I ordered this film: [14TH ARMY BREAKS JAPANESE COUNTERSTROKE IN THE ARAKAN: BATTLE OF THE ADMIN BOX] [Allocated] | Imperial War Museums from the IWM. It arrived yesterday! So exciting. I am amazed at how clear some of the footage is. Hurrah 35mm film! Of course mine is on dvd and has a little logo in the right hand corner, but some of it is really amazing. It contains footage of the Admin Box, and some footage of after the atrocities there. It also has some grave markers. At one point in my grandfather's letters he mentioned that he was having to dig graves and mused about a calculation for the right depth for corpse size and that it was probably in an RAMC manual somewhere. There are a few docs in the film which was what I was hoping for. There is one guy on it, a doctor, that looks like my grandfather but will have to check with my dad to see what he thinks. There are quite a few close ups of people's faces, prisoners & soldiers. I don't really understand all of the locations in the film. Would the Admin box have had more than tent structures? it looks like there are some actual buildings in there as well -rather large ones. I wish I could post it. I signed a doohicky that said I'd not make copies. I wonder if stills would matter. One thing that struck me is how awkward some of the soldiers movements are -which make it so real and vulnerable - not Hollywood slow motion, or superhuman soldiers with slick precise combat moves while running with CGI effects. They run like they have real fear, and the terrain is difficult. One soldier looks like he's barely out of puberty, his skin is so smooth looking and he is just so young and baby faced! IWM has an audio recording and some private papers that I think I will try to order in the next while.
... I signed a doohicky that said I'd not make copies. I wonder if stills would matter... I would enquire first but probably the same doohicky... They sell stills from the footage they have of a variety of items but a screen-shot...? It is not unusual to see people post screen-shots from films or tv or some-such...
Good for you zeezee. There wasn't any buildings on the site of the Admin Box, least as far I know. Village of Sinzweya was little to the north of the site of the box but it wasn't part of it.
zeezee, I signed a doohicky that said I'd not make copies. I wonder if stills would matter. I would be careful what you decide to show after all they do have you number. Still there are brave folk who are willing to put up decent quality videos of so-called copyright material. After almost seventy years my attitude is this is ours, we have a right to it, give it to us now in high quality - it's our heritage! Being more of visual person than a word one I'm a bit radical in that regard. Regards ...
Cee - I agree in principal but I might like to get more from them, so I don't want to have them refuse. And as for visuals, yes, me too. There are so many angles and perspectives in this footage - so many stunning visuals. There is one tree that is dead and broken leaning over that is in many shots, it's an amazing metaphor. Other amazing shots - a soldier looks right into the camera and doesn't smile, just stares intensely. If I'm remembering it right, he's beside someone with a mortar shooting thing. (sorry i am lacking military terminology) I can come up with a few narratives of what he's thinking, and he's not happy to be there. Other moments of compassion with doctors attending to prisoners wounds, possibly these are the people who killed many of their friends. Amazingly, unlike what we see on tv with guards/police escorting prisoners, there is no shoving, there doesn't even seem to be any sideways scowling at them nor disdain. If I have a chance this week I'll email them and ask if I can post a couple of stills for identification & clarification purposes. I could possibly share it on vimeo and password it, well I will look into ways that it could be done without violation. They are probably worried about lost revenues if it's out there. Sol, I think they must have also given me footage of the surrounding area then, because there is a huge white building, and many other buildings that look like they are made of materials other than canvas. I could be wrong though, I'd love to post a still or two (or three, or four) for discussion! There are a lot of interesting shots in it. It does seem a shame to not be able to share it.
zeezee, Sounds like great footage and forgive my rant I do get carried away sometimes ... You are quite right to be cautious.
oh yeah meant to ask - the film has barefoot warriors stealthily creeping through the jungle with spears! who would they be? Indigenous Burmese? And has anyone here ever made the trek to Burma?
oh yeah meant to ask - the film has barefoot warriors stealthily creeping through the jungle with spears! who would they be? Indigenous Burmese? And has anyone here ever made the trek to Burma? Hi Zeezee, I got out to Burma in 2008. Brilliant trip even with some political constraints on us. We got to Myitkhina, Mandalay, Rangoon, Maymyo plus areas of Chindit interest, places like, White City, Blackpool, Nankan and Mogaung. Been into the Irrawaddy river too. The trip didn't take in the Arakan I'm afraid. As the political situation evolves I think we may all be able to dig a little deeper, although the Burmese themselves however gentle and curious, have no real interest in the war or the effect it had on their country. It is simply not part of their psyche. Steve
The closest I've been is a piece of bamboo from Namkwin station (courtesy of Bamboo43, of course... ), which is adjacent to the site of "Blackpool"...
