Battle of Pokoku and Irrawaddy River operations
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Pakokku and Irrawaddy River operations were a series of battles fought between the British Indian Army
and the Imperial Japanese Army
and allied forces over the successful allied
Burma Campaign
on the China Burma India Theater during World War II. The battles and operations were instrumental in facilitating the eventual capture of Rangoon in summer 1945.
took over command of the British Indian Army
. The Japanese 31st Divisions thrust at Kohima
had been a costly failure, eventually forcing it to a disastrous retreat. The Japanese 33rd Division
, Japanese 15th Division and the INA 1st division
had suffered a similar fate at Imphal
. The Japanese and allied forces lost at least fifty thousand dead. In previous years there used to be lull during the monsoon period but not this year (1944–45). The command decided that it was time to target the heart of Japanese Army
in Burma. General William "Bill" Slim
's plan through the monsoon months had been pursuit of the defeated Japanese in Kohima
and plains of Imphal
with 5th Indian Infantry Division down the Tiddim Road and 11th East African Division down the Kabaw Valley
, until the two joined hand at Kalemyo. The next offensive plan centred on the occupation of Central Burma, as far South as Mandalay
to exploit further South and destroy the Japanese Forces in the Shewbo Plains, North of Irrawaddy, where armour could be used. Allied Forces crossed River Chindwin and the spearheads of both Corps of the Fourteenth Army { IV and XXXIII Corps} were moving into selected battle areas, which surprised Japanese as they had not anticipated any major operations during the monsoon period. The British Fourteenth Army
was now faced with a major obstacle (Irrawaddy) covered by determined Japanese. The Irrawaddy River in its middle is about two thousand yards broad and dotted with treacherous and shifting sand bars. An opposed direct crossing would have been very expensive with low percentage of success.
and in the low hills of Meiktila. Since there was not enough equipment to make an opposed river crossing, Slim planned more than one crossing with adequate deception plans as to where the real assault in strength was to take place. It was decided to make sufficiently strong crossing North of Mandalay
to draw main enemy forces, while making the main crossing in the South of Japanese concentrations below Mandalay
. The revised plan pertaining to 7th Indian Infantry Division was IV Corps less 19th Division (7th Indian Division, 17th Indian Infantry Division, 28th East African Brigade, Lushai Brigade, and 255th Indian Tank Brigade
) to move due South, down the Gangaw valley for nearly 300 miles, seize a bridgehead on Irrawaddy at Pakokku and then strike Southeast with mechanised forces at Meiktila and Thazi, with air maintenance.
, capture of which was to cut off Japanese Army fighting in the North and Central Burma. The operation of the 7th Indian Infantry Division was initiated by 114th Indian Infantry Brigade by their move to Tamu, over a motorable road; constructing a stretch of 180 miles (over 280 Kilometres) of motorable road from Tamuto Gangaw
in 15 days 114th Brigade and Divisional Headquarters moving along the main axis Kaley Valley
road,. The advance was to begin on 19 January 1945 and the 7 Indian Infantry Divisional tasks were:
and Imphal
and offensive to destroy Japanese Forces North of Irrawaddy River was planned with a surprise crossing of the River. 7th Indian Infantry Division and other formations were to seize a bridgehead on Irrawaddy at Pakokku by 15 Feb 45 and move southeast with mechanised forces. Operations of 7 Division initiated by 114 Indian Infantry Brigade was led by 4/5 Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force). The battalion left Merema on 4 December 1944, and reached the area on 3 February 1945 and close to given objective Pakokku on 5 February 1945, after C Company (Major Beytagh) cleared the road. The Japanese shelled the troops from their positions in Kahnla, a village on the South Bank of the Irrawaddy.
