大象传媒

"This story was submitted to the People's War site by Henryka McDuff on behalf of Tom Johnson and has been added to the site with his permission and he fully understands the site's terms and conditions".

I was born in Ramsgate Kent in 1926 and remaind there until 1940. When Europe was occupied by the Germans in World War 2, my family moved out of Ramsgate, coastal town that was only 25 miles across the English Channel from France, as we were being bombed by heavy guns and aircraft all the time.
At the age of 16, I worked at Shorts' Sea Plane Factory in Rochester Kent,(Stirling and Sunderland Flying Boats).
Having reached 18 years in May 1944, I had to register for call up in the British Army. I lined up in a single line with my mate Bob, and we were waiting to be seen by War Officials who were sitting at the tables.
Bob looked down the line and counted us and he ask me to change places with him which I did. Later I found out that the certain number in the line was chosen as "Bevan Boy", to go down into the Coal Mines. Bob counted wrong and became a "Bevan Boy", which he hated. I joined the Army.
Soon I was called up into the Royal West Kent Regiment and sailed from Liverpool to India-into a Transit Camp and transfered to the Royal Corp of Military Police. I was then posted to 120 L of C (Lines of Communication) 17 Indian Division, Burma.
From December 1944, the British Army advanced, and the Japanese died in their thousands.
Knowing that the Monsoon weather would arrive in May, we wanted to end the War quickly, Rangoon which we did on May the 2nd 1945. I was posted to Pegu 2 hours north of Rangoon. I was place in charge of a small Military Prison which held 30 service prisoners, both white and coloured males.
In 1946, I was posted to Mandalay, which had several divisions of British,Indian,South African, plus hospital nurses.
As Military Policeman, we patrolled in jeeps and it was necessary to write up a no 252 Charge Sheet against any service personnel breaking the law (ie) smoking while driving a service vehicle- drunk while driving. Many times I have stopped a motor vehicle and found females hidden under covers, who were being taken into Army Barracks.
A British male civilian who lived outside Mandalay came to our Police Station and reported that several Burmese youth had climbed over his wire fencing and broken into his storage sheds. He stated that together with his staff, he had fired shots at this intruders. He was taken into our office, statement was taken, and after some time he was asked if any youths were wounded, and did they get treatment at hospital, he replied, "I have brought all 3 of them in my truck, and my staff are with them outside your office". We went to his truck and all 3 youths had been shot dead. No further action was taken.
Prostitution was rampant at at this time and the local civilian brothels were very busy. Veneral disease was causing problems with our troops, these were out of bounds to all servicemen.
All brothels were in a house which had a 8 foot wire fencing completely surrounding the building with only one door in and out. This entrance was guarded by a male person, always armed with a large sword in his belt, and he checked everyone.
We had orders to raid - two of us M.P.s were selected to dress up in another army uniform, we had a rum and coke and walked there. After getting inside, a big bearded Sheik took us to a long line of cells with iron bars and iron door which was always open. Inside each cell was a female, on a bed, no windows, but lighted oil lamps everywhere. As each of us moved along the cell block we noticed that some of the cells were occupied by men with their army uniforms on the floor. Always being asked to pick a cell, we both used excuses to decline and left.
Later that week, we raided the brothel with our Officer and several Military Policemen together with an English speaking Burmese Civil Policeman and his men.
The Sheik drew his sword and tried to fight, but guns were drawn and arrests were made.

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