Introduction

In January 1945, the 19th Indian Infantry Division forced its way across the Irrawaddy River at Thabeikkyin and Kyaukmyaung, opening the 1945 offensive into central Burma. The 2nd British and 20th Indian Divisions followed on 14 February, crossing near Mandalay and causing the Japanese forces under General Heitarō Kimura to scramble north towards the city.

At the same time General Bill Slim, commander of British forces in Burma, performed his ‘masterstroke’. Further south at Pakokku, Slim had landed IV Corps (spearheaded by the 7th Indian Division), allowing his forces to threaten the vital Japanese transport hub at Meiktila. If successful, this bold move would cut off the Japanese Army in northern Burma. Additionally, with the bulk of the Japanese forces now centred around Mandalay, Slim was able to engage them with his heavy armour on more favourable ground.

Once the river crossings were complete and the bridgeheads secured Slim began his thrust into central Burma, with the 17th Indian Division driving on Meiktila and the 19th Division pressing the attack on Mandalay. These twin battles, the fortunes of which were inexorably linked, raged throughout February and March and were a major turning point in the Burma campaign.

The fighting would involve multiple Gurkha battalions, with many veteran Gurkha soldiers having to adapt quickly from jungle fighting to close quarter urban warfare amidst ancient temples and gilded pagodas.

………………

Meiktila

The task of capturing Meiktila was given to the 17^th Indian Division, under the command of Major-General David Tennant ‘Punch’ Cowan. Like Bill Slim, Cowan had served for many years in the 6^th Gurkha Rifles before becoming a staff officer.

Major-General David Tennant Cowan (centre, wearing glasses), c. May 1945.

Meiktila, an ancient city built around a large central lake, was held by approximately 3,200 Japanese soldiers. Cowan’s plan to take the city involved the 48^th and 63^rd Brigades attacking from the north and west respectively, whilst the 255^th Tank Brigade swept around the northern part of the city to cut off Japanese communications. For the 1^st Battalion, 10^th Gurkha Rifles, the battle for Meiktila began on the morning of 1 March. After a massive aerial bombardment 1/10GR attacked south of the Kyuakpedaung-Meiktila road. Despite steadily increasing opposition as they moved closer to the city ‘A’ Company had broken through to the shore of Meiktila Lake by midday.

Machine gunners of the 1^st Battalion, 7^th Gurkha Rifles in action on the approach to Meiktila.

By 2 March 1/10GR were fighting street to street to mop up pockets of resistance in western Meiktila. Further north, the 1^st Battalion, 7^th Gurkha Rifles had also made it into the city and were fighting for control of the railway station. The Gurkhas encountered increasing Japanese fanaticism as the battle continued. Witnesses reported Japanese soldiers making suicide attacks against British tanks by crawling underneath them with explosives. Toward the end of the fighting, 50 Japanese soldiers drowned after they chose to throw themselves into Meiktila Lake instead of surrendering to Allied soldiers.

Meiktila was in Allied hands by 3 March. Realising the dire situation unfolding before him, General Kimura diverted forces to retake the city. Before long, the Japanese had partially cut off the 17^th Division within Meiktila. Undeterred, General Cowan began a programme of ‘offensive defence’. Whilst 99th Brigade remained in the city; the rest of the division sortied out into the surrounding area to engage the Japanese. Between 9 – 29 March, 1/10GR fought at Yindaw, Inpetlet and Subyugwet, accounting for hundreds of enemy casualties.

By the end of March, the Japanese attempt to recapture Meiktila had been thwarted and the Gurkhas had once again distinguished themselves. During the initial attack General Slim had watched through his binoculars as a Gurkha unit, alongside a single tank, destroyed three enemy bunkers. Feeling the unapologetic pride of a former Gurkha officer, he later described the action as ‘one of the neatest, most workmanlike’ bits of infantry work he had ever seen.

Mandalay

80-miles north of Meiktila the Japanese were mounting a white-knuckled defence at Mandalay. They were facing Major-General Thomas Wynford Rees’s 19^th Indian Infantry Division, which had opened the attack across the Irrawaddy more than a month before. The assault began from the morning of 7 March. Before they reached the city, leading units of the division received the impressive sight of the sun rising over the towering pagodas at the summit of Mandalay Hill, a prominent feature that rises to over 700 feet above the city.