On 5 February, three companies of the 4/5th Gurkha Rifles, led by Captain Fisher, Major Brown MC
* and the Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel J H Turner, made an encircling move on the village of Kahnla. One company moved further left and attacked from Northeast, after coming under intense Japanese attack, while a second Company forming up in Kahnla village for the attack from West; with Hotel Hour at 5-30 PM fought its way, overran half of the Japanese position, including a strong Medium Machine Gun
(MMG) bunker. Not less than 30 Japanese were killed and many wounded, while two Medium Machine Gun
s (MMG’s), three Light Machine Gun
s (LMG's) and twenty rifles were recovered. One of the Battalion’s wounded was CHM Bhagta Bahadur Gurung, whose outstanding courage and leadership in this attack brought him a well-earned Indian Order of Merit (IOM). Major I M Brown MC was awarded one more Bar to MC (Military Cross). These were two of the 41 major awards won by the Battalion during operations in Burma Theatre during World War II.
Further reconnaissance on the 6th of February indicated remainder objective strongly held and on 7 February 4/1 Gurkha Rifles established firm base for the Battalion. On 8 February, the Company led by Major Brown cleared another Japanese position, killing twelve and wounding three Japanese. The main attack planned for early morning hours of 10 February, was pressed without any aerial support due to bad weather. The attack began with one Company and tanks from the 255th Indian Tank Brigade
(Gordon Highlanders). By the afternoon, three troop companies with armoured support captured their objective. Unfortunately, the Commanding Officer of the battalion was killed in action during the assault. Resistance by Japanese position defended by a battalion was fanatical. One Prisoner of War (POW) was taken and 51 bodies counted. During night 10 February 1945, Japanese launched six unsuccessful counterattacks and on the night of 11 and 12 February 1945, they tried to infiltrate into the Battalion position, without success. On the night of 13 February, troops of the 4/5 Royal Gurkha Rifles first occupied positions closer to Pakokku Village, called Sinlan, then proceeded to search and occupy Pakokku itself. With this operation, unique as it was, decimating nearly battalion strength of Japanese, the first stage of 7 Indian Infantry Division task was completed and foothold gained on the West Bank of Irrawaddy River, for further operations. The operation was magnificent stroke of bravery and deception, making possible the next phase of offensive for the destruction of Japanese in Burma.
's 4th Guerrilla Regiment, with one held in reserve. The 7th Indian division suffered heavy losses as their assault boats broke down under machine-gun fire which swept the river. Eventually, support from tanks of the Gordon Highlanders firing across the river and massed artillery forced the defenders at Nyaungu to surrender. At Pagan, the defending troops, the INA's 9th battalion, took a heavy toll offering resistance to the (1/11th Sikh Regiment
) before they withdrew to Mount Popa
.
By 20 February, most of the forces crossed the river and captured Meiktila, as planned. Capture Pakokku by 4/5 Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force) opened way for further operations of 17th Indian Infantry Division. On 19 February, the 4/5 Royal Gurkha Rifles cleared an island, five miles long and three miles broad, in the Irrawaddy River, off Pakokku, which was interfering with forward movement.
On 24 February, the Gurkhas moved south of Pakokku, crossed Irrawaddy River and took over part of Nyaung U bridgehead. On 25 February, a squadron of the 116th Regiment RAC (Gordon Highlanders),part of the 255th Indian Tank Brigade
supported the assault of the battalion and the village was soon secured, in which seven Japanese including an officer were killed. Throughout the month of April, the allies continued to engage the Japanese in the area and this led to the capture of Letse and Seikpyu. On the morning of the 24th of April, leading troops were pinned down with heavy fire from a ridge with a prominent Golden Pagoda and a monastery. The objective was captured by a company of the 4/5 Royal Gurkha Rifles, under Captain G W Maycock, supported by heavy artillery concentration. Thirty-nine Japanese bodies were recovered. By 30 April Battalion secured Pwinbu and then moved to clear Japanese position at Pagan village. From 5th to 8 May concerted assaults on Japanese positions were launched which a ring around the position from the South on 6th, roadblock in the rear of the Japanese on 7th and assault launched on Pagan Village on 8th.
had been fought out. The Japanese had been decisively and finally beaten. The Japanese Army in Burma except for those still East of Sittang River had ceased to exist as an organised and integrated force. On 2 May 1945 Rangoon had been reoccupied and General Slim's plans had been brought to a triumphant conclusion. The monsoon was about to break and the next phase was to be a large scale mopping up operations. On 14 May the Battalion left Pagan for what it hoped would be a fairly permanent monsoon location. After several changes of location, the Battalion arrived at Allanmyo, forty mile North of Prome. Orders were soon received on 27 May to move to Prome for further operational tasks.
