More details about the Author.
Private Idwal Isaac. ID. No3973241
Welsh Regiment - 17.9.40 to 17.9.43
Somerset Light Infantry - 18.9.43 to 5.10.44
CM Police(Blue Caps)- 6.10.44 to 23.1.45.
Somerset Light Infantry - 24.1.45 to 7.12.45
In April 1943 our battalion, the 70th Welsh, a Holding Battalion, was split into two; one half going to North Africa, the other to the Far East. We embarked upon the Athlone Castle for Bombay. From Bombay we went to Dolali Reinforcement Camp. Then were transferred to the 1st Batt.Somerset Light Infantry in the 17th Indian Division (badge a blue circle with a golden arrow). Sent to Ranchi to a jungle training camp. Then travelled to Madras to cross the Bay of Bengal to Chittagong. Carried by train until the line ended. We marched from there, taking three days to reach Coxs Bazzar. Then we embarked on Mississippi type paddle boats at Coxs Bazzar. On to Goppe Pass when we began climbing using mules and pack horses to carry the heavy equipment. Then reaching the top we began to travel down into The Arakan. I took part in many patrols, and my story is an authentic narrative on an event that I took part in.
I acquired a narrative style of writing when at Ruskin College in 1938, where I studied English and English Literature. Writing essays taught me to adopt the short story formula: a Begining, Middle and End. Later I had some stories published in the Western Mail, Saturday Night Story and in the Herald of Wales a Swansea Saturday newspaper.
I left The Arakan with a severe bout of malaria, which reoccurred roughly eight weeks later. I was considered unfit to return to The Arakan eventually transferring to the CM Police on convoy duties. As a sequel to my experience in The Arakan I developed an embarrassing stammer due to post-traumatic-stress which took me nearly two years to cure.
The names in the story are fictitious but the characters are real soldiers. I feel that I have no right to use their real names.
Idwal Isaac
31st July 2005
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