145:
112:
133:
88:
99:
1092:
17th
Division slowly withdrew towards the bridge over the Sittang River. But it was outflanked by the Japanese who reached the area of the bridge and forced its demolition. The bulk of 17th Division was caught on the wrong side of the Sittang. While most of the men were able to eventually cross the
1077:
17th
Division held at the Bilin River for two days of close-quarters jungle fighting. The Japanese tactics were to outflank, and eventually with encirclement imminent, Hutton came up from Rangoon and gave Smyth permission to fall back. 17th Division disengaged under cover of darkness and began a
1069:, and attacked British forces at Kuzeik, on the opposite bank. After a few hours of fierce fighting, the Japanese overran the British defences. The town of Bilin lay along the bank of the Bilin River to the north-west of Kuzeik, with no major water-bodies in between.
1017:
The 17th
Division gave everything it had at Bilin and surrendered no ground to the Japanese; but, as the pressure increased, every single reserve had to be thrown into the battle—and even then we could not prevent strong parties of the enemy turning our flanks.
984:
of the
British Indian Army at Bilin River—said the Bilin River "at that time of year was only a ditch, but a good co-ordinating line". 17th Division was, at that time, a new formation that had yet to see its first battle.
1043:
The
British Indian Army held out for two days of fierce fighting, and then got away on a river steamer. In the process, they lost about 600 soldiers and a significant amount of materiel.
1036:. Taking the town would give them another airfield, but it was hard for the Indians to defend. It was also a difficult place from which to retreat, because there was no bridge over the
1280:
1270:
863:
191:
778:
450:
385:
834:
623:
846:
359:
1000:(which escaped by sea). In the process, they captured three small airfields, giving them close air support. They then advanced towards
695:
545:
839:
734:
659:
586:
184:
29:
1226:
1029:
593:
506:
472:
443:
749:
707:
540:
1058:). In what Smyth called a "disastrous decision", and perhaps influenced by his own orders from higher up, Hutton refused.
1265:
851:
516:
240:
177:
511:
1217:
1209:
1201:
1193:
1188:. Citations from the Four Square Books 1958 edition which lacks an ISBN, but also available from NY: Buccaneer Books
1175:
262:
436:
1054:
to speak with the Army
Commander, General Hutton, and ask for permission to move to behind the Sittang River (now
761:
380:
286:
981:
688:
678:
373:
279:
1285:
878:
603:
918:
628:
533:
484:
977:
967:
783:
137:
873:
702:
673:
557:
417:
335:
213:
773:
1007:
Smyth wanted to withdraw immediately to better defensive terrain, but he was ordered to "stay put".
1087:
971:
938:
719:
579:
412:
225:
904:
724:
400:
395:
315:
1275:
768:
479:
267:
923:
683:
526:
303:
272:
868:
856:
744:
550:
366:
8:
1047:
739:
613:
330:
1163:
897:
890:
829:
819:
793:
645:
567:
390:
347:
235:
1213:
1205:
1197:
1189:
1171:
930:
883:
788:
633:
618:
562:
405:
352:
255:
245:
149:
1037:
824:
652:
638:
608:
521:
501:
340:
325:
250:
963:
754:
729:
598:
144:
117:
962:. Fought between 14 and 19 February 1942, the battle was a tactical victory for
1055:
955:
812:
666:
574:
496:
320:
230:
201:
132:
92:
87:
25:
1259:
1241:
1228:
1062:
310:
103:
1181:
970:, and it led to a decisive victory for Japan immediately afterwards at the
959:
803:
798:
712:
37:
1078:
30-mile (48 km) retreat along the dusty track to the
Sittang Bridge.
1061:
Under the cover of night of 11–12 February, the
Japanese Army crossed the
1033:
489:
460:
98:
33:
1001:
988:
The
Japanese 112th Battalion of the Southern Army entered Burma (now
912:
296:
291:
989:
169:
1066:
1051:
997:
428:
993:
60:
1281:
Land battles of World War II involving the United
Kingdom
1271:
Battles and operations of World War II involving India
1140:. Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Military. pp. 48–50.
1093:
river, almost all of their equipment had been lost.
1257:
996:) on 19 January, cutting off the garrison at
444:
360:Northern Burma and Western Yunnan (1943–1945)
185:
1122:
1120:
1110:
1108:
1106:
451:
437:
192:
178:
1040:; any retreat would need to be by ferry.
954:was among the early major battles of the
30:South-East Asian theatre of World War II
1117:
1103:
108:
1258:
1135:
1023:—Brigadier Sir John George Smyth, V.C.
992:) on 15 January. They took Tavoy (now
214:Japanese invasion of Burma (1941–1942)
978:Brigadier Sir John George Smyth, V.C.
432:
173:
51:14 February 1942 – 19 February 1942
13:
199:
14:
1297:
1168:History of the Second World War.
143:
131:
110:
97:
86:
458:
1144:
1129:
1:
1170:New York: G.P. Putnam, 1970.