Irrawaddy was awarded as Battle Honour
to the Battalion 4/5 Royal Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force)
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
and the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
and allied forces over the successful allied
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
Burma Campaign
Burma Campaign
The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United States forces against the forces of the Empire of Japan, Thailand, and the Indian National Army. British Commonwealth land forces were drawn primarily from...
on the China Burma India Theater during World War II. The battles and operations were instrumental in facilitating the eventual capture of Rangoon in summer 1945.
Preparation
Early December 1944 Major General G. C. EvansGeoffrey Charles Evans
Lieutenant-General Sir Geoffrey Charles Evans KBE, CB, DSO & Two Bars was an officer in the British Army during World War II and the post-war era...
took over command of the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
. The Japanese 31st Divisions thrust at Kohima
Battle of Kohima
The Battle of Kohima was the turning point of the Japanese U Go offensive into India in 1944 in the Second World War. The battle was fought from 4 April to 22 June 1944 around the town of Kohima in northeast India. It is often referred to as the "Stalingrad of the East".The battle took place in...
had been a costly failure, eventually forcing it to a disastrous retreat. The Japanese 33rd Division
33rd Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the .-History:The 33rd Division was raised in Utsunomiya, Tochigi prefecture, but its headquarters was in Sendai. It was raised from conscripts largely from the northern Kantō prefecturers of Tochigi, Ibaraki and Gunma...
, Japanese 15th Division and the INA 1st division
Indian National Army
The Indian National Army or Azad Hind Fauj was an armed force formed by Indian nationalists in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II. The aim of the army was to overthrow the British Raj in colonial India, with Japanese assistance...
had suffered a similar fate at Imphal
Battle of Imphal
The Battle of Imphal took place in the region around the city of Imphal, the capital of the state of Manipur in North-East India from March until July 1944. Japanese armies attempted to destroy the Allied forces at Imphal and invade India, but were driven back into Burma with heavy losses...
. The Japanese and allied forces lost at least fifty thousand dead. In previous years there used to be lull during the monsoon period but not this year (1944–45). The command decided that it was time to target the heart of Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
in Burma. General William "Bill" Slim
William Slim, 1st Viscount Slim
Field Marshal William Joseph "Bill"'Slim, 1st Viscount Slim, KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, DSO, MC, KStJ was a British military commander and the 13th Governor-General of Australia....
's plan through the monsoon months had been pursuit of the defeated Japanese in Kohima
Kohima
Kohima is the hilly capital of India's north eastern border state of Nagaland which shares its borders with Burma. It lies in Kohima District and is also one of the three Nagaland towns with Municipal council status along with Dimapur and Mokokchung....
and plains of Imphal
Imphal
Imphal is the capital of the Indian state of Manipur.In the heart of the town and surrounded by a moat, are ruins of the old Palace of Kangla. Kangla Fort used to be the home of the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force and on November 2004 it was handed over to state of Manipur by Prime minister Dr....
with 5th Indian Infantry Division down the Tiddim Road and 11th East African Division down the Kabaw Valley
Kabaw Valley
The Kabaw Valley is a highland valley in northern Burma , western Sagaing division. It is drained by the Mu River. The valley is the home of a number of ethnic minorities including the Zo, the Mizo, the Kadu and the Kanan.-History:...
, until the two joined hand at Kalemyo. The next offensive plan centred on the occupation of Central Burma, as far South as Mandalay
Mandalay
Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region ....
to exploit further South and destroy the Japanese Forces in the Shewbo Plains, North of Irrawaddy, where armour could be used. Allied Forces crossed River Chindwin and the spearheads of both Corps of the Fourteenth Army { IV and XXXIII Corps} were moving into selected battle areas, which surprised Japanese as they had not anticipated any major operations during the monsoon period. The British Fourteenth Army
British Fourteenth Army
The British Fourteenth Army was a multinational force comprising units from Commonwealth countries during World War II. Many of its units were from the Indian Army as well as British units and there were also significant contributions from West and East African divisions within the British Army.It...
was now faced with a major obstacle (Irrawaddy) covered by determined Japanese. The Irrawaddy River in its middle is about two thousand yards broad and dotted with treacherous and shifting sand bars. An opposed direct crossing would have been very expensive with low percentage of success.
