大象传媒

On the night of 27th March 1942 we withdrew to Shwedaung where we met another fierce battle, we took heavy losses and probably 80% of our vehicles including my own.
About 40 of us including Quarter Master Nibblett managed to escape into the jungle and avoid capture, but, during the 2nd night we lost about halve our men. We were in a bad way by now as there was very little to eat, we survived by eating bamboo shoots, and sucking on limes.
We rejoined our platoon in Mandalay and were sent to Monawue, half way there someone realized that we did not have enough water. Five of us, Myself, Cprl Roberts, a Gurkha guide and two others were sent to find water, we were gone for some time and on return the company had left, they had left a message under a stone telling us that they could wait no longer and to make our own way. Unfortunately we could not find them, so we decided to try and find the regiment. We must have been walking for nearly 2 months, the Gurkha guide saved my life as he carried me on his back for approx 8 miles.(I never did find out his name). We got within 10-15 miles of Palel when a Royal Engineer Officer on a motorcycle came down the road toward us, 鈥渘ot far to go now lads鈥� he said 鈥渒eep going you'll soon make it".He suggested that I should go on the bike with him, but, having been together for so long we were reluctant to part, but after some discussion they made me go with him, by now I was in a really bad way I was completely exhausted my sight had gone and I had lost nearly 5 stone(half my body weight). I was taken to the camp and on arriving given a refreshing mug of tea, they laid me down on a pile of blankets and left me to sleep. I awoke almost 48hrs later I was given a nice hot meal but could only eat a few mouthfuls before feeling full. I was taken to a hospital in India to convalesce and rejoined my platoon some 2 months later in Kohima.

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