With the 17th Infantry Division decimated and scattered, the forces available for the whole of Burma were the 1st Burma Division and the 7th Armoured Brigade, equipped with American-made Stuart or "Honey" light tanks. The British commanders had already decided not to contest Rangoon, but their new strategy relied on convincing the Japanese that Rangoon would be heavily defended.[1]
About midday on March 8 215th Regiment (of XXXIII Division) entered Rangoon to find to its surprise that the city was unoccupied and deserted. General Sakurai immediately ordered it to pursue the British column which he now realised was the whole of the British forces from the Rangoon area. It was too late and the golden opportunity of destroying the British garrison was lost.
"B" Squadron of the 7th Hussars, Maj. G. C. Davies-Gilbert commanding, arrived in the village of Payagyi to find the Japanese already there. Visibility was poor, and radio communication difficult. After a brief infantry engagement, the Stuartlight tanks (nicknamed "Honeys" in the British and Commonwealth militaries) opened fire, destroying two Type 95 Ha-Go Japanese tanks. A confused battle ensued, in which two more Type 95s were destroyed, another Type 95 was abandoned by its crew, and four Japanese anti-tank guns captured. Then the order came for the British to move to Hlegu.
Hleguedit
Hlegu was also in Japanese hands as the British approached. The Japanese had erected a roadblock, and they defended it with molotov cocktails, knocking out one of the Honeys. In the end, they were forced to retreat in the face of heavy fire from the tanks. The 7th Hussars' regimental chaplain, the Revd Neville Metcalfe, was awarded an immediate Distinguished Service Order for his actions in helping the British wounded, and conducting burial services for the dead, despite being wounded by mortar fire.[4][5]
Aftermathedit
General Alexander realised that Rangoon was doomed, and his new plan involved a withdrawal to Prome, some 200 miles to the north. The objective, to convince the Japanese that Rangoon would be defended, had been achieved.
The British Indian Army moved on to Taukkyan that evening.
Battle honoursedit
The British and Commonwealth system of battle honours recognised participation in the Battle of Pegu in 1956, 1957 and 1962 by the award to one unit the battle honour Pegu and the award to six units the battle honour Pegu 1942 for resisting the Japanese invasion of Burma from 6 March 1942 to 7 March 1942.[2]
^"No. 35532". The London Gazette. 21 April 1942. p. 1796. Metcalfe was a Chaplain 4th Class who wear the same rank insignia as captains in other corps of the British Army
^"Recommendations for Honours and Awards (Army)—Image details—Metcalfe, Neville" (fee usually required to view full pdf of original recommendation). DocumentsOnline. The National Archives. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
Paterson, Ian A. . Archived from the original on 2007-08-14. An account of the Battle of Pegu.
December 18, 2023
battle, pegu, examples, perspective, this, article, deal, primarily, with, united, kingdom, represent, worldwide, view, subject, improve, this, article, discuss, issue, talk, page, create, article, appropriate, june, 2012, learn, when, remove, this, template, . The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United Kingdom and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject You may improve this article discuss the issue on the talk page or create a new article as appropriate June 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Battle of PeguPart of The Burma CampaignDate6 March 1942 7 March 1942LocationPegu BurmaResultJapanese victory British retreat continuedBelligerentsUnited Kingdom IndiaJapanCommanders and leadersJohn Anstice DSOShōjirō IidaStrength1 armoured brigade2 divisionsCasualties and lossesunknown3 light tanks destroyed3 light tanks damagedunknown4 light tanks destroyed1 light tank abandoned4 anti tank guns captured The Battle of Pegu was an engagement in the Burma campaign in the Second World War Fought from 6 March 1942 to 7 March 1942 it concerned the defence of Rangoon now Yangon in Burma now Myanmar Japanese forces closed in on the British Indian Army who were deployed near Pegu now