WORLD WAR IIBURMA’S MILITARY ELEPHANTS, BIGGEST SOLDIERS ON EARTH
Googles overview in Safari “Elephants were crucial for both Allied & Japanese forces in the dense, mountainous, jungles of Burma during WW11 (1941-1945)—acting as invaluable transport, engineers, & supply haulers where trucks would fail. They built bridges, cleared roads, & transported heavy weapons, notably serving in the Special British-led company under “Elephant Bill Williams” (aka L.Col.J.H. Williams OBE.
BUILDING BRIDGES
Two of Bill’s Elephants and their Mahouts construct a sturdy bridge. They could complete the task much faster than could a Platoon of human troops.
Elephants meet bulldozers, but note: Jumbos had advantages over the machines.
1. They could move silently through the jungle.
2. They fuel themselves on local plants that they select & which meet their dietary needs. They require no food supplies from outside, nor noisy, evil smelling fuel
whose importation can draw the attention of the enemy.
3. The Mahouts only work the elephants in the morning & allow them to feed & socialise in the afternoon & all night. This policy makes for a happy well adjusted work force.
FAR EAST DUNKIRK
In June 1942 tea planter Gyles Mackerell organised the evacuation of hundreds of refugees from Burma into India. “There was only one way Mackerell could save those whose flight from the enemy was blocked by Monsoon- swollen rivers at the border.
By ELEPHANT. “
Mackerell had access to Elephants through his work tea planting, & hearing of the peril,
moved off quickly to the rescue. These photos by Mackrell in 1942 shows Elephants crossing the Dapha river to rescue Britons & Indians fleeing the Japanese Invasion.
(In 1919 Mackell had previously been awarded the DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) for his service in World War 1)
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