The Longest Retreat: Burma 1942
Aug 2008, Vol. 153, No. 4
By Graham Dunlop
Imagine the sort of rain that drops two feet of water in a month. It was through
that sort of weather that, in May 1942, the exhausted survivors of the Burma
Corps retreated into Imphal, in North East India, after losing a five-month battle for Burma. Some marched; some dragged themselves along; some had shambled in ahead, looting as they came, souring the reception for those at the rear, who had fought their way out. Most were directed to bivouac under the downpour in the fields. A few found abandoned buildings. There were no comforts and precious little ammunition, food, fuel or medical supplies. Some
10,000 refugees from Burma were already gathered at Imphal. Just one brigade from India was holding the Assam front, so large numbers of the men coming out of Burma had to stay on to defend Imphal.
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By Graham Dunlop
Imagine the sort of rain that drops two feet of water in a month. It was through
that sort of weather that, in May 1942, the exhausted survivors of the Burma
Corps retreated into Imphal, in North East India, after losing a five-month battle for Burma. Some marched; some dragged themselves along; some had shambled in ahead, looting as they came, souring the reception for those at the rear, who had fought their way out. Most were directed to bivouac under the downpour in the fields. A few found abandoned buildings. There were no comforts and precious little ammunition, food, fuel or medical supplies. Some
10,000 refugees from Burma were already gathered at Imphal. Just one brigade from India was holding the Assam front, so large numbers of the men coming out of Burma had to stay on to defend Imphal.
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