Bago With the 17th Infantry Division decimated and scattered the forces available for the whole of Burma were the 1st Burma Division and the 7th Armoured Brigade equipped with American made Stuart or Honey light tanks The British commanders had already decided not to contest Rangoon but their new strategy relied on convincing the Japanese that Rangoon would be heavily defended 1 British Indian forces fighting at Pegu were the 7th Queen s Own Hussars the Cameronians Scottish Rifles 2nd Battalion 12th Frontier Force Regiment and surviving elements of the 17th Infantry the West Yorkshire Regiment 1st Battalion 4th Prince of Wales s Own Gurkha Rifles 7th Duke of Edinburgh s Own Gurkha Rifles and the 4th Battalion 12th Frontier Force Regiment 2 Contents 1 The battle 1 1 Payagyi 1 2 Hlegu 2 Aftermath 2 1 Battle honours 3 References 4 Sources 5 External linksThe battle editAbout midday on March 8 215th Regiment of XXXIII Division entered Rangoon to find to its surprise that the city was unoccupied and deserted General Sakurai immediately ordered it to pursue the British column which he now realised was the whole of the British forces from the Rangoon area It was too late and the golden opportunity of destroying the British garrison was lost Official History 3 Payagyi edit B Squadron of the 7th Hussars Maj G C Davies Gilbert commanding arrived in the village of Payagyi to find the Japanese already there Visibility was poor and radio communication difficult After a brief infantry engagement the Stuart light tanks nicknamed Honeys in the British and Commonwealth militaries opened fire destroying two Type 95 Ha Go Japanese tanks A confused battle ensued in which two more Type 95s were destroyed another Type 95 was abandoned by its crew and four Japanese anti tank guns captured Then the order came for the British to move to Hlegu Hlegu edit Hlegu was also in Japanese hands as the British approached The Japanese had erected a roadblock and they defended it with molotov cocktails knocking out one of the Honeys In the end they were forced to retreat in the face of heavy fire from the tanks The 7th Hussars regimental chaplain the Revd Neville Metcalfe was awarded an immediate Distinguished Service Order for his actions in helping the British wounded and conducting burial services for the dead despite being wounded by mortar fire 4 5 Aftermath editGeneral Alexander realised that Rangoon was doomed and his new plan involved a withdrawal to Prome some 200 miles to the north The objective to convince the Japanese that Rangoon would be defended had been achieved The British Indian Army moved on to Taukkyan that evening Battle honours edit The British and Commonwealth system of battle honours recognised participation in the Battle of Pegu in 1956 1957 and 1962 by the award to one unit the battle honour Pegu and the award to six units the battle honour Pegu 1942 for resisting the Japanese invasion of Burma from 6 March 1942 to 7 March 1942 2 References edit Liddell Hart 1970 p 218 a b Rodger p 343 Quoted in Liddell Hart 1970 p 218 No 35532 The London Gazette 21 April 1942 p 1796 Metcalfe was a Chaplain 4th Class who wear the same rank insignia as captains in other corps of the British Army Recommendations for Honours and Awards Army Image details Metcalfe Neville fee usually required to view full pdf of original recommendation DocumentsOnline The National Archives Retrieved 22 July 2009 Sources editLiddell Hart B H History of the Second World War New York G P Putnam 1970 ISBN 0 306 80912 5 Rodger Alexander 2003 Battle Honours of the British Empire and Commonwealth Land Forces Marlborough The Crowood Press ISBN 1 86126 637 5 Slim William 1956 Defeat Into Victory Citations from the Four Square Books 1958 edition which lacks an ISBN but also available from NY Buccaneer Books ISBN 1 56849 077 1 Cooper Square Press ISBN 0 8154 1022 0 London Cassell ISBN 0 304 29114 5 Pan ISBN 0 330 39066 X External links editPaterson Ian A History of the British 7th Armoured Division The 7th Armoured Brigade Engagements 1942 Archived from the original on 2007 08 14 An account of the Battle of Pegu Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Pegu amp oldid 1182969792, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
