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The Society of Malaŵi Journal

track and the approaching monsoon would make conditions even worse. But by July
th
th
1944, 11 (EA) Division including 13 (NY) KAR were in position and ready to
move.
Their advance began in early August 1944 as the monsoon broke; conditions
were atrocious, as fifty-five consecutive days of torrential rainfall turned the tracks to
thick mud leaving everyone continually soaking wet. Attacked by insects at every
turn, roads had to be hacked out of primeval wilderness while food supplies were
th
frequently short. The askari of 13 (NY) KAR, often equipped only with a
groundsheet and mosquito net, carried out this arduous labour by hand and nourished
by inadequate rations. While small groups of Japanese offered occasional, stubborn
opposition, the greatest challenge was surviving the environment.

Corduroy road in the Kabaw Valley [Crown Copyright]

Vast forests of teak filled the valley and days had to be spent felling trees and
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laying the trunks in corduroy fashion along the tracks to make them semi-passable.
Indeed, Sam recalled one of his soldiers, Master Malatu who was equipped with only
a machete, daily used it to chop four or five teak trees, which ranged for six to twelve
inches in diameter, until they were ready to be pulled down by elephants and placed
on the road. Furthermore, the battalion was dependent upon air resupply, and drop
zones had to be cut out of the forest while parachute loads had to be located and
recovered, many of which were hung up in high trees. The work was difficult,
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unrelenting and exhausting, but 13 (NY) KAR stood it well. As a platoon
commander, Sam frequently found himself leading fighting patrols into the jungle as
well as supervising the unrelenting road work. It was dangerous and demanding work
that required trust and teamwork by all ranks.
Japanese opposition increased as the division approached the Chindwin and
while one crossing was secured in early September, the laborious clearance of the
Kabaw Valley lasted until November. Finally, with multiple crossings and the far
bank secured, all the back-breaking labour by the KAR was vindicated by the
transport of the world’s largest floating bridge via the Kabaw Valley Road down onto
the Chindwin. With the bridge in place and open to vehicular traffic, the mission of
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11 (EA) Division had been achieved and it could be withdrawn to India for rest and

5 A corduroy road is a type of road or timber trackway made by placing logs, usually perpendicular to the direction
of the road over a low or swampy area. The result is an improvement over impassable mud or dirt roads, yet rough
and ready in the best of conditions.
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