Bamboo43 - That's awesome! I would really like to follow my grandfather's route to Burma, but some of the places seem tricky - like Abottabad. But even to go to Burma would be great. One of my friends went to the TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY to take a photo of my grandfather's grave while he was travelling around that area. It was awhile back. He vaguely made some reference about the difficulty for getting files out easily. Nobody in my family has ever been to his grave. I'd love to take my dad there and also to the Admin Box. And possibly elsewhere once we get his service record. Actually, my dad got a letter from the MOD and they said it will take between 9 and 12 months for his record. I'm surprised they even told him how long - I haven't heard of that before. Would you say that it is any more difficult for women (I have no idea what gender anyone is on here) to travel around in Burma? I guess I am asking about cultural differences, which might make it harder for a woman to move around like there would be in Abottabad if I tried to go there. I looked at a bunch of cities in Pakistan that my grandfather went to in google earth street view, and there are no women in the streets that I could see. And what was the travelling terrain like in Burma - in terms of ease or difficulty? It's great to be able to talk to someone who has been there - my friend only went to the CWGC gravesite. Hebridean Chindit - do you think you'll ever go?
zeezee, For a woman's viewpoint on traveling in Burma you might enjoy Emma Larkin's Finding George Orwell in Burma. It is partially a travelogue so you do get a strong sense of place and people, although I'm sure much has changed in the country since that book was first published in 2005 (?).
Bamboo43 - That's awesome! I would really like to follow my grandfather's route to Burma, but some of the places seem tricky - like Abottabad. But even to go to Burma would be great. One of my friends went to the TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY to take a photo of my grandfather's grave while he was travelling around that area. It was awhile back. He vaguely made some reference about the difficulty for getting files out easily. Nobody in my family has ever been to his grave. I'd love to take my dad there and also to the Admin Box. And possibly elsewhere once we get his service record. Actually, my dad got a letter from the MOD and they said it will take between 9 and 12 months for his record. I'm surprised they even told him how long - I haven't heard of that before. Would you say that it is any more difficult for women (I have no idea what gender anyone is on here) to travel around in Burma? I guess I am asking about cultural differences, which might make it harder for a woman to move around like there would be in Abottabad if I tried to go there. I looked at a bunch of cities in Pakistan that my grandfather went to in google earth street view, and there are no women in the streets that I could see. And what was the travelling terrain like in Burma - in terms of ease or difficulty? It's great to be able to talk to someone who has been there - my friend only went to the CWGC gravesite. Hebridean Chindit - do you think you'll ever go? Hi Zeezee, We were in a mixed group of all ages including some veterans in their late 80's. The people of Burma were very much the icing on the cake as far as I was concerned, gentle, courteous and curious of their guests. In Myitkhina and Mogaung we were very warmly welcomed as we slept on our train in Mogaung station, the whole town came out to see us. I wouldn't say gender comes into the equation in Burma, certainly not my experience anyhow. When I get the opportunity I will post some photos of the trip, the more social images rather than scenery etc. The terrain: there are very few main roads outside of the major cities. The rivers and the single track railway are still the main arteries in Burma, just as they were in WW2. Steve
... Hebridean Chindit - do you think you'll ever go? In all honesty it is unlikely I will have the finances to spare in the near future, but who knows... I'd certainly like to... I've recently got access to some better quality maps of the area, and as I have a variety of map references in the diaries I could work out quite an itinenary, but there would have to be significant changes in Mayanmar before it could be put into action, with or without the cash...
In all honesty it is unlikely I will have the finances to spare in the near future, but who knows... I'd certainly like to... I've recently got access to some better quality maps of the area, and as I have a variety of map references in the diaries I could work out quite an itinenary, but there would have to be significant changes in Mayanmar before it could be put into action, with or without the cash... I would love to go back soon, but as HC says, to do what I would really like, political changes would be necessary. My dream would be to walk the 5 column (1943) dispersal from Hintha to the Chindwin eastern bank. Although my Grandad went the other way toward Bhamo and the Chinese Yunnan borders, this route would be almost impossible.
Cee - thanks for the book recommendation. I'll take it out of my public library, as they have a few copies! HC & B43 - It would seem that I have a lot more poking around to do in order to assess whether a trip would be possible or not and what it will involve. Certainly many locations my grandfather were in, probably won't be accessible any time soon. And of course, the cash to do a trip will need to be acquired ;o) oh and B43, I'd love to see pictures when you get some time to post them! I looked into the copyright of the film, it would seem that I might be able to post some stills if they are not for commercial purposes. Unfortunately, I am a little slow to do anything these days as I threw a cup of coffee on my laptop, and now am using an older craptop while it's in the shop. Amazingly, none of it hit the motherboard but the superdrive/dvd is pooched. when i get it back - I'll try to post some stills.
Zeezee, Here are some random images from my trip to Burma in March 2008, as I said the people were fantastic and made the trip even more special: Village of Namkwin where my sister became a great hit with kids. Four novice monks in Rangoon. The landscape of Mogaung. Mogaung railstation on our arrival, the whole town came out to greet us. Work on the shores of the Irrawaddy. Socializing in Myitkhina. The Train! We spent 3 days on this beauty, taking us from Myitkhina to Mandalay including several of the Chindit sites of interest. Myitkhina high street, which is in effect the famous airfield runway of Merrills Marauders/Stilwell fame. Hope you enjoy.
The train... is that Namkwin...? Hi Mate, Thanks for other file by the way, no Mogaung once more I'm afraid. We spent the night there and then moved on to 'Blackpool' the next morning.
Great photos! The river photo is stunning! Cool runway photo too. Thanks for sharing. Did the whole town know you were coming? Just wondering how rare it is for people from elsewhere to be travelling around.
