Aye Cho
Encyclopedia
Major
Aung San Thuirya Aye Cho (also known as Aye Cho) ( - 21 August 1948) was the Bamar
recipient of Aung San Thuriya Award, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry and bravery in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to members of Myanmar Armed Forces and he is also the first recipient of Aung San Thuriya medal in Myanmar. He won the award at the Battle of Po Tha Aung Gon Bridge during the outbreak of Communists insurgency in Myanmar.
In August 1948, a large number of Communist insurgents
troops were advancing along the Pyay
-Yangon
road to attack and seize the city of Yangon
. At around 7 pm on 19 August 1948, communists forces arrived at Po Tha Aung Gon Bridge near Nattalin, and met with a strong resistance from the soldiers of the No. 21 Union Military Police Battalion
that was stationed in Nattalin. Commanding Officer of the battalion Major. Aye Cho led his troops to courageously defend the bridge and the town, which was critical for communists forces to advance towards Yangon. Despite overwhelming number of enemy forces, which outnumbered his small police battalion 30 to 1. The men of the No.21 UMP under the leadership of Major. Aye Cho fought back ferociously and as result the enemy had to retreat from the bridge. Major. Aye Cho was mortally wounded in the battle and he died on the morning of 21 August 1948. For his supreme sacrifice, valiant courage and uncommon valour, Major Aye Cho was awarded Aung San Thuriya medal posthumously.
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Aung San Thuirya Aye Cho (also known as Aye Cho) ( - 21 August 1948) was the Bamar
Bamar
The Bamar are the dominant ethnic group of Burma , constituting approximately two-thirds of the population. The Bamar live primarily in the Irrawaddy basin, and speak the Burmese language, which is also the official language of Burma. Bamar customs and identity are closely intertwined with general...
recipient of Aung San Thuriya Award, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry and bravery in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to members of Myanmar Armed Forces and he is also the first recipient of Aung San Thuriya medal in Myanmar. He won the award at the Battle of Po Tha Aung Gon Bridge during the outbreak of Communists insurgency in Myanmar.
In August 1948, a large number of Communist insurgents
Insurgency
An insurgency is an armed rebellion against a constituted authority when those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents...
troops were advancing along the Pyay
Pyay
Pyay is a town in the Bago Division in Burma. It has an estimated population of 123,800 . Pyay is positioned on the Ayeyarwady River and is northwest of Yangon....
-Yangon
Yangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
road to attack and seize the city of Yangon
Yangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
. At around 7 pm on 19 August 1948, communists forces arrived at Po Tha Aung Gon Bridge near Nattalin, and met with a strong resistance from the soldiers of the No. 21 Union Military Police Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
that was stationed in Nattalin. Commanding Officer of the battalion Major. Aye Cho led his troops to courageously defend the bridge and the town, which was critical for communists forces to advance towards Yangon. Despite overwhelming number of enemy forces, which outnumbered his small police battalion 30 to 1. The men of the No.21 UMP under the leadership of Major. Aye Cho fought back ferociously and as result the enemy had to retreat from the bridge. Major. Aye Cho was mortally wounded in the battle and he died on the morning of 21 August 1948. For his supreme sacrifice, valiant courage and uncommon valour, Major Aye Cho was awarded Aung San Thuriya medal posthumously.