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Battle of Mogaung
JUNE 1944
Between 1942 and 1945, during the Second World War, General Bill
Slims 14th Army were
engaged in a desperate struggle against the Japanese army in
Burma. Early efforts to prevent their
steady move west towards India failed. A view that the Japanese
were unbeatable jungle fighters
was beginning to take hold. In 1943, Brigadier Orde Wingate led
the Chindits behind Japanese
lines for the first of their long-range penetration operations.
It resulted in little strategic success. Yet
it did prove that the 14th Army could fight on equal terms with
the Japanese in the jungle.
In March 1944, the second Chindit expedition was launched. It
was much larger with six brigades.
The aim was to harass the Japanese rear and supply lines and to
relieve pressure on General
Vinegar Joe Stillwells joint US and Chinese forces moving south
into Northern Burma (see map
1). The early operations were marred by the death of Orde
Wingate (now Major General) in an air
crash. The Chindits were eventually placed under command of
Stillwell and used in the unsuitable
role of classic infantry, without the support of artillery and
armour.
The 3rd Battalion 6th Gurkha Rifles were part of 77 (LRP)
Brigade commanded by Brigadier Mad
Mike Calvert, acknowledged as Orde Wingates most tenacious
Chindit commander. In early May,
the two 3/6th columns were reunited as a battalion, now
commanded by Lieutenant Colonel
Freddie Shaw with Major Jimmy Lumley as his Second-in-Command
(see photograph 1). Having
held off superior Japanese forces for two months from their
stronghold White City, 77 Brigade were
ordered north to bring pressure on the Japanese opposing
Stillwells Chinese in the area of
Mogaung. The 160 mile approach march to Mogaung was marked by a
series of bloody
encounters. The monsoon had broken and conditions were
appalling; malaria and typhus were rife.
At the end of May, Stillwell ordered 77 Brigade to capture
Mogaung itself. 14th Army intelligence,
backed by hazardous patrols from 77 Brigade, showed Mogaung to
be held by 4,000 Japanese. By
the time 77 Brigade launched its main assault it was reduced
from an original 3,500 to a fighting
strength of less than 550 men. The Lancashire Fusiliers, Kings
Regiment and South Staffords
between them could only muster 300 and the 3/6th Gurkhas had 230
left fit.
The plan was to advance on the town using the Pin Hmi road as an
axis (see map 2). On the 11th
June, Captain Michael Allmands (see photograph 2) heroic feat in
ensuring the capture of the Pin
Hmi Inn road bridge was the first of the exploits for which he
was awarded the Victoria Cross. The
second occurred on 13th June in the fighting to secure a ridge
closer to the town. By now
Allmand had taken over command of B Company because of
casualties among its officers.
Over the next few days Chinese forces came alongside 77 Brigade
to face Mogaung. Although their
infantry played no part in the final attack, their 75mm guns
provided 77 Brigade with their only
artillery.
At first light on 23rd June the final assault was launched.
Earlier reconnaissance had pin-pointed
the Red House as a likely trouble spot. It was Rifleman
Tulbahadur Puns (see photograph
3) single-handed gallantry as part of B Companys attack on the
Red House which earned him his
Victoria Cross. The third specific outstandingly brave action by
Tulbahadurs Company
Commander, Michael Allmand, provided the inspiration which lead
to the capture of the railway
bridge. Sadly, Allmand was mortally wounded and died that night
from his wounds. Fierce fighting
continued throughout the day and that night. The following
morning, a cautious advance into the
town found that the Japanese had abandoned it. Mogaung was the
first main town in Burma to be
re-captured.
The Battalion was now ordered to garrison Mogaung. They remained
there until 5th July before
marching a further 50 miles to be flown back to India. Whilst in
Mogaung, the Battalion took the
opportunity to hold a small ceremonial parade and hoisted the
Union Jack on a large pagoda, the
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