1096:
1072:
1081:
1028:On 26 January, the Japanese
905:Manchuria and Northern Korea
7:
703:Dutch East Indies (1941–42)
660:Strategic bombing (1944–45)
10:
1302:
1266:Japanese invasion of Burma
1157:
1126:Liddell Hart 1970, p. 216.
1114:Liddell Hart 1970, p. 213.
1085:
1010:
852:Volcano and Ryukyu Islands
374:Burma campaign (1944–1945)
304:Burma campaign (1943–1944)
280:Burma campaign (1942–1943)
468:
209:
155:
124:
79:
43:
23:
18:
1088:Battle of Sittang Bridge
972:Battle of Sittang Bridge
939:Second Sino-Japanese War
779:Estevan Point Lighthouse
534:Indian Ocean (1941–1945)
485:Marshalls–Gilberts raids
1242:17.182429°N 97.246706°E
1138:Battle Tales from Burma
1048:Brigadier "Punch" Cowan
541:Japanese merchant raids
1196:, Cooper Square Press
1020:
982:17th Infantry Division
840:Hiroshima and Nagasaki
684:Burma and India (1944)
507:Gilberts and Marshalls
125:Commanders and leaders
1136:Randle, John (2004).
1015:
952:Battle of Bilin River
750:Philippines (1944–45)
708:Philippines (1941–42)
381:Meiktila and Mandalay
19:Battle of Bilin River
1286:February 1942 events
1247:17.182429; 97.246706
551:Homfreyganj massacre
1238: /
1186:Defeat Into Victory
968:British Indian Army
1204:; London: Cassell
1164:Liddell Hart, B.H.
898:Japanese surrender
864:Naval bombardments
794:Fire balloon bombs
517:Volcano and Ryukyu
512:Marianas and Palau
1150:Slim 1956, p. 17.
947:
946:
789:Lookout Air Raids
696:Southwest Pacific
426:
425:
241:Yunnan-Burma Road
168:
167:
75:
74:
1293:
1253:
1252:
1250:
1249:
1248:
1243:
1239:
1236:
1235:
1234:
1231:
1151:
1148:
1142:
1141:
1133:
1127:
1124:
1115:
1112:
1038:Gulf of Martaban
1024:
919:Manchuria (1945)
774:Aleutian Islands
624:Indochina (1945)
594:Indochina (1940)
580:2nd Indian Ocean
563:1st Indian Ocean
558:Christmas Island
463:
453:
446:
439:
430:
429:
204:
194:
187:
180:
171:
170:
148:
147:
136:
135:
120:
116:
114:
113:
102:
101:
91:
90:
71:Japanese victory
45:
44:
16:
15:
1301:
1300:
1296:
1295:
1294:
1292:
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1290:
1256:
1255:
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1160:
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1130:
1125:
1118:
1113:
1104:
1099:
1090:
1084:
1075:
1026:
1022:
1013:
980:—who commanded
948:
943:
935:
847:Mariana Islands
720:Solomon Islands
689:Burma (1944–45)
679:Burma (1942–43)
674:Burma (1941–42)
667:Burma and India
599:Franco-Thai War
546:Andaman Islands
473:Central Pacific
464:
459:
457:
427:
422:
205:
200:
198:
142:
130:
111:
109:
96:
95:
85:
63:
34:Pacific Theater
12:
11:
5:
1299:
1289:
1288:
1283:
1278:
1273:
1268:
1222:
1221:
1179:
1159:
1156:
1153:
1152:
1143:
1128:
1116:
1101:
1100:
1098:
1095:
1086:Main article:
1083:
1080:
1074:
1071:
1014:
1012:
1009:
956:Burma Campaign
945:
944:
934:
933:
928:
927:
926:
916:
908:
907:
901:
900:
895:
888:
887:
886:
876:
874:South Sakhalin
871:
866:
861:
854:
849:
844:
843:
842:
837:
832:
827:
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815:
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663:
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650:
643:
636:
631:
629:Malacca Strait
626:
621:
616:
611:
606:
601:
596:
590:
589:
587:Southeast Asia
583:
582:
577:
572:
571:
570:
560:
555:
554:
553:
543:
537:
536:
530:
529:
524:
519:
514:
509:
504:
499:
497:Doolittle Raid
494:
487:
482:
476:
475:
469:
466:
465:
456:
455:
448:
441:
433:
424:
423:
421:
420:
415:
413:Elephant Point
410:
403:
398:
393:
388:
383:
377:
376:
370:
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362:
356:
355:
350:
345:
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276:
275:
270:
265:
260:
259:
258:
253:
248:
238:
233:
228:
226:Sittang Bridge
223:
217:
216:
210:
207:
206:
202:Burma campaign
197:
196:
189:
182:
174:
166:
165:
162:
158:
157:
153:
152:
140:
138:Sir John Smyth
127:
126:
122:
121:
106:
93:British Empire
82:
81:
77:
76:
73:
72:
69:
65:
64:
59:
57:
53:
52:
49:
41:
40:
26:Burma campaign
21:
20:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1298:
