大象传媒

This was told to me by my father in law. He was just 18 years old during the events.I asked him to write it down so I could post it on this site.

I was called up in May 1943,after initial training at Brecon I was transferred to the Royal Welch Regiment.I underwent further training and was shipped out to India through the Suez Canal on a ship called 'Sebajac'.During the sailing the convoy was attacked in the Mediterranean by aircraft and we were ordered below decks during the attacks which was one of my most frightening experiences.A Destroyer sailing with the convoy also claimed to have sunk a U-boat,we watched as it fired its depth charges and could feel the explosions through the ships hull.
I ended up in a reinforcement camp called Dylali India.After a short time in the camp 60 of us were transferred to the Royal West Kents due to the casualties they had incurred during the fighting in the Arakan battles.I was placed in 'B' battalion and travelled across India and ended up in Kohima.
After a few days we moved to a position known as the District Commisioners Bungalow.
The first couple of nights were very quiet then all hell broke loose as the Japanese launched a major offensive.
I was in a trench with a corrogated tin roof and one night a Japanese shell hit the roof,I had a MK4 rifle and luckily enough it helped to hold the roof up,when I eventually got the rifle out the barrel had been bent!
Myself and a mate were moved to a forward trench which was exposed to enemy fire,then we were ordered to move back to a more suitable position,I went first,dodging enemy sniper fire and got to the trench unscathed,my mate tried to join me but was killed by an enemy sniper.
For a few nights I was alone in that trench, in a trench to to my right there was hand to hand fighting,the soldier who survived was promoted to Lance Corporal in the field for his bravery.Our Sergeant Major was shot through the throat by a sniper but carried on fighting and survived, our C.O. was a surgeon in civilian life.
At Kohima we were cut off for 14 days and the wounded could not be evacuated and some sustained more wounds whilst laying on the stretchers.We also had supply drops by Dakota aircraft but due to the very small area we held many of the supplies ended up in the hands of the Japanese.After drops we often came under fire and attack from Japanese using British grenades against us!We held that position for 14 days until reinforcements reached us,the bravery of the Royal West Kents and the former Royal Welch who joined them was outstanding and much more could be said of it.
After being relieved we eventyally ended the war in Rangoon.
I recall the courage of my comrades each and every Rememberence Sunday...they were the finest of their day.

Gwynfyn Bennett.

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