the burma campaign
The Burma Campaign is one of the least known campaigns in World War Two, but still very important. Starting in December 1941, it ended in spring 1945 with the Canadians joining the fight in January 1942 and helping all the way through to the end. Although, the first attack was a failure, the second attack helped boost morale and solidify the infantry’s faith in Britain.The majority of the army in Burma was not Canadian, but the Canadians still played an irreplaceable role in the campaign. Approximately 8,000 Canadians fought with the British in Burma. During this time India was a colony of Britain and played a huge role in the War. Major General Orde Wingate and his notorious Chindits also played an influential role in the campaign. They gave the group the push they needed but, because of Burma’s treacherous terrain the group had a difficult time moving equipment.
|
Canadian help
Approximately 8,000 Canadians served in this campaign, the most unusual Canadian contribution being “mule skinners”, who escorted shipments of mules from North America to Eastern India and Western Burma, this contribution was very important for transporting supplies in Burma. In total about 180 Canadians transported 1,600 mules on the long journey. Some Canadians served in the British 14th Army with the infantry which was under the command of General William Slim. Canadians also worked with the Indian Medical Service as medical officers. One of the most famous Canadian officers that served in Burma was Major Charles Hoey who won the Victoria Cross for his military endeavors in the Burma Campaign. The Canadians also were part of the “Sea Reconnaissance Unit” as frogmen (military divers) who helped with the Army’s attacks across rivers. Flight Lieutenant G.H. Avery won the first Military Cross ever to be awarded to a frogman. But, most of the Canadians who served in Burma were part of the Royal Air Force or the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
Unfortunately for the RCAF, some of the Allied efforts were undertaken during the monsoon months. The mountainous jungles also made taking-off and landing difficult. So, they sometimes had to resort to less healthy measures, like ground-looping which consisted of swinging the aircrafts around quickly while landing. This form of landing often proved dangerous as it damaged the aircraft and the pilots who succeeded in it got a black mark in their log book. The Canadians also used Catalina flying boats, large amphibious planes that could land and take off on water, to defend the Indian Ocean.
Unfortunately for the RCAF, some of the Allied efforts were undertaken during the monsoon months. The mountainous jungles also made taking-off and landing difficult. So, they sometimes had to resort to less healthy measures, like ground-looping which consisted of swinging the aircrafts around quickly while landing. This form of landing often proved dangerous as it damaged the aircraft and the pilots who succeeded in it got a black mark in their log book. The Canadians also used Catalina flying boats, large amphibious planes that could land and take off on water, to defend the Indian Ocean.
and then the trouble started
In 1941, the Allies began their campaign in Burma to push the Japanese out of eastern India and Burma. At this time, Japan’s supplies were running out and there were not many Japanese soldiers stationed there because the majority were in the Pacific region. The RCAF helped with delivering supplies to the Canadians in the area by using Squadrons 435 and 436 made up of C47 Dakota transport air crafts. The planes were usually assigned to fly from bases in India to Burma and drop supplies in parachutes into clearings so that Allied forces could pick them up. The main threat to the Japanese came from the Chinese Army in India (CAI) trained by Joseph Stilwell whose first task was to move south because they were trapped in Northern Burma and could only get supplies by air, but it was expensive and dangerous. Unfortunately, to get to the south they had to engage the Japanese in combat. The Japanese built forts throughout Burma to setback the British. The 14th Indian Division launched a series of attacks against the Japanese. The 14th division then returned to India with low morale. So, Field Marshall Sir Archibald Wavell gave an eccentric officer, Orde Wingate, the task of organizing a military force that could operate behind Japanese lines. This military force became known as the Chindits. The Chindits were members of the 77th Indian Infantry Brigade and part of the biggest Special Services in World War II. Some Canadians helped the Chindits by being some of the aircrew supplying them, air force liaison officers, and radio communication personnel. The Chindits attacked when the Japanese least expected, therefore gaining the advantage. The attack lasted 3 months. The first assault by the Chindits was seen as a success, even though out of the 3,000 men who went only 600 were still fit to serve afterwards. This was the first time the Japanese army was seriously weakened. The army managed to cut Japanese communication and railway lines. Despite the loss of men this campaign boosted morale for the military in India and was counted as a success.
The Allied campaign in Burma may not be one of the most famous, but it is definitely important. It boosted morale for the British Commonwealth Army and gave them hope. The Burma-India Campaign was an important time in World War II for the British Army because weakening the Japanese army was of primary importance if the Allies were going to win the war against Japan.
The Allied campaign in Burma may not be one of the most famous, but it is definitely important. It boosted morale for the British Commonwealth Army and gave them hope. The Burma-India Campaign was an important time in World War II for the British Army because weakening the Japanese army was of primary importance if the Allies were going to win the war against Japan.
Major Charles Ferguson Hoey (“Hoy”)
Though he had a humble past in Duncan, B.C., Major Charles Ferguson Hoey played a key role in the Burma Campaign in World War Two. He grew up in British Columbia and later moved to Great Britain to enlist in the British Army in 1943. On February 16, 1944 Major Hoey and his group fought hard to obtain the position they were assigned to. After marching through the night in enemy territory, the group came upon machine-gun fire at the edge of the area they needed to conquest. Hoey led his group through the fire to the area they were ordered to capture. Eventhough he was wounded twice in the leg and head, he pressed forward. Major Hoey reached the outpost first and killed all the occupants before being life-threateningly wounded. He died soon after. For Major Charles Hoey’s bravery, leadership, and perseverance he was awarded the Victoria Cross and the Burma Star.
|
Works cited:
"Burma and World War Two". HistoryLearningSite.co.uk. 2014. Web.
"Burma Campaign." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web.
"Burma." HISTORY. N.p., 16 Mar. 2014. Web.
"Canada and the War in the Far East." Veterans Affairs Canada. Government of Canada, 23 Oct. 2014. Web.
"Canadian Virtual War Memorial." Veterans Affairs Canada. Government of Canada, n.d. Web.
"Charles Ferguson Hoey (1914 - 1944) - Find A Grave Photos." Charles Ferguson Hoey (1914 - 1944) - Find A Grave Photos. N.p., n.d. Web.
"Chindits Special Force Burma 1943-1944." Chindits Special Force Burma 1943-1944. N.p., n.d. Web.
"Orde Wingate." Orde Wingate. HistoryLearningSite.co.uk, 2014. Web.
Roberts, Andrew. "Still Forgotten." Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, 15 Oct. 2011. Web.
"The Burma Campaign." Veterans Affairs Canada. Government of Canada, 12 Aug. 2014. Web.
"Burma Campaign." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web.
"Burma." HISTORY. N.p., 16 Mar. 2014. Web.
"Canada and the War in the Far East." Veterans Affairs Canada. Government of Canada, 23 Oct. 2014. Web.
"Canadian Virtual War Memorial." Veterans Affairs Canada. Government of Canada, n.d. Web.
"Charles Ferguson Hoey (1914 - 1944) - Find A Grave Photos." Charles Ferguson Hoey (1914 - 1944) - Find A Grave Photos. N.p., n.d. Web.
"Chindits Special Force Burma 1943-1944." Chindits Special Force Burma 1943-1944. N.p., n.d. Web.
"Orde Wingate." Orde Wingate. HistoryLearningSite.co.uk, 2014. Web.
Roberts, Andrew. "Still Forgotten." Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, 15 Oct. 2011. Web.
"The Burma Campaign." Veterans Affairs Canada. Government of Canada, 12 Aug. 2014. Web.