Does anyone have a really good plan of the dispositions at Sangshak? Looking through some old photos of a visit to the battlefield there in 2013 and trying to relate the narrative of the battle to the ground.
Just going through the National Archives catalogue looking for medals awarded for Sangshak and there seem to be very few considering the nature of the defence and its pivotal role in holding up the Japanese invasion. Have others come across any?
Major Ernest Hockings, 9th Jat Regiment, attached 152nd Indian Parachute Battalion, killed in action at the battle of Sangshak, near Kohima India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1937-39 (2-Lt., U.L., I.A.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; India Service Medal; War Medal, together with his original cloth Parachute wings and India Para Bn. patch, good very fine (5) Sold for £450 in 1996. Footnote Lieutenant (Temp. Capt.) (Actg. Major) Ernest Hockings was killed in action at the bloody battle of Sangshak on 26 March 1944. The Naga village of Sangshak occupied a key hilltop position commanding the approach tracks to both Imphal and Kohima. The 152nd (Indian) Para Bn, part of the 50th Para Brigade, were ordered to concentrate at Sangshak, with the objective of delaying the advance of two Japanese Divisions, whilst emergency action was taken to reinforce the Garrisons at Imphal and Kohima. Covered by their Gurkha comrades of 153 Para Bn, they completed their move into the Sangshak position on 20 March, and immediately one of the most ferocious battles of the Burma campaign commenced, and raged on for the next six days, non-stop by day and by night. By the 26th March casualties had mounted to 600 including 40 officers killed, with many more wounded. From the start of the battle it was taken for granted by all ranks that neither side would consider surrender or retreat. A message was received from the Commander at HQ 23rd Division, ordering the remainder of the Brigade to “fight its way out”, an impossible task in the face of the odds now facing them. Instead a stealthy withdrawal took place on the night of the 26th, and in the early hours of the 27th March the Japanese, thoroughly refreshed by a Dakota air drop that had fallen into their hands, mounted a massive attack and found to their utter amazement that ‘the bird had flown’. At the time, the importance of the battle at Sangshak was not fully realised, but during that vital week, with the main thrust of the Japanese two Divisional attack held at bay, Imphal and Kohima had both been substantially reinforced. The Brigade’s mission was therefore completed, but at great expense.
A scarce Second War 1944 Burma operations M.C. and Second Award Bar group of five attributed to Major H. R. R. Steele, 5th Maharatta Light Infantry, late Reconnaissance Corps, for gallantry as a company commander at Sangshak, 22 March 1944, and for repeated gallantry and leadership during an abortive attempt at taking a hill position on the Imphal - Tamu Road, before rallying his men to fight an orderly withdrawal against overwhelming numbers Military Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1944’, with Second Award Bar, reverse officially dated ‘1944’, and reverse of cross additionally engraved ‘Capt. H. R. R. Steele 5th Mahratta L.I.’; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted court-style, with related mounted miniature awards, all housed in a Spink & Son leather case, generally good very fine. Footnote Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, April 2006. M.C. London Gazette 27 July 1944. The Recommendation states: ‘At Sangshak on 22 March 1944 this officer was in command of a Company. In the morning he was ordered to move out and lay on an ambush for the enemy who could be seen moving up in the direction of Finchs Corner. He carried out this task at short notice with considerable success and returned to Sangshak by 1700hrs. At this juncture the enemy started to move up to the West end of the Sangshak ridge and by sniping and mobile machine gun fire was seriously harassing our troops moving into the Sangshak box from the Sheldons Corner area. Captain Steele was ordered to attack and hold the enemy position till our troops were all in. He led his Company into the attack with great speed and dash and his orders and bearing were a model of brevity and coolness. He held the position against fierce enemy attacks till ordered to withdraw and carried out the withdrawal with his tired troops in a most cool and exemplary manner. The successful withdrawal of troops into the box was almost entirely due to his courage resolution and the quickness with which he carried out his orders.’ M.