digging in on hard rock, 25/2/1945; plan to use company for assault on Rana; advance on Rana. REEL 7 Continues: challenge from Japanese sentry in English; C Coy's action at North Pun, 26/2/1945; reconnaissance of Point 898; further actions in Point 898 area, 2/1945-3/1945; question of why early capture of Tamandu became necessary, 3/1945. Recollections of operations commanding B Coy, 3/2nd Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles, 74th Indian Infantry Bde, 25th Indian Infantry Div at Snowdon Ridge, near Tamandu, Burma, 3/1945: plan for unit to occupy Snowdon position as part of operation to capture Tamandu; advance of unit towards Snowdon; tactics employed by Imperial Japanese Army sniper, 3/3/1945; problem of ammunition supply for operations, positioning of B Coy on Point 85; fall of Snowdon with no Japanese opposition; Japanese counter-attack on 1 Platoon, B Coy. REEL 8 Continues: heroism of Naik Bombadur, 5/3/1945; breakout of 1 Platoon from positions on Snowdon East; question of lessons of fighting on Snowdon, 4/3/1945-5/3/1945; geography of Snowdon Ridge; Imperial Japanese Army troops digging in on Snowdon Ridge; orders for B Coy to take Snowdon East regardless of cost; preparations for Snowdon East attack; Gurkha reconnaissance of Imperial Japanese Army machine gun posts; his plan for attack on Snowdon East; opinion of his own handling of frightened officer; artillery bombardment at start of attack; reaction to wait before attack, 5/3/1945; battle of Snowdon East. REEL 9 Continues: pinning down on Snowdon East; company casualties; his attempt to silence Japanese machine guns firing on 'whistle' with artillery fire; realisation that company was alone; role of Lance Naik Chamar Sing Gurung in taking of Imperial Japanese Arnyt positions; heroism of Rifleman Bhanbhagta Gurung which led to award of Victoria Cross; nature of hand to hand fighting; actions of Jemadar Chandra Bir's 5 Platoon; heroism of Rifleman Sher Bahadur of 4 Platoon; role of reserve 6 Platoon and it's commander Havildar Subakar; heroism of Rifleman Asbahadur Pun; beating back of Japanese counter-attack by Rifleman Bhanbhagta Gurung and his award of Victoria Cross for actions on Snowden East; request for reinforcements against Japanese counter-attacks. REEL 10 Continues: bravery of Asbahadur Pun and lack of gallantry award; Havildar Subakar's narrow escape from Imperial Japanese Army sniper and Neill's killing of sniper; B Coy losses during Snowdon East; question of changing of Gurkha regimental titles and destruction of regimental pride, 1994; strategic situation after Snowdon East action; withdrawal of unit to Akyab Island, 3/1945; gallantry awards to B Coy, 3/2nd Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles for action on Snowdon East.