Skip to main content

In March 1944, the Empire of Japan launched Operation U-Go, the invasion of British India. 85,000 Japanese troops under the command of Lieutenant General Renya Mutaguchi crossed the Chindwin River in Burma, hoping to push British forces from India and weaken Allied positions in south-east Asia. Their first targets were the towns of Imphal in present-day Manipur state and Kohima in Nagaland. Despite being vastly outnumbered, British, Indian, West African, and Gurkha soldiers held out against repeated attacks, paving the way for an eventual Allied victory in Asia. Here are just some of the experiences from millions of soldiers and auxiliary staff who served in the Burma Campaign.

5 minute read

0
No votes yet
Login or register to rate this

Warning: Content contains derogatory language and descriptions of warfare and death.

All words are spoken by actors.

West African soldiers in wide-brimmed hats march in formation along a dirt road, carrying rifles and gear
Chindits of the 3rd West African Brigade on operations in Burma - ©USAMHI

The Chindits

Lieutenant Gordon Hughes, Queen's Own Royal Regiment, British Army

Weeks of persistent rain, with the attendant mud; leaches surreptitiously engorging themselves on our limbs already bitten by mosquitoes; mules falling down on steep, slippery slopes and always the thick jungle of hard woods interlaced with tangled and practically impenetrable bamboo undergrowth

Download the transcript of Lieutenant Gordon Hughes (Word, 16KB)

Nursing in India

Ivy Pritchard, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Nursing Service

It was monsoon time, and everything was very soggy and mouldy. Even our shoes grew whiskers overnight and all sorts of creepy-crawlies were to be found in our wellies when we knocked them out in the morning, before we put them on.

Download the transcript of Ivy Pritchard (Word, 16KB)

Smiling soldier in uniform holding a kukri knife, standing outdoors with blurred vegetation and another soldier in the background
Gurkha soldier posing with a kukri knife

The Gurkhas

Lieutenant Michael Marshall, Royal Gurkha Rifles, British Army

The Jap was a very courageous opponent and suffered enormously. But the Gurkhas were better. I was glad I was with them, not against them. My battalion took no prisoners until well into 1945; none of our men were taken prisoner.

Download the transcript of Lieutenant Michael Marshall (Word, 15KB)

Objects in Focus

Weapons of the Burma Campaign
A short barrelled rifle in light wood with dark iron trim and a conical flash hider on the front

British Enfield No. 5 Jungle Carbine Rifle

Thick jungle foliage made handling traditional long rifles difficult. It also meant that soldiers tended to encounter each other at close range where a long barrel was no help. To create a suitable jungle rifle Britain shortened the standard No.4 rifle by 11cm and reduced its weight by nearly 1kg. See more in the Royal Armouries collection

A short barrelled light machine gun in dark steel and wooden stock, with curved box magazine on top

British-Indian Vickers-Berthier Light Machine Gun

In urgent need of light machine guns, the British Indian Army decided not to wait for the British Bren to be selected. Instead, it adopted this design by Frenchman Adolphe Berthier in 1933. The Ishapore arsenal (Indian state-owned arms manufacturer) could not produce enough Berthiers however, and so Bren guns were also acquired. See more in the Royal Armouries Collection/a>

A black and white image, featuring a close-up of a short barrelled submachine gun in gun metal with vertical magazine on top

Australian Owen Submachine Gun

Evelyn Owen designed this submachine gun for Australian soldiers. It was well-suited to jungle fighting. The top-mounted magazine made the weapon narrower and less likely to catch on vegetation. It was also designed to keep dirt and debris out of the working parts, making it more reliable. It entered service in 1940. See more in the Royal Armouries collection

A long barrelled submachine gun in wood with dark iron barrel and trim

Japanese Type 100 Submachine Gun

Most nations tried different designs to find the best or most economical submachine gun. Japan only ever issued this design. Although introduced in 1939 it retained an old-fashioned wooden stock. Like the British Sten but unlike the Australian Owen, the side-mounted magazine could catch on jungle vegetation. See more in the Royal Armouries collection

