Deep Behind Enemy Lines, page 36
Beginnings
(The following extracts are researched from official World War II records)
The Chindits were the creation of British Brigadier (later promoted to Major General) Orde Charles Wingate, serving under General Archibald Wavell, the Supreme Commander of the Far Eastern Forces Theatre - an active military area in India.
The Chindits mainly penetrated deep behind Japanese lines, and their operations were marked by prolonged marches through extremely difficult terrain. A continuing controversy regarding this force centred on its extremely high casualty rate and the debatable military value of its achievements.
Burma
The Chindits and the first long-range jungle penetration mission
In March 1942, on his arrival in the Far East, Wingate was promoted to Colonel by General Wavell, and ordered to organize guerrilla units to fight behind Japanese lines. Wingate began to promote his ideas for medium and long-range jungle penetration units and, intrigued by his theories, Wavell gave his consent to Operation Longcloth, which has gone down in the annals of WWII history as one of the most successful operations in the Far East theatre.
The original plan was that the long-range penetration group would participate in an offensive into northern Burma. Wingate proposed that this group should proceed with the operation alone, giving it vital experience of such jungle operations, testing the Japanese and disrupting the planned offensives. General Wavell gave his consent to newly promoted Brigadier Orde Charles Wingate for Operation Longcloth, and the intelligence department at MOD undertook responsibility for liaising and monitoring its progress. The activity was to commence with immediate effect and the Chindits were ordered into Burma.
Wingate’s orders included regular reports via the usual secure channels. He set out on 12th February 1943 with 3,000 Chindits, organized into eight separate columns, to cross the Chindwin River - a difficult and dangerous activity due to the potential presence of the enemy and the very fast flowing river. They entered Burma towards the end of the month, and initial success resulted in putting one of the main railways out of action by placing explosives on the line thereby preventing the Japanese getting important supplies to their troops. Afterwards, Wingate led his force deeper into Burma and then over the Irrawaddy River - another demanding activity which included a pack of mules which had been de-voiced because the braying of the animals, which was often the case, made it necessary to ensure the operations were completely silent and covert.
Post-battle analysis
At the MOD, the Chindits and their exploits were viewed as a success after a long string of allied disasters in the Far Eastern theatre. Winston Churchill, an ardent proponent of commando operations, was particularly complimentary toward the Chindits and their accomplishments.
Over the next two years the Chindits destroyed Japanese roads, railways, bridges and convoys. Once again, the Chindits suffered heavy losses, including Wingate who was killed when his plane crashed into a hillside near Imphal in Burma during a storm on 14th March 1944.
Acknowledgements
I am indebted to Sarah Palmer who has been the perfect editor to me as a new and still learning author. She has taught me a lot, supported and encouraged me and kept me on the straight and narrow in all aspects of creating and writing this novel. I couldn’t have done it without her guidance. My thanks also go to the literary professionals and advisors for their general help in getting this manuscript into shape and publication, together with their constructive input and comments, and finally to my family and friends for their continuing encouragement, support and reviews along this journey. You all have my sincere gratitude.
Epilogue
Shifta War, Kenya (1963 to 1967)
Kahlid al Gurreh went to trial on February 24th, 1964 he was found guilty of heading the terrorist group of Shifta insurgents and of perpetrating atrocities for more than two years. He was sentenced to hang; due process was carried out and he was executed on the 10th March 1964.
The Borneo Confrontation (1963 to 1966) Konfrontasi
The conflict eased in 1965 following internal political struggle in Indonesia. On 1 October 1965, several top army generals were kidnapped and murdered in an attempted coup purportedly carried out by the Partai Komunis Indonesia (PKI) or the Indonesian Communist Party. The coup attempt was quickly crushed on the same day by the Indonesian army led by General Suharto. President Sukarno was subsequently discredited because of his alleged association with the PKI, and he relinquished power to Suharto in March 1966. This marked the end of Konfrontasi, although the policy was not formally abandoned until 12 August 1966 when Indonesia signed a peace treaty with Malaysia.
E J Caldwell, Deep Behind Enemy Lines
