大象传媒

On 26th-27th March 1942 we were in Paungde the Japanese were closing in on us and we were in danger of being surrounded, we had to pull out and retreat, we had suffered heavy casualties I was asked to take my vehicle down the road into enemy lines to pick up several wounded, I drove my wagon down the road there was a stretch of road approx 200-250 yds that was completely open I turned my wagon round ready to make a hasty retreat. There were 8 casualties in all, the 1st was Cpt Barwell who was injured but could walk, Sgt Daniels and Sgt East both had heavy stomach wounds and were both on stretchers, we struggled to get them into the back of the wagon. Bob Butcher had been wounded in the foot another Ginger Woodward had also been injured but I can't remember what exactly his injury was. Bob Eccles had a single bullet wound to the stomach and could walk, another man was called Guest. I took them to the field hospital about 20 miles away south of Prome. All survived except for Bob Eccles who seemed to be the least wounded, I suppose the bullet must have hit a vital organ.
I returned to my company some several hours later as I could not go fast with the casualties being so heavily injured. Unknown to me I must have driven through the Japanese as 2hrs after returning to my company a motorcycle despatch rider came into the camp saying the Japanese had set up a road block. They must have let me pass so as I would not let the company know they were there.

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