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The Award of American Silver Stars to 77th Brigade Chindits
U.S. General Joseph Stilwell
On the 17th May 1944, Special Force was placed under the direct command of U.S. General Joseph W. Stilwell. [1]
Chinese divisions under Stilwell were advancing down the Ledo road into the Hukawng Valley of north Burma. Their mission was to expel the Japanese so that a land supply route from India to China could be opened. The Americans were keen to help keep the Chinese fighting so as to tie up the Japanese forces in China, thus preventing them being diverted to the Pacific to fight against U.S. forces.
© Crown Copyright Imperial War Museum (Ref CBI 27425)
Capture of Mogaung by Brig Calvert's 77th Brigade
Following orders from Stilwell on 17th May, Brig Calvert sent his 3/6 Gurkha Rifles battalion as a reconnaissance force to gain information on enemy strength and disposition in the Mogaung area. [1]
On the 28th May, Calvert received further orders to attack Mogaung in strength. Stilwell was planning to attack Myitkyina and one reason he ordered the attack on Mogaung was so that the Japanese there could not be deployed as reinforcments for Myitkyina.[1][2]
Mogaung fell on the night of 25th June, after 16 days of continuous assault by 3 battalions from South Staffs., Lancashire Fusiliers, Gurkha Rifles, a company from King's and Bridge HQ Defence Coy. They suffered casulaties of 255 killed and 511 wounded. [2][3]
Stilwell had sent a Chinese force to support Calvert, their advance to Mogaung was impeded and did not arrive until 19th June.[2]
Silver Star Awards
By now, Clavert's 77th Brigade was spent, having spent 4 months in the jungle and losing a large portion of his force through battle casualties and illness. The brigade was in no fit state for further action. Further orders were ignored by Calvert.
Clavert was then summoned by Stilwell. Fearing a possible court martial, Calvert briefed Stilwell of the Brigade's time in Burma, from the fly-in to the capture of Mogaung. Stilwell had not been aware of what they had been through and congratulated him for the great job they had done. He then asked for the names of five officers for the awards of the Silver Star. Calvert wrote out five citations but Stilwell rejected one of them as some of the actions occurred before Stilwell's command. Stilwell instead gave the award to Calvert. [4]
Foreign Military Awards To British
The acceptance of a foreign military award required His Majesty the King's permission.
Army H.Q. in India submitted 6 names to The War Office seeking approval for the awards of the Silver Star for gallantry in the capture of Mogaung.
- Brig James Michael Calvert DSO, Royal Engineers
- Lt Jack Eugene David Wilcox, 1st Bn, South Staffordshire
- Jem Riki Ramiale, 3rd Bn, 6th Gurkha Rifles
- Hav Top Bahadur Rana, 3rd Bn, 6th Gurkha Rifles
- L/Cpl W. Wedgewood, 1st Bn, Lancashire Fusilliers
- Nk Balbir Pun, 3rd Bn, 6th Gurkha Rifles
The awards to Rana and Wedgewood were not granted for the reason of 'Double-Medalling'. Both men had already been given British awards for the same actions, the IDSM for Hav Top Bahadur Rana and the MM for L/Cpl W. Wedgewood. [5]
- Brig J.M.Calvert DSO
- Lt J.E.D. Wicox
- Jem Riki Ramiale
- Brig J.M.Calvert DSO
- Lt J.E.D. Wicox
- Jem Riki Ramiale
- Hav Top Bahadur Rana
- L/Cpl W. Wedgewood
- Nk Balbir Pun
Naik Balbir Pun's Silver Star Citation
[5]On 23rd June 1944, after the capture of the MOGAUNG railway bridge and the railway station the Bde Defence Coy were moved over the railway line and formed a bridgehead some three hundred yards deep on the west side of the line in the outskirts of MOGAUNG. They were held up by strong enemy fire from the area of a large red house and a large lone tree about a hundred yards to the right of this house. At 1000 hours on 24th June the Coy was ordered to attack and capture these two positions. Nk BALBIR PUN's section was the right hand section of the Coy with its objective the large tree area. With complete disregard for his own safety and with great courage, this NCO personally led his section under heavy automatic fire with such dash that the Japanese were evicted from this position leaving many dead and great quantities of hand grenades and small arms ammunition and a light machine gun behind. Nk BALBIR PUN with great quickness of mind, immediately called for flame throwers which destroyed the large quantity of ammunition left behind by the enemy.
On 25th June the Coy was ordered into MOGAUNG. Nk BALBIR PUN's section was again the leading section of the right hand platoon. After they had advanced about a hundred yards across open grass land they came under terrific automatic fire from a strong enemy position occupied by thirty Japanese about 70 yards to their right front. Three men were killed and four wounded and the section was pinned to the ground and were quite unable to advance. On receipt of orders to withdraw from his Coy Comd, this NCO under withering fire personally organised the evacuation of his dead and wounded and only when this had been done successfully did he withdraw his section, himself being the last to leave. His coolness under fire and his great personal courage were an inspiration to all ranks.
References and Sources
1. Maj Gen Woodburn Kirkby et al, The War Against Japan, Volume III
2. The National Archives; CAB 106/203, Report on Operations of 77th. Indian Infantry Brigade in Burma, 1944 by Brigadier J. M. Calvert.
3. Brig Shelford Bidwell, The Chindit War, The Campaign in Burma 1944
4. Brig Michael Calvert, Prisoners of Hope
5. The National Archives; WO 373/147 Foreign Awards To British: From USA, 1942-1947
6. The London Gazette, Issues 36704 19-Sep-1944 and 36907 25-Jan-1945