Offensive Plan
The new situation required a different plan, revolving under surprise and crossing of the Irrawaddy River for fighting major battles in the plains around MandalayMandalay
Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region ....
and in the low hills of Meiktila. Since there was not enough equipment to make an opposed river crossing, Slim planned more than one crossing with adequate deception plans as to where the real assault in strength was to take place. It was decided to make sufficiently strong crossing North of Mandalay
Mandalay
Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region ....
to draw main enemy forces, while making the main crossing in the South of Japanese concentrations below Mandalay
Mandalay
Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region ....
. The revised plan pertaining to 7th Indian Infantry Division was IV Corps less 19th Division (7th Indian Division, 17th Indian Infantry Division, 28th East African Brigade, Lushai Brigade, and 255th Indian Tank Brigade
255th Indian Tank Brigade
The 255th Indian Tank Brigade was an armoured brigade of the Indian Army during World War II. It was part of the Fourteenth Army and saw action in the Burma Campaign...
) to move due South, down the Gangaw valley for nearly 300 miles, seize a bridgehead on Irrawaddy at Pakokku and then strike Southeast with mechanised forces at Meiktila and Thazi, with air maintenance.
7th Division Plan
Next operation across Irrawaddy River, was to be a magnificent stroke of bravery and deception, that was to make possible the destruction of the Japanese army in Burma. This involved advance through Gangaw Valley and crossing of Irrawaddy River at Nyaung U. Thereafter a quick thrust to MeiktilaMeiktila
Meiktila is a city in central Myanmar, located on the banks of Lake Meiktila in Mandalay Division, at the junctions of the Bagan-Taunggyi, Yangon-Mandalay and Meiktila-Myingyan highways. Because of its strategic position, Meiktila is home to Myanmar Air Force's central command and Meiktila Air...
, capture of which was to cut off Japanese Army fighting in the North and Central Burma. The operation of the 7th Indian Infantry Division was initiated by 114th Indian Infantry Brigade by their move to Tamu, over a motorable road; constructing a stretch of 180 miles (over 280 Kilometres) of motorable road from Tamuto Gangaw
Gangaw
Gangaw is a town of Gangaw Township in Gangaw District in the Magway Division in Myanmar. Gangaw is also known as the City of Yaw, a certain region in Myanmar including Gangaw, Tilin, Saw and villages around them...
in 15 days 114th Brigade and Divisional Headquarters moving along the main axis Kaley Valley
Kalaymyo
Kalaymyo , also known as Karlaymyo, is a town in the Sagaing Division of Burma. It is located upstream from Mandalay and Monywa on the Myittha River, a tributary of the Chindwin River. The town is the district headquarters of the Kalay District...
road,. The advance was to begin on 19 January 1945 and the 7 Indian Infantry Divisional tasks were:
- Advance and seize the Pauk area up to and including crossing of Yaw Chaung by not later than 1 February 1945.
- To seize a bridgehead over the Irrawaddy between Chauk and Pakokku suitable for advance to MeiktilaMeiktilaMeiktila is a city in central Myanmar, located on the banks of Lake Meiktila in Mandalay Division, at the junctions of the Bagan-Taunggyi, Yangon-Mandalay and Meiktila-Myingyan highways. Because of its strategic position, Meiktila is home to Myanmar Air Force's central command and Meiktila Air...
by not later than 15 February 1945.
