Operations in Tavoy and On Moulmein Aerodrome by Captain N.R. Watts, M.C.

Note: The account which follows is transcribed from a letter received by Lt. Colonel E.C.V. Foucar, the official historian of the 1942 Burma campaign.  It was written by Captain N.R. Watts who was a company commander with the 6th Battalion, Burma Rifles during the action at Tavoy.[1]  Having escaped from Tavoy, upon reaching Moulmein he was given command of the defences of Moulmein aerodrome.  The Indian Official History drew heavily upon the history written by Lt. Colonel Foucar, which he began preparing from late 1942 in his office at Simla, the headquarters of the Burma Government in exile in India.  Lt. Colonel Foucar collected all surviving documents, such as war diaries, and wrote to many officers who served in the 1942 campaign, asking them to contribute what they knew.

Captain Watts’ narrative is found in one of Foucar’s files held at The National Archives at Kew, near London, WO 203/5691.

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The Operations in Tavoy

I arrived in Tavoy from India to rejoin my unit, The 6th. Bn. The Burma Rifles on 4 Jan 42.  The Bn. was then organising the defences of Tavoy.  My company was sent across the Tavoy River to patrol the coast from Marmagan to Sanlan and deal with any enemy landing, in the case of a small party to prevent it, or if a large force to fight a delaying action.  About three days before the attack on Tavoy I received orders that I was to bring my company back to the town.  I was told that my company was to occupy a defensive position from south of the Mergui Road, across the Myitta Road, and half way to the Ye road, the line to run through the Pauktin and Myitta Bridges.  The following afternoon a platoon of 3rd Bn. Burma Rifle [sic] troops arrived and were put under my command.  About three days later the enemy launched his attack on the left flank from the area of Zaha Camp.  The action started about 07:30hrs and this company managed to hold out against very superior numbers until about 11:30hrs, when I received orders to move my company across the aerodrome and do as much damage to the enemy as possible as they were now moving unopposed across the ‘drome towards the bazaar.  At about 12:30hrs, my commanding officer decided to evacuate the town and I was sent to unwire the Myitta Bridge, after which I recced up the Myitta Road and about a mile above the bridge met another enemy column advancing on Tavoy.  I reached the remains of the Bn. and told them of this new threat and the remnants of our force withdrew through the hills towards Ye.

The Operations on Moulmein Aerodrome

On arrival from Tavoy I was detailed by 2nd. Infantry Brigade to command the force on Moulmein Aerodrome, which then consisted of five platoons of infantry and one machine-gun platoon, all Sikhs from the Kokine Bn. B.F.F., one company of infantry from the 8th Bn. Burma Rifles in the role of counter attack company and four A.A. guns.  Before the attack on Moulmein the counter attack company and the A.A. guns were recalled for other duty, and later on one platoon was detailed as escort for civil prisoners being evacuated from Moulmein to Martaban.  Therefore on the morning of the attack the force defending the ‘drome consisted of four platoons, manning five platoon areas, and one machine-gun platoon.  Hill 95 adjoining the aerodrome was occupied by a platoon of The 8th Bn. The Burma Rifles and came under their command.

The attack started at about 09:30hrs. when a small enemy party tried to occupy the top end of the aerodrome through the rubber plantations at the fare end of Hill 95.  This effort was beaten off without much trouble and was considered only as a small recce force.  While this small action was in progress the telephone communication between the aerodrome and Bde. H.Q. failed and as the aerodrome was well in front of the main defences of Moulmein it was presumed to have been cut by enemy who had by passed the aerodrome and gone on to the main defences of the town.

Later a very much larger attack developed from the same direction and a more determined effort appeared to be being launched.  However, soon after the first signs of this movement the telephone became live again and I contacted the Mountain Battery who gave very able support and helped break up the attack.  The enemy showed a very marked dislike of the very accurate shooting of our gunners.

Hill 95 was captured at about 18:30hrs. and from then on the situation at the aerodrome itself became very serious as the hill is only about 1,000 yards from the centre of the aerodrome and commands the whole field.  The enemy brought up mortars and guns and from excellent positions on the hill covered his attack which again came on the top of the aerodrome.  The platoon holding this position was over run and telephone communications between Battle H.Q. and Platoons broke down.  The enemy occupied this position and from it worked round the sides of the aerodrome under cover of darkness.  Orders were received at about 19:30hrs. to withdraw at my own discretion.  The troops withdrew at about 20:30hrs. when the position had become hopeless.  I then attempted to destroy a Blenheim Bomber which had been left on the aerodrome but was unsuccessful and managed to escape later in the evening and made my way to Martaban where I arrived about ten days later.

[11 December 2017]