7 Indian Div HQ

ianmccallum55 · Apr 19, 2009

Hi Guys

I am new to the forum and I am researching an old uncle, Signaller Arthur Jones Royal Signals, who was attached to the 7 Indian Div HQ when it was over-run on 6 Feb 1944. He is listed as killed on that date. I am trying to find out exactly what happened to him and to what appears to be a large portion of the Div signals detachment as around a half dozen signallers plus two signals officers were all killed on the same date. Any help would be appreciated.

Ian

Kyt · Apr 19, 2009

Hi Ian

Welcome to the forum.

On the 6th the Japanese Sakurai Force attacked the area of the 7th Divison's HQ and most of the fighting was undertaken by the admin staff. This was the prelude to the Battle of teh Admin Box.

The area of the HQ is marked by the X 7 (the HQ was in a place called Launggyaung) :

http://www.robertlyman.com/PDFfiles/map 5.pdf

You will also find most of what happened in this chapter:

Anthony Brett-James. Ball of Fire. Fifth Indian Division in the Second World War. 1951. Chapters 21-22.

On February 4 Tanahashi struck. Reports came in that during the night an enemy force of unknown strength had slipped through Messervy's positions east of the Kalapanzin. The Japanese, moving in a compact body, passed across the rice fields in the area held by our 114. Brigade. They were not spotted in the dark, even though some of our men did run into a mule. The noise of the column was thought to be our own transport.

Early on the morning of the 5th Taung Bazaar fell into enemy hands. Crowther's 89 Brigade was sent to intercept Tanahashi's force, and was engaged in fierce fighting all through that day. The Japanese had now turned south-west to threaten from the rear Messervy's main positions, and our efforts to halt their advance were not successful. That same day enemy artillery was unusually active along the whole divisional front, and Japanese aircraft made frequent sweeps over the area, paying particular attention to the eastern end of the Ngakyedauk Pass.

General Messervy wondered to himself: Should his headquarters move or stay put? As he had been preaching the doctrine of no withdrawals by anyone when the Jap came round the flank---this was a new policy from the earlier campaigns---he decided to keep his headquarters at Launggyaung, two miles north-east of the administration area in Sinzweya. He knew that to stay was a risk, but a good example would be set. Moreover, to move his headquarters at such a critical moment might mean the disruption of communications just when they were most needed.

But it was upon this very headquarters, unprotected as it was by infantry, that the assault fell. The only troops defending Launggyaung were Lieutenant-Colonel P. M. P. Hobson's Divisional Signals, and part of an Engineer Battalion. At six o'clock the air was rent by wild shouts from the Japanese. A few shots were almost smothered by a roar as of some vast football crowd, intermingled with catcalls and yells. All was uncertain in the half-light and morning mist. The members of headquarters took up their prearranged battle stations. The Signal Office was attacked. Parties of the enemy infiltrated into the Signals area, and towards Messervy's headquarters. Machine-guns and mortars began firing into our positions from short range. Several attacks were beaten back, but all telephone lines were cut. Communication between the different parts of the headquarters was broken. Messervy with part of his staff was isolated on a steep hillock and pinned to the ground by fire. He decided that the place must be abandoned, but could get no message to this effect through to the rest of the staff and to Signals. Eventually he and a few companions managed to slip away, waded down a stream, made their way through the jungle and reached the administration area at Sinzweya.

Meanwhile Colonel Hobson, finding his men hard pressed, his casualties mounting, his wireless sets being overrun and destroyed, consulted Brigadier Hely, the C.R.A. It was decided to fight on, but soon the Japanese had established machine-gun posts along a ridge that overlooked our strong-points. Some tanks of the 25th Dragoons, which had just arrived here, were firing at these machine guns, but groups of our men found themselves caught between the two lines of fire.

The position was perilous. Resistance could not long be maintained. Hely gave the order to evacuate Launggyaung. A rendezvous was made: the eastern end of the Ngakyedauk Pass. But many new casualties were suffered in this withdrawal, and some confusion, for Japanese mortar fire broke up our parties and the main line of retreat was covered by the enemy. In all, Hobson's Signals had seven officers, eight British and ninety Indian ranks killed or missing from that morning's fighting.
Click to expand...

Messervy was 7th Division's commander.

I hope that helps you get started

ianmccallum55 · Apr 22, 2009

Kyt
Thank you for your reply. I never expected so much detail so quickly. Your detailed reply certainly answered most of my questions. I noted the extracts were from a 5 Divisional history. Is there a history for the 7 Division. Thanks again for your help.

Ian

Kyt · Apr 23, 2009

Hi Ian

I'm afraid I've yet to come across a history of the 7th. That's not to say that one doesn't exist but histories of the Indian divisons and units are very difficult to get hold of.

But Allen's Burma: The longest War is an excellent history of the Burma Campaign and has a lot on the 7th's involvement

ianmccallum55 · Apr 23, 2009

Thanks again for the advice.

Ian

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