A wooden handled steel bayonet with curved hand guard

Japanese Type 30 Bayonet

Although some nations did provide bayonets for submachine guns, most did not use them. The Japanese military believed it to be important. The Type 30 was fitted to all infantry rifles, the Type 100 submachine gun seen here, and even the Type 96 and 99 light machine guns. See more in the Royal Armouries collection

A kukri steel knife with curved blade and leather sheath

Nepalese Kukri Knife

The British Indian Army issued its Nepalese Gurkha warriors with this specific military pattern of their traditional weapon. Although Gurkhas primarily used the same weapons as other soldiers, they sometimes fought with their kukris. In 1945 Bhanubhagkta Gurung used one to kill two Japanese soldiers. He was awarded the Victoria Cross. See more in the Royal Armouries collection

Japanese military personnel lined up outdoors, equipped with backpacks and rifles, the closest soldier holding a katana sword
Japanese soldier with Type 100 submachine gun and katana sword

Japanese Advance into India

Captain Shosaku Kameyama, 31st Division, Imperial Japanese Army

From our experience in China, we were confident of the success of the night attack, but we had to expect that a mass of bullets from the overwhelming enemy automatic weapons would result in much greater casualties.

Download the transcript of Captain Shosaku Kameyama (Word, 15KB)

A British soldier with an Enfield No.5 Jungle Carbine rifle slung over shoulder stands behind officers as others gather near buildings with visible signs labelled K and Z
British soldier with Enfield No.5 Jungle Carbine slung over shoulder

Combat at Kohima

CSM Walter Gilding, Royal Norfolk Regiment, British Army

We could hear the thudding of shot on the top of the hill. We got almost halfway up when the artillery stopped and then the fun began. Small-arms fire, machine-gun fire and grenades – we got the lot.

Download the transcript of CSM Walter Gilding (Word, 15KB)

Two prone Indian army soldiers in turbans operate a tripod-mounted Berthier light machine gun, one aiming while the other manages ammunition
Indian soldiers stand guard with Vickers-Berthier light machine gun

The Indian Army

Major Dinesh Chandra Misra, 5th/6th Rajputana Rifles, British Indian Army

I felt detached, but a hatred for the Japanese, and I determined to kill them; I became a demon. I was swearing and screaming. We were shouting out battle cries, and the Japs shouting ‘Banzai’, the officers had swords. We fought with bayonets.

Download the transcript of Major Dinesh Chandra Misra (Word, 15KB)

Gurkha soldiers and armored vehicles crossing a river under smoky skies, with mountains in the background
Gurkhas advance with Lee tanks clearing the Kohima-Imphal road - ©Library of Congress

The Japanese Retreat

Senior Private Manabu Wada, 138th Infantry Regiment, Imperial Japanese Army

Icy rain fell mercilessly on us, and we lived day and night drenched to the skin and pierced with cold. I remember how we longed for a place, any place at all, where we could take shelter and rest. 

Download the transcript of Senior Private Manabu Wada (Word, 15KB)

Two parachutes descend from an aircraft, each carrying supplies towards waiting soldiers in a densely forested area
Dropping supplies to Allied soldiers fighting in jungle terrain

VE Day in Burma

Private Peter Hazelhurst, Border Regiment, British Army

We got to Pegu and were all lined up ready to go in and the word came that the war in Europe was over. And we shouted, ‘What the bloody hell use is that to us? When’s our war going to be over?

Download the transcript of Private Peter Hazelhurst (Word, 14KB)

Display case featuring a collection of guns from the Second World War, text and photos about VE/VJ Day

VE / VJ Day at the Royal Armouries

To mark the 80th anniversary of VE and VJ Day, our Objects in Focus display in the War Gallery at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds tells the story of the end of the Second World War.

With thanks to the Kohima Museum and Burma Star Memorial Fund

Stories courtesy of Burma Star Memorial Fund, Forgotten Voices of Burma: The Second World War's Forgotten Conflict by Julian Thompson, and Tales by Japanese Soldiers of the Burma Campaign 1942-1945 by Kazuo Tamayama

WWII Collection

    Visit the Shop
    180000
    Comments

    Join the conversation

    Log in or register to post comments
    0 comments

    Share the story