This N.C.O. was attached to the Brigade Commander's party, and
worked under Major AUNG THIN throughout the campaign of 77th
Brigade in Spring 1943.
After Subadar BA LA SEIN had become separated from the party, the
duty of entering villages first, carrying out foraging, and
preceding the Brigade Commander's party on the tracks, invariably
fell to Havildar LIAN NAWN.
Under these circumstances he showed courage and devotion to duty. In
particular, when his party was at its lowest ebb and had reached the
east bank of the Chindwin to find the Japanese in possession, and
failed to make contact with the boats which had been arranged, this
N.C.O. volunteered to enter a village occupied by unfriendly
natives, and to arrange with them boats for the party. He stuck to
his post in spite of the fact that an Indian Officer going to visit
him there was killed.The arrival of the Japanese shortly
afterwards prevented him from contacting his party, which was
successfully withdrawn across the Chindwin without him. He was
believed killed, and found means in his possession to save himself
by turning dacoit, or returning to his home in Burma, which he could
not have been blamed for doing. Instead, he turned all his energies
to the problem of regaining British territory, and some weeks
afterwards succeeded in doing so.
The gallantry and hardihood of this N.C.O. are beyond praise. The
circumstances under which they were displayed were such as to try
the staunchness of the stoutest hearted.
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