Battle of Pakokku
The Japanese had been defeated in the Battles of KohimaBattle of Kohima
The Battle of Kohima was the turning point of the Japanese U Go offensive into India in 1944 in the Second World War. The battle was fought from 4 April to 22 June 1944 around the town of Kohima in northeast India. It is often referred to as the "Stalingrad of the East".The battle took place in...
and Imphal
Imphal
Imphal is the capital of the Indian state of Manipur.In the heart of the town and surrounded by a moat, are ruins of the old Palace of Kangla. Kangla Fort used to be the home of the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force and on November 2004 it was handed over to state of Manipur by Prime minister Dr....
and offensive to destroy Japanese Forces North of Irrawaddy River was planned with a surprise crossing of the River. 7th Indian Infantry Division and other formations were to seize a bridgehead on Irrawaddy at Pakokku by 15 Feb 45 and move southeast with mechanised forces. Operations of 7 Division initiated by 114 Indian Infantry Brigade was led by 4/5 Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force). The battalion left Merema on 4 December 1944, and reached the area on 3 February 1945 and close to given objective Pakokku on 5 February 1945, after C Company (Major Beytagh) cleared the road. The Japanese shelled the troops from their positions in Kahnla, a village on the South Bank of the Irrawaddy.
On 5 February, three companies of the 4/5th Gurkha Rifles, led by Captain Fisher, Major Brown MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
* and the Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel J H Turner, made an encircling move on the village of Kahnla. One company moved further left and attacked from Northeast, after coming under intense Japanese attack, while a second Company forming up in Kahnla village for the attack from West; with Hotel Hour at 5-30 PM fought its way, overran half of the Japanese position, including a strong Medium Machine Gun
Medium machine gun
A medium machine gun or MMG, in modern terms, usually refers to a belt-fed automatic firearm firing a full-power rifle cartridge.-History:...
(MMG) bunker. Not less than 30 Japanese were killed and many wounded, while two Medium Machine Gun
Medium machine gun
A medium machine gun or MMG, in modern terms, usually refers to a belt-fed automatic firearm firing a full-power rifle cartridge.-History:...
s (MMG’s), three Light Machine Gun
Light machine gun
A light machine gun is a machine gun designed to be employed by an individual soldier, with or without an assistant, as an infantry support weapon. Light machine guns are often used as squad automatic weapons.-Characteristics:...
s (LMG's) and twenty rifles were recovered. One of the Battalion’s wounded was CHM Bhagta Bahadur Gurung, whose outstanding courage and leadership in this attack brought him a well-earned Indian Order of Merit (IOM). Major I M Brown MC was awarded one more Bar to MC (Military Cross). These were two of the 41 major awards won by the Battalion during operations in Burma Theatre during World War II.
Further reconnaissance on the 6th of February indicated remainder objective strongly held and on 7 February 4/1 Gurkha Rifles established firm base for the Battalion. On 8 February, the Company led by Major Brown cleared another Japanese position, killing twelve and wounding three Japanese. The main attack planned for early morning hours of 10 February, was pressed without any aerial support due to bad weather. The attack began with one Company and tanks from the 255th Indian Tank Brigade
255th Indian Tank Brigade
The 255th Indian Tank Brigade was an armoured brigade of the Indian Army during World War II. It was part of the Fourteenth Army and saw action in the Burma Campaign...
(Gordon Highlanders). By the afternoon, three troop companies with armoured support captured their objective. Unfortunately, the Commanding Officer of the battalion was killed in action during the assault. Resistance by Japanese position defended by a battalion was fanatical. One Prisoner of War (POW) was taken and 51 bodies counted. During night 10 February 1945, Japanese launched six unsuccessful counterattacks and on the night of 11 and 12 February 1945, they tried to infiltrate into the Battalion position, without success. On the night of 13 February, troops of the 4/5 Royal Gurkha Rifles first occupied positions closer to Pakokku Village, called Sinlan, then proceeded to search and occupy Pakokku itself. With this operation, unique as it was, decimating nearly battalion strength of Japanese, the first stage of 7 Indian Infantry Division task was completed and foothold gained on the West Bank of Irrawaddy River, for further operations. The operation was magnificent stroke of bravery and deception, making possible the next phase of offensive for the destruction of Japanese in Burma.
