大象传媒

This story was gathered, written and submitted to the 大象传媒 peoples war by Bellal Yaqub

Haji Muhammed Sarwar Khan is 73-years-old. He is tall and slender with light blue eyes. He has inherited these features from his Pakistani roots in the Northern province, notoriously rooted in bitter conflict. He had the same arresting qualities when he was merely 13 and was sent off to Burma (Myanmar) with the Air Defence Regiment by truck.
In 1944-45, the Allies re-entered Burma and joining the army showed loyalty to the British Raj 鈥� 13 was still considered an acceptable age for joining the war effort. "We were lucky enough to know where we were being sent. Many people did not know where they were heading when saying goodbyes to loved ones."
Burma is next to India going east, nestled between Thailand and China and is 80% rainforest. Mr. Khan was not told the exact location of his stay there. "It was jungle terrain and very humid,鈥� he remembers, fending off mosquitoes during the day and the bitter cold at night.
As with many wartime stories the diet was restrictive. "It was mainly a rice diet. The chef's prepared the food 鈥� we ate centrally in a tent. We had our three meals but very rarely had any meat, it was a real luxury."
Mr Khan was involved in the Air Observation Post. "We were a forward observation post and reported what aircraft were sighted on a daily basis.鈥� The mission involved avoiding detection. "We were a covert Unit, well hidden but for some locals who knew of our presence. We suffer no attacks whilst I was there."
Mr Khan remembers fondly the day the war ended. "I was on the night time radio stag (duty) when I received the message over the radio from higher formation," he begins.
"As instructed, I went to inform the Battery Sergeant Major who was a very dark fat man with a classic Indian moustache. As I went to his sleeping quarters, through the small network of trenches I could hear him snoring. I called him a couple of times but
" I gave him a gentle shake and as he woke I told him the war was over.
鈥楪et back to your radio you silly boy!鈥� he screamed. I ran back quickly and he turned over going back to sleep."
But the following morning was a different story "The next day, the Sergeant Major approached us all and distributed sweets as is traditional to celebrate happiness. That day we had great meals."
Mr. Khan was fortunate not to see any of the horrors of war as a child. His was a brief stay.
The British return in 1945 was too much for the Japanese army and they were overcome. Mr Khan was helped up into the packed truck that would take him back home. "We were all very happy that the war was over and we would be going home."
The exact location of his regiment could remain a mystery forever without further testimony from any surviving witnesses.

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