大象传媒

This experience stands out more clearly in my mind than any other, partly because it was the first occasion that my comrades and I of 鈥楥鈥� Company, 7th Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment, had come into contact with the Japanese Imperial Army.
For years we had been taught, hardened and trained for this day, and now we were to be tested. It was at Zubza, a remote Burmese village that we had our battle introduction. It was here the men who had only previously fired their rifles at targets, acted and proved themselves like veterans, but let me tell the story in full.

It was on the morning of 14th April 1944, that 鈥楥鈥� Company were ordered to occupy the position previously occupied by 鈥楧鈥� Company. This was situated on a small hill to the east of Zubza and commanded a view of the surrounding countryside. It consisted of a very steep-sided hill covered with dense undergrowth and trees. The summit was divided into two small clearings with a valley between them.
It was imperative that both these positions be held. 15 Platoon, under the leadership of A/Capt E.J. Brazier, was detached to take up a defensive position on the furthermost clearing. 13 and 14 Platoons, together with Company H.Q. took up an all-round defensive position on the first and slightly lower clearing.

With the utmost caution, and paying all due respect to the sniping abilities of the Japanese, barbed wire was run out around the two positions at a distance of six yards from the box perimeter. A telephone line was also run from the main position to 15 Platoon in their own small isolated position. All the preparations that could be done to make the position less vulnerable were quickly carried out. The clearing of fields of fire, making trip wires and fastening cans to the barbed wire, elbow rests in the trenches and making edges to line up grenades for immediate use, preparations that proved to be invaluable.

We were not disappointed, for that night a Japanese jitter party prodded our defences and 15 Platoon had a short skirmish, without any casualties. It was the night of the 14th April that the Japanese made a determined sortie to over-run the position, this time concentrating their main attack against the main body of the Company, namely 13 and 14 Platoons and Company H.Q.

It was Thursday, Johnny Walker, the Company Commander鈥檚 Batman鈥檚 birthday. At approximately eleven thirty at night, Cpl Stevens came crawling over to the command post to report that he had heard enemy movement outside the perimeter. Orders were issued quickly and quietly for everyone to stand-to, a procedure that was carried out in complete silence by the pulling of bedding ropes running from trench to trench around the perimeter.

There was no moon and visibility was nil. Eyes were strained to pierce the blanket of darkness and each sound was interpreted as hostile, but nobody moved. The most weird of all the noises in the surrounding jungle, was the tap, tapping of the woodpecker 鈥� or was it the Japanese signalling to each other ?
The climax was reached when the 鈥榯wang鈥� of the wire being cut broke into the other sounds. A quiet order from the Section Commander and the men in the forward positions threw their grenades in the darkness towards the unseen enemy. The night was split asunder.

The deafening explosion was followed by the screams of wounded Japanese. Bren guns on the flanks opened up and swept the undergrowth with outbursts of 303
A Japanese Tashiao machine gun with the peculiar stacco sound, joined in the confusion of noises. Bullets whined over the position with their singing whine, some hit the branches of the trees ricochet into the darkness like angry bees. The steady sound of small arms fire continued as those in the forward trenches probed suspicious shadows. The answering 鈥榩ing鈥� of Japanese bullets proved that though they had withdrawn, it was only to lick their wounds before making another attack.
Silence eventually reigned and everyone remained tense, waiting for the next attack.

It came at two o鈥檆lock in the morning when a Japanese machine gun opened up on the left flank, intended as a diversion from the attack that materialised from the right. This time there was no attempt at silence and with loud shouts and blood-curling yells, they attempted to over-run the position. At that moment our lives were in the hands of that thin line of fellows who defended the right flank. For with ruthless determination they returned the fire and turned the attack into a rout.
I shall ever remember the Company Commander, Major F.C. Burrell. MC, passing a message to the cooks, clerks and batmen of Company H.Q. to fix their bayonets and charge if the Japanese broke through at any point. During the whole of this operation which lasted for over half-an-hour, grenades fell intermittently into the box. Pte Blair and his beloved 2鈥� mortar, returned two shells for every one of theirs.

The night wore on and except for one half-hearted attempt to gain the position, it passed without further incident. It was only when the daylight came that the full extent of the attack could be appreciated; rifles, equipment, and dead bodies were strewn on the ground. At no place had the Japanese been allowed to penetrate the forward positions although the wire had been cut in several places. Seventeen rifles strewn in various places proved that the wounded had been carried away in the darkness.

A body that was lying about twenty yards down the slope was seen to move. It was identified as a Japanese officer. A puff of smoke came from his chest and curled up his body. He smouldered for the rest of the day and slowly burnt himself to death.
The first information about the Japanese Corps and Division fighting in the area was taken from another dead Japanese soldier that was dragged into the Perimeter.
His body was roughly buried and the following epitaph composed by Pte Sweeney, was placed on his grave.
鈥淟ittle Jap upon the hill, Very cold, very still,
To the top he tried to get,
He doesn鈥檛 know what hit him yet鈥�.

It illustrated the courageous, indomitable and yet humorous attitude of the British soldier, who without doubt, is the finest fighter in the world.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.