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 16 November 1944. The Recommendation states: ‘On 26th July 1944, 4 Mahrattas had been given the task of establishing a road block at about milestone 61 on the Imphal - Tamu Rd. The leading Company made good the actual road itself while “D” Company, commanded by Major H. R. R. Steele, was given the task of taking a hill immediately to the South of the road which commanded the area where the road block was to be established. As Major Steele advanced he left one section to picquet a minor feature on his left flank to protect him as he advanced. At this time except for about 20 men who had been killed wounded or put to flight by the leading Company no enemy were to be seen. The Company, only 50 strong, advanced in open order up the hill which was covered in long grass which after some 100 yards merged into jungle. After advancing some 300 yards up the hill the Company was suddenly fired on by the enemy from well dug-in positions from very short range and the leading sections were thrown into some confusion. Major Steele re-organised his Company and attacked the enemy. The position was held by about 50 - 60 of the enemy and the approaches were covered by cross light machine gun fire. The attack failed to drive the enemy out. Another Company, “A” Company, had been sent round the right flank to assist “D” Company in taking the position. Before this attack came in, the enemy counter attacked “D” Company from the left flank in considerable strength with fresh troops from other positions on the top of feature. Major Steele again re-organised his Company and held off the enemy while “A” Company withdrew through him and successfully evacuated all his wounded several of whom were stretcher cases. The enemy by this time had killed or wounded the entire section picquet on his left flank and had worked round behind him. They had been re-inforced both from the direction of Lokchao by some 100 men and also by troops from the direction of Tamu. Having seen “A” Company through and evacuated his wounded Major Steele successfully withdrew his Company behind the next covering Company. Within 5 minutes after his rear section reached the Battalion boxed position Major Steele reported his Company was ready for action and he took over the perimeter. While digging-in in this position his Company was subjected to continual sniping, mortaring and light machine gun fire. Seeing his men were rather shaken by the heavy fire Major Steele moved from one Platoon to another encouraging his men. During this period he must have been a very conspicuous target owing to his completely different build and stature from the men. During a subsequent withdrawal to a hill some 300 yards away from the above mentioned position, Major Steele with his Company again covered the Battalion out and for over an hour held off the enemy who were now within 150 yards of his forward troops. During this period the Company was subject to medium machine gun, mortar, and light machine gun fire as well as being sniped and the enemy on his immediate front were over a hundred strong. Throughout this action, as the only Company Commander (with any experience) left in the Battalion, Major Steele was called upon to do much that would normally have been shared by other Companies and Company Commanders. His courage and example had a very heartening effect not only to his own Company but to others around him.’ Harmer Richmond Rae Steele was born in Madras on 25 March 1921 and was educated at King’s School, Canterbury. After the outbreak of war he was commissioned into the Reconnaissance Corps, later transferring to the 5th Mahratta Light Infantry. After the war, Steele read Agriculture and Estate Management at King’s College, Cambridge and in 1949 joined the Bombay Burmah Corporation. Major Steele died on 13 January 1999. Sold with newspaper cuttings - announcing his death and his obituary, together with copied research details. 18th July 2018-Sold for £800.
Looking into list of medal receivers from Burma, there is several members from 152nd and 153rd Parachute Battalions and 4/5th Mahratta Light Infantry. If you want I can try to find their recommendations post it here.
Hi Sol have found these (and some from the Maharattas). Be interested in any others you can find in Discovery
Lt. Col. Dr. Robert Brocklesby Davis, commander of the 80th Indian Field Ambulance Distinguished Service Order
Many thanks Sol.....and Bamboo. Not sure why my searches in Discovery did not throw these up. I have also been trying to put together a Casualty List in Excel from CWGC downloads which is proving challenging at the margins. A number who I believe may have been casualties at Sangshak are not shown as part of 50th Para Brigade or its constituent units. For instance there is no Major John Ball who is mentioned in a number of accounts as being i/c 50 Para Bde MG Company but there is a Major Ball given as in 5/15 Punjab Regt in the CWGC data.
