大象传媒

We were told that the Japanese had taken a hill which was very important to us, so we started off the next morning. Lt. Davis told me we would walk along a dried-up river bed to come up behind the Japanese and so surprise them. We walked for hours, always making our way upwards, and eventually we arrived at the top of the hill. What greeted us was unbelievable. There were dead Japanese, dead horses, and a host of clothes and other things scattered across the gtound. I picked up a few things - a diary and a few other items. We then knew the RAF had been there before us. This village was called Kassomwhich I never will forget. Of course, we thought we had taken control of the hill, but it was not so. Lt. davis was ordered to take his platoon over the side of the hill. He led the platoon away and had just gone over the crest of the hill when a cry went up 'Lt. Davis has been wounded.'

I rushed forward and dragged him away. A grenade had been thrown at him, a piece had penetrated his head, and blood was running freely from the wound. I snatched a field dressing from a nearby medic and tied it round his head. It was now obvious that the Japanese had surrrounded the hill. Lt. Davis was in great pain and kept saying, 'Mac told me Japanese bullets did not hurt.' Macwas Lt. MacDonald. Just then, another offiucer ran up with a Japanese sword, shouted to another officer to take it as a souvenir, and then threw the sword to him.

In the meantime, the battalion was giving the Japanese hell. Darkness fell and the battalion dug in for the night. During this time arrangements had been made, and Lt. Davis was about to be moved. I said to the company commander that I was going with him, and he agreed. Lt. Davis was placed on a stretcher and we set off. We must have walked a good mile before we arrived at a medical tent where a doctor was waiting for him. He was taken into a tent and I had to wait outside. How much time passed I do not know, but eventually he was brought outside. The surgeon told me he had his bran out on the table and he must be got to a hospital as soon as possible. He had to be taken to Imphal.

To get down to the railhead was miles through thick jungle. To my amazement, out of nowhere there appeared four Naga tribesmen carrying a bamboo stretcher. Lt. Davis was carefullly placed on this and off we went. How far we travelled that first day, I do not know. I was so thirsty and the Nagas did not speak English. I had to use sign language. Each Naga carried a bamboo pole, and the one nearest to me pulled a stop out of the topof the pole and made signs for me to drink. It was lovely to drink that icy cold water and I thanked him as best as I could. We arrived at the first camp, where I was given a good meal and a bed for the night to ensure a good night's sleep. Lt' Davis was also put on a bed, and I helped him to the toilet before settling down myself. But I could not sleep. I was too worried about him as he was groaning constantly. That was the first day.

I awoke very early and after some food, we set off. the tribesman were there again to carry the stretcher. An officer warned me to be careful as we would be near the Japanese forces. The jungle was still extremely thick and we had to hack our way through it. I suppose we had gone a few miles when, to my surprise, from out of the jungle jumped about six men, directly in front of our path. Their guns were pointed at us and at first I thought they were Japanese. They wer Indian, Ghurkha and British chaps who said they were part of a so-called V force and they were harrassing the Japanese as much as possible. They bid us good luck and a safe journey. I thanked them for their kind words and we continued on our way. Lt. davis was semi-conscious by this time and we still had quite a distance to travel. After four days we reached a track which had been cleared of jungle. There a jeep was waiting for us and Lt. Davis was transferred from the Naga stretcher to the one in the jeep. I said goodbye to him and wished him all the best, as I did not know if I would ever see him again.

After seeing him off, it was time for me to start back to the battalion. At least I was not alone as three other chaps were going back that way. We set off, sticking to the track. Neither the V force nor the Japanese interrupted the journey, and we stayed each night at different camps where we were treated very well. It seemed a long time before I reached the place where my battalion had been.

To read part10 go to: A7357557

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