Major-General Rees (centre) looking out at Mandalay Hill, 8 March 1945. Image taken from the 6^th Gurkha Rifles Regimental History.

Beautiful though it was, the Japanese had turned Mandalay Hill into a fortress. The temples were heavily garrisoned by Japanese soldiers and in many cases connected by underground tunnels. Regardless, it was an obstacle that would need to be overcome if Mandalay were to be taken.

The task of storming Mandalay Hill was given to the 4^th Battalion, 4^th Gurkha Rifles. On the night of 9 March, the Gurkhas moved quietly through the darkness, keen not to alert the Japanese until the last possible moment. At 3am ‘D’ Company, under the command of Subedar Damarsing Pun, was sent up the hill.

Almost immediately the night air was rent by the sound of machine gun fire. Due to the flooded landscape around the hill, communication with the battalion’s attacking element was limited. The only reassurance that headquarters had that the Gurkhas were still alive was the noise of battle. But as the sun came up 4/4GRs commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Mackay, was heartened to see Gurkha figures near the top of the hill. Eager to consolidate this success, another company was sent up the hill to help mop up any remaining Japanese resistance.

Later that morning, Damarsing Pun’s ‘D’ Company came under a heavy counterattack. In the midst of the fighting, Lt. Col Mackay radioed Damarsing to see if he needed anything. Damarsing’s brief reply came back; ‘No, only breakfast. Out.’

Another Gurkha who particularly distinguished himself at Mandalay Hill was Subedar Aiman Gurung, leading number 10 platoon. Aiman’s platoon was in a precarious position near the top of the hill when he realised that the Japanese were massing for a counterattack. Leading his men forward and shooting from the hip, Aiman and his platoon broke up the attack before it could start. With their position now secure, they turned their attention to a nearby temple and cleared it in hand-to-hand fighting with their khukris.

As the fighting went on, acts of courage like that of Aiman’s won the day for 4/4GR, and the battalion was able to take 2/3rds of the hill before they were relieved by the Royal Berkshires. The fighting on and around Mandalay Hill cost the battalion 17 men killed and 49 wounded.

For his bravery and leadership on Mandalay Hill, Subedar Aiman Gurung was awarded the Military Cross. Aiman’s medal set came to the Gurkha Museum in 2000 and is currently displayed in the McDonald Gallery.

…………………….

In the city below, the 1^st Battalion, 6^th Gurkha Rifles were part of a force fighting the Japanese street-to-street for control of Mandalay. Progress was slow and the Gurkhas took heavy casualties. 

Soldiers of the 6th Gurkha Rifles digging in during the fighting for Mandalay, March 1945. Image from the 6^th Gurka Rifles Regimental History.

However, the setbacks the Japanese faced at Meiktila and elsewhere across central Burma convinced their high command that continuing to resist at Mandalay was futile. On 20 March, as 1/6GR was preparing for the grim task of attacking Mandalay Palace (referred to by the British as Fort Dufferin), several Burmese civilians emerged from the complex and informed the British commanders that the Japanese were already gone. By the following day, the city was clear of Japanese forces. Although this was felt by some to be an anti-climactic end to the battle, it averted the brutal fight to the death that had occurred at Meiktila.

General Bill Slim leading a flag raising ceremony at Fort Dufferin (Mandalay Palace) after the capture of the city, March 1945. Image from the 6^th Gurkha Rifles Regimental History.

Today, the Gurkhas hold the Battle of Mandalay as an important part of their heritage. The battle is the namesake of Gurkha Wing (Mandalay) Infantry Battle School, based in Brecon.

With Meiktila and Mandalay in British hands, and Japanese forces in central Burma on the retreat, Bill Slim’s ‘masterstroke’ had proven a success. Although enemy resistance in Burma was far from defeated, the way was now open for Slim to turn south, towards the Burmese capital of Rangoon (now Yangon).