大象传媒

In the Burma Campaign in the 1940s the number of men taken to Field Hospitals due to sickness and disease as a result of living in jungle conditions was far greater than the number killed or wounded in combat with the Japanese.

Although we took a 鈥楳epacrim鈥� tablet every day to combat being struck down with malaria, many men still caught the disease. After the mosquito bite they began to run very high temperatures with sweats and delirium.

Such was the case when 鈥楥鈥� Company, the 7th Worcestershire Regiment, were carrying out orders to do a 鈥榣eft hook鈥� and clear the Japanese from the village of Viswema. We were spread out as we approached the village. It was then that the stretcher bearers reported that the Company Sergeant Major had collapsed, another victim to malaria.

Much to my surprise, the Company Commander, Major Burrell, turned to me and said鈥︹�淵ou take over!鈥� And so, moving up and over section by section of embankments of what had once been a 鈥榩addy field鈥�, I encouraged the men to keep moving forward. At last we surrounded the Viswema village and then advanced into it expecting fierce opposition from the Japanese.

Much to our surprise, it was deserted. It had been a Naga village, but they had fled into the jungle when the Japanese invaded. As we searched the village I noticed a large store of rice. Plunging my arm into it, I discovered buried deep in the rice, a Naga ornamental necklace made of fragments of bone.

We stayed the night in the village, after digging in and posting sentries. The next day, we moved across difficult terrain until we found the Kohima to Imphal road. As we proceeded along the road the Company Commander sitting beside me in a P.U. truck, asked me if I would become a Company Sergeant Major. No way - thank you! I refused saying I would far greater enjoy continuing to serve on the administrative side as Company Quarter Master Sergeant.

It was not long after this, while we were advancing along each side of the road towards Imphal, that General Slim and his staff came up along side us, with congratulations on helping to open the road.

And so we moved forward towards Imphal.

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