Sittang Disaster

BURMA CAMPAIGN: 1942 THE SITTANG DISASTER

INTRODUCTION

1.Sittang Disaster occurred in the early stage of lacquer occupation on Burma in the WW II. It was ab forth the Sittang Bridge which was winded prematurely by the order of 17th Indian naval division Commander of British Army, Maj Gen J. G. Smith. The finality to blow the bridge had been make after the 17th Indian Division who was retreating from vicinity ambit of Bilin River to the new defensive area at Sittang Bridge using the jungle track suddenly had cut off by the Japanese forces at Sittang River. After the bridgehead garrison withdrew to the western bank, Maj Gen J. G. Smith gave the order to blow the bridge and leaving a large part of his forces on the wrong side of Sittang River.

2.His decision had caused a few cardinal his troops stuck at the another(prenominal) side of the bridge. A few managed to coddle with their arms on rough rafts or petrol tins while absolute majority of them had to swim with the use of bamboo. A numbers were drowned and some were knife thrust while crossing. By the afternoon on the 24 Feb 42, out of eight battalions, less than two thousand officers and men managed to cross the west bank leaving only five hundred and fifty rifles, ten Bren guns and twelve tommy-guns between them.



Almost altogether of them were without boots and were reduced to their underwear[1].

3.Sittang River is six hundred yards wide stream. It flows through upset country from north to south and covered in jungle. Generally, Sittang River is cardinal of the river which divided Burma plane into four main sectors besides the Salween River, Irrawaddy River and Chindwin River. each of those rivers flew from north to south. The rivers dominated the strategy of the Burma campaign and provided the main highways and lines of conference the primitive railway and the few metalled roads merely avocation the river valleys.[2] The location of the rivers can be viewed in the map of Burma as shown below:
Map of Burma
[pic]
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