Irrawaddy River operations
After the 7th Indian Infantry Division had captured Pakokku, on 14 February, the Allied forces crossed the Irrawaddy River at Nyaung U, North of ancient Burmese capital of Pagan. 7th Division's crossing was made on a wide front. Both the main attack at Nyaung U and a secondary crossing at Pagan (the former capital, and the site of many Buddhist temples) were initially disastrous. Pagan and Nyaungu were defended by two battalions of the Indian National ArmyIndian National Army
The Indian National Army or Azad Hind Fauj was an armed force formed by Indian nationalists in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II. The aim of the army was to overthrow the British Raj in colonial India, with Japanese assistance...
's 4th Guerrilla Regiment, with one held in reserve. The 7th Indian division suffered heavy losses as their assault boats broke down under machine-gun fire which swept the river. Eventually, support from tanks of the Gordon Highlanders firing across the river and massed artillery forced the defenders at Nyaungu to surrender. At Pagan, the defending troops, the INA's 9th battalion, took a heavy toll offering resistance to the (1/11th Sikh Regiment
11th Sikh Regiment
The 11th Sikh Regiment were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They could trace their origins to 1922, when after World War I the Indian government reformed the army moving from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments....
) before they withdrew to Mount Popa
Mount Popa
Mount Popa is a volcano 1518 metres above sea level, and located in central Burma about southeast of Bagan in the Pegu Range. It can be seen from the River Ayeyarwady as far away as in clear weather. Mount Popa is perhaps best known for the nearby stunningly picturesque Popa Taungkalat...
.
By 20 February, most of the forces crossed the river and captured Meiktila, as planned. Capture Pakokku by 4/5 Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force) opened way for further operations of 17th Indian Infantry Division. On 19 February, the 4/5 Royal Gurkha Rifles cleared an island, five miles long and three miles broad, in the Irrawaddy River, off Pakokku, which was interfering with forward movement.
On 24 February, the Gurkhas moved south of Pakokku, crossed Irrawaddy River and took over part of Nyaung U bridgehead. On 25 February, a squadron of the 116th Regiment RAC (Gordon Highlanders),part of the 255th Indian Tank Brigade
255th Indian Tank Brigade
The 255th Indian Tank Brigade was an armoured brigade of the Indian Army during World War II. It was part of the Fourteenth Army and saw action in the Burma Campaign...
supported the assault of the battalion and the village was soon secured, in which seven Japanese including an officer were killed. Throughout the month of April, the allies continued to engage the Japanese in the area and this led to the capture of Letse and Seikpyu. On the morning of the 24th of April, leading troops were pinned down with heavy fire from a ridge with a prominent Golden Pagoda and a monastery. The objective was captured by a company of the 4/5 Royal Gurkha Rifles, under Captain G W Maycock, supported by heavy artillery concentration. Thirty-nine Japanese bodies were recovered. By 30 April Battalion secured Pwinbu and then moved to clear Japanese position at Pagan village. From 5th to 8 May concerted assaults on Japanese positions were launched which a ring around the position from the South on 6th, roadblock in the rear of the Japanese on 7th and assault launched on Pagan Village on 8th.
Victory
While these subsidiary operations, minor in comparison, had been taking place West of Irrawaddy River, the Battle of MandalayBattle of Meiktila / Mandalay
The concurrent Battle of Meiktila and Battle of Mandalay were decisive battles near the end of the Burma Campaign. Collectively, they are sometimes referred to as the Battle of Central Burma. Despite logistical difficulties, the Allies were able to deploy large armoured and mechanised forces in...
had been fought out. The Japanese had been decisively and finally beaten. The Japanese Army in Burma except for those still East of Sittang River had ceased to exist as an organised and integrated force. On 2 May 1945 Rangoon had been reoccupied and General Slim's plans had been brought to a triumphant conclusion. The monsoon was about to break and the next phase was to be a large scale mopping up operations. On 14 May the Battalion left Pagan for what it hoped would be a fairly permanent monsoon location. After several changes of location, the Battalion arrived at Allanmyo, forty mile North of Prome. Orders were soon received on 27 May to move to Prome for further operational tasks.
Irrawaddy was awarded as Battle Honour
Battle honour
A battle honour is an award of a right by a government or sovereign to a military unit to emblazon the name of a battle or operation on its flags , uniforms or other accessories where ornamentation is possible....
to the Battalion 4/5 Royal Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force)