Page 126 - AGC-Journal-2016

AGC JOURNAL 2016

Exercise Bold Chinthe

Burma

By Sergeant Laura Morley

77th Brigade is a newly awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. As
formed Brigade and the title a group we discussed Major General Orde
Charles Wingate’s novel ideas, plans and
is inspired by the men who operations which were unorthodox for
fought in the original 77th their time; not having been used before in
Indian Infantry Brigade Burma. His idea of long range penetration
(going behind enemy lines, harass and
in the Burma campaign disrupt the supply lines) proved to be
of World War Two, the extremely difficult due to the Burmese
climate, jungle and mountainous terrain,
innovative Special Force; this even before they encountered the Japanese
was the inspiration for the in combat. I personally admired him for
Burma battlefield study. his tactical leadership and his courage to
do something different.

Journey Commences

An early departure from Denison Barracks
saw us safely arrive at Heathrow airport
before departing for Bangkok. We then
had a short flight to our final destination Laura Morley and the Chinthe Express
of Burma. After two days of travelling of sights, local village life and rural Burma
the group met up with Captain Charles far from any tourist trail, accompanied by
Spencer at our hotel in Mandalay. armed guards as we neared areas of civil
unrest.
Day Three
Day Five Pagoda Hill memorial plaque. Charlie Spencer,
Laura Morley and Jean Lambert
Our first visit was to Mandalay Hill which
required a small walk to the top of about Up early the chef had prepared breakfast, Pagoda Hill was the first Chindit battle
900 steps, where Mr Alan Davies, our which included rice (lots of it) which under Operation Thursday. Opposite
tour guide, explained how the hill was was culturally very different and a new Pagoda Hill, the site of a memorial
attacked and defended, using original experience. In Mahlu we were greeted plaque made by the local villagers, we
photographs and maps. A colour photo by the Mahlu school children and lots held a small act of remembrance where
of a Sikh machine gun position showed of locals. The area of Mahlu is not often both the local dignitaries and members
how little the ground had changed over visited by tourists and the warming of the Brigade remembered and reflected
the years and allowed us to get a real feel reception was a real reflection of this. As what all soldiers of that time must have
and perspective of what the soldiers went we made our way through the village we experienced and felt. Whilst walking at
through. visited a small but informative exhibit Pagoda Hill, the heat, the humidity and
which had articles from the war. After dense jungle made me realise just how far
Day Four leaving the exhibit we made a short we were removed from the countryside of
journey to ‘White City’, the Chindit England and home.
On day four we arrived at the train station position, so called during the war because
ready to board the ‘Chinthe Express’. of the number of parachutes that got Day Six
This was a four carriage coach with each stuck on trees. Here we were given a
carriage having its own local chef, toilet detailed explanation of how the Chindits Our next stop was Namkhwian which
and a shower which was made of a dog used fearless tactics to successfully take was approximately 40km south of Mahlu.
bowl and a water barrel. The journey the nearby Japanese position at Pagoda Here we learnt about Operation Blackpool
from Mandalay to Mahlu took 15 hours. Hill, where Lieutenant George Cairns lost and the errors that made this operation
Although bumpy, it allowed us to see lots an arm, continued the fight, and was

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