THE BURMA POLICE AND THE
RETREAT FROM RANGOON
Told by an ex Burma
police Officer 1994
When I look back over the
years to what all of us of the 14th Army went through I feet a great sadness at
the very touching and sad memories of the Burma Veterans. After all, with the
best will in the world memories can be a little untrustworthy after fifty-two
years. So before I begin I shall try and explain and state my credentials. I
served with the Burma Police in Rangoon before the war. Our HQ was in Mogul St,
- a very efficient and organised Force.
Rangoon is the capital and principal port of Burma; the structure first
seen by visitors was the famous Shwe Dagon Pagoda. The city was surrounded by
lovely green countryside, the Royal and Kokine Lakes, the Cantonment Gardens,
the Zoological Gardens, the Horticultural Gardens and the Golf course at
Mingaldon about 12 to 14 miles from Rangoon, which is or was one of the finest
in the East. The population was about 420,000 (not quite sure), Indians,
Chinese, Burmese, Shana and others. Weather conditions were cool October to
February, hot March to May, monsoons June to September.
The Irrawaddy Flotilla Company ran services to stations on the Inland
Waterways. The currency was Rupees, of which the sterling equivalent was
approximately 1 shilling and 6 pence. What is it like today, I’d like to know?
When Singapore fell to the Japanese, we knew it would not be long before we
would be their next target, so a lot of us enlisted with the newly formed 1st
Burma Division, and after six weeks training, some of us were posted to
Moutmein in Southern Burma, under General Wavell. In 1942 the Japanese landed
at Victoria Point, the very southern point of Burma - there was nothing to stop
them, nothing at all.
Our first serious fighting against the Japanese took place at Moulmein,
and although we put up a very strong resistance, we were forced to retreat
across the River Saleen to the rail-head at Martaban. We came under very heavy
attacks from the advancing Japanese, and also from the air. Several Irrawaddy
Steamers were sunk taking us across. The Military Forces in Burma, when the
shooting started, were hopelessly inadequate. The two good British Battalions, 1st Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), (26th Regiment of Foot), and the 2nd Battalion, Kings Own York and Lancaster
Infantry suffered heavy casualties, and the only formation in the field was the
1st Burma Division. We were poor in quality, less than half-trained,
ill-equipped, and in no condition to face the Japanese. Overall the Japanese
were generally well equipped. The British forces were heavily outnumbered
almost from the start.
From Martaban we moved on to the
line of the Sittang River, the last natural defensive position before Rangoon.
On the banks of the wide strong flowing Sittang River took place one of the
most furious, fierce, and terrible battles of the War. It was fought with great
courage and devotion, against a very strong and inhuman enemy. These savages
attacked with everything, but failed to secure the railway bridge. This, the
only, bridge was kept open to allow the 17th Indian Division to
withdraw, but by a grievous misunderstanding, it was blown up prematurely, with
nearly the whole of the Division on the wrong side. We never knew who was
responsible.
The British and Indian troops held off repeated attacks by day and
night, with the enemy often a few yards away. When all hopes were lost many
troops attempted to swim across this mighty river, a terrible disaster, with a
very heavy loss of life. Anyway, whilst I’ve got your attention, I’d like to
say it is hard for me to pick out any one of the events or happenings that took
place, but what I feel was outstanding and magnificent was the spirit and
courage of the 14th Army, who, against all odds, fought tooth and
nail against these inhuman savages - I feel very proud and that to me is the
real Burma Star spirit. When Toungoo, Prome and Pegu fell to the Japanese, it
seemed to us that the fate of Burma was sealed. On General Alexander’s orders
the great Oilfield of Yenangyaung was destroyed to deprive the Japanese of
vital supplies. The Buddhist priests in their yellow robes were very
politically minded, and ardent in treacherous acts of betraying the British and
Indian soldiers into murderous ambushes, helped by the Burmese JIF’s who
informed the Japanese of our movements.
General Alexander now had no choice but to retreat to India with the
little ill-favoured Army formed before the onset of the Japanese invasion in
1942.The General himself, and all his Headquarters staff were virtually “in the
bag” outside Rangoon. This was to be the beginning of the hard and bitter road
of retreat, which his half trained and weary Division was to take. We were told
to make our way to India, and keep our weapons against treacherous Burmese and
Japanese snipers, many of whom seemed to lurk in almost every tree, while every
hilltop sheltered a gun, plus attacks from the air.
I have never ever seen so many people of different nationalities lying
dead by the roadside, and hundreds of others fleeing in fear of their lives,
-it was absolute chaos. I believe it was a journey of 700 or 800 miles or more,
I’m not sure. The sun will never set on the memory of the gallant men and women
who fought and died, no matter what rank or what job was done. Faces, places -
the names are beyond recall.
The one million poppies dropped by a Lancaster Bomber which droned
through clear blue skies, fell like droplets of bright red blood on all of us
as we stood in two minutes silence to honour all those who died in the Far
East. However in the years to come there should be no need for Bugles or Brass
Bands to remind us of the vow they have earned for evermore.
In conclusion I would like to say, graves known and graves unknown will
always be remembered, and never forgotten - gone from our eyes but not our hearts.
Edited by Alan J Taylor 2001,
with one major correction being that the 1st Battalion 26th
Regiment of Foot, the The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
were deployed to Rangoon February 1942, not the Gloustershire 28th
Regiment of Foot, as quoted by the original author.