6th Bn The Loyals >> 2nd Recce Regt

Immediate.

At Ngazun

On the 8th March 1945 Sergeant Rothwell was a Section Commander in a Carrier Troop commanded by Lieutenant Sutton. This troop was ordered to attack and penetrate known enemy positions, with a view to establishing their strength, and to bring back enemy identifications if possible.

At 0830hrs the patrol met and destroyed an outpost of two men on their first bound, and at once came under heavy mortar and sheel fire, which was kept up uncreasingly until the conclusion of the action over an hour later. After a pause on the first bound, Sergeant Rothwell's section was ordered to advance to the next feature, which, it is now known, was held by atleast an enemy company. On seeing them approach the enemy opened up with LMGs, rifles, and grenade dischargers. Sergeant Rothwell with great coolness stood up in his carrier to control his section and personally directed the return fire, which caused the enemy several casualties. He then drove his own carrier right into the enemy position and engaged them at close quarters with grenades. During this time he wiped out an LMG post, consisting of an officer and two men, and halted the carrier alongside the trench whilst one of his crew got out and recovered the LMG and a satchel of documents carried by the jap officer, both of which were brought back to our own lines.

Not satisfied with this, he attacked another foxhole, killing one occupant and wounding the other with a grenade, and dismounting himself, despite very heavy fire directed against his carrier, he dragged the second jap out of the foxhole and hoisted him onto the front of the carrier in an attempt to bring him back alive. Unfortunately, whilst withdrawing from the position, the prisoner commenced to struggle and, falling off the carrier, was run over by one of it's tracks. Meanwhile, Sergeant Rothwell was called upon to assist his Troop Commander, who, with the second section, was also heavily enegaged with the enemy. Rallying his section, which was still being shelled and mortared, he supported the other section's withdrawal before finally disengaging himself.

Sergeant Rothwell's brilliant leadership and the example he set of aggressiveness and complete disregard for his own safety undoubtedly contributed more than anything else to the successful completion of the patrol, which obtained all the information required about the enemy positions, inflicted atleast 12 casualties, and captured a LMG and documents all without loss to themselves.

Gazetted 12.7.45

 

Animated battle map in PowerPoint here:
http://www.the-art-of-battle.350.com/Battle_of_Kohima-Imphal_2XV.ppt

Some units on this map are misplaced, like position of 15. Japanese Division and latter position of 50th Parachute Brigade. Also "Yamamoto Force" isn't shown on map.

 

Re the 6th Loyals. If you don't already know this,perhaps you may find it interesting.At more or less at the same time, early 1941 the 5th Loyals [TA] based in Bolton,Lancs were also changed,to form the 18th Recce. This unit had the misfortune to arrive at Singapore at the end of the fighting,in fact their ship was sunk on the way in to Singapore.Those not killed in the last action's that took place ended up as pow's for over three years. Many men of the 18th Recce came from Bolton, and i got to know some of them,what a great set they were too. As fate goes the 18th got the wrong end of the stick.


Best regards oldloyal