44 Commando RM

In Burma Fighting the Japanese

A very different type of enemy

The previous page was: "43 Commando Commachio"

44 Cdo RM were fighting the Japanese in Burma; but the enemy they were called upon to engage was very different from the half hearted Italians, or the methodical war loving Germans.

The Japanese army had established themselves so fimly in the exhaustable jungles of Burma that removing them would prove difficult for anybody other than the battle hardened Commandos.

For the most part the Japanese were on the defensive, save for one Region. The richly decked hills and bird haunted plains of lovely Manipur, and the wild mountains of north-west Assam.

In Burma the Japanese Soldier had a long established routine. He rose at 06:00 hours every day; he had breakfast an hour later of rice and vegetables. Then he spent the day supervising the digging of slit trenches by the forced labour of the local villagers, or fishing in the rivers.

43 Commando Commachio

Discipline was severe

These pursuits were varied on occasion by physical training and anti-tank exercises. The Japanese had a great respect for tanks. The mid-day was interrupted with a meal of rice and curry; super was at 17:00 hours, after which he indulged in small arms handling and bayonet practice.

Discipline was severe. The officers beat their men and treated them like peasants, and behind the lines order was maintained largely by the trained and brutal military Police.

What made the Japs formidable was their conviction that to fight the British was of the highest good; and that to die in doing so ensured eternal bliss.

Such were the foes which, 44 cdo RM

Such were the foes which, 44 cdo RM under Lieutenant Colonel F. C. Horton set out to attack. The battle for hill 101 was to take place in the Arakan. The trailing stretch of jungle-covered hills; which stands between the centre of Burma and the Bay of Bengal lay Alethangyaw.

44 cdo RM landed from assault landing craft and moved against their objective Alethangyaw. Along the way they were held back by determined resistance; a battle in and around a village ensued, in which the Commandos fought between the thatch made bashers.

The jungle was silent around them except for the sound of fire and the whistling of snipers bullets. They were tied-up in the tops of the trees, others lay along branches of the mangrove trees, and more were in camouflaged fire trenches that had lids that lifted up. The Japanese were experts in this type of warfare.

By dawn the village was in the commandos hands, their expertise at close combat won the day.

The dogged Commandos were unflinching

As soon as dusk had fallen 44 Commando moved from its position, they moved out on a compass bearing heading towards the hills. Captain R. M. Sturgess at the head fought a number of spirited engagements.

On 23rd March 1944 the Commandos proceeded to the hill, attacking the machine-gun nests and row after row of entrenched troops and more machine-guns. The Commandos out-shooting the poorly trained Japanese at close quarters fighting.

What the Japanese soldiers lacked in training they made up for in enthusiasm, which was not enough of an answer to combat skill.

The whole time the Commandos came under constant heavy fire from dedicated Japanese soldiers. However the dogged Commandos were unflinching they pursued their objective with vigour.

When the Japanese came at them from close range, moments later those that weren't killed; ran away and took cover in the jungle.

The Japs had never known such aggressive fighters. Grenades were thrown into the undergrowth where the Japs had dissappeared; all that could be heard were the screams of agony.

When the capture of hill 101 was complete they heard intermittent firing on hill 102. Horton split up 44 Commando Royal Marines into small parties who then engaged with the enemy.

They could not allow the Japs time to dig in for they were a very good defensive soldier. They went straight ahead from one assault to the next and delivered an attack on the hill which proved to be very successful.

Modern-day Pages Fast Boats Pages Joe Wezley Pages Rangoon Falls

Various Indian Army units

In all of the operations it was important to keep wireless silence, the Japanese signallers kept a careful listening watch. The enemy would attempt deception by speaking on the same wavelength.

The headquarters of 44 Commando Royal Marines was called up during the action of Alethangyaw and were asked: "could you pass a short message"? Lieutenant Colonel Horton heard it, he barked: "I have more important matters to attend to." When they all heard the reply: "thank you." In a low soft voice; it made them realise just who was at the other end of the line?

By now the Commandos realised they were in a very different type of war; against a fanatic who gave no quarter and expected none in return.

Even in their short experience they had come up against all of the tricks of war.

On one occasion a wounded soldier was grabbed and dragged into the middle of a field so that the snipers tied in the trees could shoot any of his comrades that went to the soldier's aid. That night he was brought in.

They would shout out loud in English to attract attention, whilst observers looked at where the sound had come from, the Japs would then attack from the rear.

44 Commando were joined by other Commando units and various Indian Army units they had brought with them; forty-five elephants; then the onslaught of the Japanese really began.

The next Link below will be: "46 Commando RM"

44 Commando RM Burma 46 Commando RM

"Pirates Trilogy" $20