Category Archives: 1st Arakan Campaign (Burma 1943)

Mike and Madill arrive, the former to take over from me, so after a day’s handing over Watty comes up from Sybil and we crack a bottle of ‘Old Angus’. I return the next day with Mackilligan in another a/c … Continue reading →

I have to land back with a U/S A.S.I. at Ramu, a thing I haven’t done before, but manage OK. I go on a dawn sortie with Flynn, a new pilot, weaving, down Alethangyaw way, but see nothing. Land back … Continue reading →

Division moves back to Maunghnama where there is a small landing ground some 900 feet long on which I nearly prang. Watty, Matthews, the A.L.O. and eight men for refuelling are there. Also Cooper-Davies and Chris Glover, who with David … Continue reading →

We move up to Ramu (Lyons) leaving Watty and Matthews and a fitter on Ritz. (JDW: all names for improvised landing strips cleared in the jungle). We have quite a nice Mess, quite some gin from Ranchi, squash and a … Continue reading →

Yesterday at “Prayers” I see eight “01’s” and two with undercarriages down so they must be Army 98’s. Teddy and Garratt arrive yesterday, and Teddy will take over from me. I take him to Divisional “Prayers” this morning in my … Continue reading →

In a bad way today. J. Benbow came in last night and and I only have a couple of rums or so. But all complain of its strength this morning, so I cut my ‘trip’ and passed it on to … Continue reading →

A most enjoyable trip weaving on Mike up the Kaladon and down the Pi Chaung. I keep him in sight the whole way and the R/T works, or would do if i had got the fine tuning properly adjusted. We … Continue reading →

Yesterday I go on a very pleasant trip to Kamai and Batarai, with Brown ‘weaving’ behind me. I see four men run off a track into the bushes, and I give it a squirt on my way back, but am … Continue reading →

Bert and “Winco” Yorke come down in a Harvard and another Hurricane 11b. Winco sees General Lloyd who says he has nothing but praise for our efforts, and apologies for the rude signal he sent about us, which was instigated … Continue reading →

Some good shooting up on the Jap front line, and also by the Pagods on Foul Point, where I see a small concealed “hide”. Garratt arrives, and Glass promoted P/O. Much rain, but we manage to get off onto RITZ … Continue reading →