大象传媒

"The Charge of the 8th Field Royal Artillery"
鈥� experience recounted by Sidney Segal (Artillery-
Surveyer 8th field R .A.

The greatest thrill of my life took place off the Burma Road , in reality a dirt track running between the coast line and the Arakan Jungle, on approximately June '42. The 8th Field Royal Artillery attached to the 25th Indian Division , recognition insignia "Ace of Spades" ( supporting fire for such distinguished infantry regiments as the Baluchis, Ghurkhas, Sikhs and Pathan's to name but a few infantry regiments) were advancing against extremely fierce opposition from Japanese forces advancing and fighting every inch of the way along the Arakan Jungle hills attempting to invade India.

Fortunately the invasion was halted and the Japanese Forces began to retreat. Commanding officer of the 8th Field Artillery, received orders to advance the regiment along the Burma Road in support of the action of the infantry in the Arakan hills. The order however, although having to be carried out, was certain to be costly, in terms of a heavy loss of life and equipment.. The road that had to be taken passed between two heavily fortified hills occupied by the Japanese, astride both sides of the road. just waiting for the 25th Div., to advance as soon as the battle in Arakan hills began to turn in favour of the British forces..

Colonel Meade, Commander of the regular Army R.A. regiment, on receiving the order to advance the 8th Field along the Burma Road went into a huddle with the regiment's senior officers, and a radical plan was devised, which it was hoped would, with luck ,carry out the order to advance the 8th field using a less hazardous, albeit difficult route.

By careful study of the tidal movements of the sea, it was established that on certain dates and times the beaches would have a wide expanse of firm sand, and the tidal rivers would be shallow enough to be negotiated by the regiment鈥檚 vehicle鈥檚 aided by amphibious craft standing by to help out with any bogged down vehicles. The whole regiment would form a broad front at right angles to the line of the sea on the exposed sandy beach, leaving the various coastal rivers shallow enough to drive across. It was planned to split all the vehicles and guns of the regiment into lines abreast of each other. The C.O.鈥檚 jeep in fron,t followed by an assortment of various vehicles, comprising first line 15cwt trucks and jeeps, followed by five ton lorries, with twenty four guns towed by 24 quads ,the four/wheeled drive armoured vehicles, carrying the gun crews and trailers and towing limbers for the guns and ammunition.

As the day of the move arrived there was a feeling of much excitement, mixed with trepidation about how the end of our day would finish, as we had not been able to rehearse for the coming planned move, this may have divulged our intentions to the enemy. 鈥淪tand to鈥� (action stations) arrived about 6p.m. and the regiment very quietly moved out of our present location and retreated back about one mile back along the Burma Road to a previously planned sheltered small area.

After arriving at our new location without incident, the various N.C.O.'s and Officer鈥檚 concerned, very quickly began to direct the various vehicles into their position on the shore line. The formation consisted of , the Colonel in the front , in a vehicle on his own, followed by many lines of various vehicles in a square pattern. All the manpower of the regiment were ordered to mount their vehicles and to cling on as carefully as possible.
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The Colonel standing tall, raised his arm high, and looking intently around to see all was ready, brought his arm down with an urgent cutting motion..

There was an appalling roar and a sudden vicious crash ,as the gears from over one hundred and twenty engines started up . As we raced along the beach at top spead , all eyes were turned towards the enemy in the Arakan hills expecting the Japanese 鈥�18 Pounder guns to open up with a salvo of shells which would have torn into our flanks. So far, this was not to be, and we continued to charge to our destination at over 60 mph. Men clung onto their vehicles for dear life, exhilerated in the knowledge that the Japs hopefully, had been caught on the hop. and we had now rounded the peninsula where the Burma Road was so heavily fortified, and the Japanese had still not interfered with our breakout, we were all
shaking but alive and well鈥︹�︹�� 鈥� FANTASTIC 鈥︹��..

We had arrived at our forward positions without pause or mishap, all thoroughly elated that the thrill of a life time had ended so successfully. The heavily fortified positions of the enemy had been by- passed ...

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