1287:
1284:
1282:
1279:
1277:
1276:1942 in Burma
1274:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1264:
1263:
1261:
1254:
1251:
1219:
1218:0-330-39066-X
1215:
1211:
1210:0-304-29114-5
1207:
1203:
1202:0-8154-1022-0
1199:
1195:
1194:1-56849-077-1
1191:
1187:
1183:
1182:Slim, William
1180:
1177:
1176:0-306-80912-5
1173:
1169:
1165:
1162:
1161:
1147:
1139:
1132:
1123:
1121:
1111:
1109:
1107:
1102:
1094:
1089:
1079:
1070:
1068:
1064:
1063:Salween River
1059:
1057:
1053:
1049:
1044:
1041:
1039:
1035:
1031:
1030:55th Division
1025:
1019:
1008:
1005:
1003:
999:
995:
991:
986:
983:
979:
975:
973:
969:
965:
961:
957:
953:
942:
941:
940:
932:
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925:
922:
921:
920:
917:
915:
914:
910:
909:
906:
903:
902:
899:
896:
894:
893:
889:
885:
882:
881:
880:
879:Kuril Islands
877:
875:
872:
870:
867:
865:
862:
860:
859:
855:
853:
850:
848:
845:
841:
838:
836:
833:
831:
828:
826:
823:
822:
821:
818:
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814:
811:
810:
807:
806:
802:
800:
797:
795:
792:
790:
787:
785:
782:
780:
777:
775:
772:
770:
767:
766:
763:
762:North America
760:
759:
756:
755:Borneo (1945)
753:
751:
748:
746:
743:
741:
738:
736:
733:
731:
728:
726:
723:
721:
718:
716:
715:
711:
709:
706:
704:
701:
700:
697:
694:
693:
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677:
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668:
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664:
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637:
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632:
630:
627:
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622:
620:
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612:
610:
607:
605:
602:
600:
597:
595:
592:
591:
588:
585:
584:
581:
578:
576:
575:Bay of Bengal
573:
569:
566:
565:
564:
561:
559:
556:
552:
549:
548:
547:
544:
542:
539:
538:
535:
532:
531:
528:
525:
523:
520:
518:
515:
513:
510:
508:
505:
503:
500:
498:
495:
493:
492:
488:
486:
483:
481:
478:
477:
474:
471:
470:
467:
462:
454:
449:
447:
442:
440:
435:
434:
431:
419:
416:
414:
411:
409:
408:
404:
402:
401:Tanlwe Chaung
399:
397:
396:Ramree Island
394:
392:
389:
387:
384:
382:
379:
378:
375:
372:
371:
368:
365:
364:
361:
358:
357:
354:
351:
349:
346:
342:
339:
337:
334:
332:
329:
327:
324:
323:
322:
319:
317:
314:
312:
311:Chindits (II)
309:
308:
305:
302:
301:
298:
295:
293:
290:
288:
285:
284:
281:
278:
277:
274:
271:
269:
266:
264:
261:
257:
254:
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249:
247:
244:
243:
242:
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237:
234:
232:
229:
227:
224:
222:
219:
218:
215:
212:
211:
208:
203:
195:
190:
188:
183:
181:
176:
175:
172:
163:
160:
159:
154:
151:
146:
141:
139:
134:
129:
128:
123:
119:
107:
105:
104:British India
100:
94:
89:
84:
83:
78:
70:
67:
66:
62:
58:
55:
54:
50:
47:
46:
42:
39:
35:
31:
27:
22:
17:
1223:
1185:
1167:
1146:
1137:
1131:
1091:
1076:
1060:
1045:
1042:
1032:advanced on
1027:
1021:
1016:
1006:
987:
976:
960:World War II
951:
949:
937:
936:
911:
891:
857:
804:
799:Project Hula
784:Fort Stevens
713:
653:
646:
639:
527:Ocean Island
490:
480:Pearl Harbor
418:Sittang Bend
406:
336:Tennis Court
220:
150:ShĹŤjirĹŤ Iida
80:Belligerents
38:World War II
24:Part of the
1245: /
1046:Smyth sent
924:Mutanchiang
745:New Britain
461:Pacific War
273:Yenangyaung
221:Bilin River
164:2 divisions
1260:Categories
1233:97°14′48″E
1230:17°10′57″N
1097:References
1073:The battle
869:Sagami Bay
858:Starvation
740:New Guinea
367:Mount Song
161:1 division
1082:Aftermath
1002:Kawkareik
966:over the
913:Kantokuen
820:Air raids
735:Australia
725:Coral Sea
619:Singapore
614:Hong Kong
348:Myitkyina
331:Shangshak
316:Admin Box
263:Shwedaung
1184:(1956),
1056:Sittaung
1034:Moulmein
931:Chongjin
892:Downfall
830:Yokosuka
647:Tiderace
604:Thailand
391:Hill 170
297:Chindits
292:The Hump
236:Taukkyan
156:Strength
56:Location
32:and the
1158:Sources
1052:Rangoon
1011:Prelude
990:Myanmar
884:Shumshu
769:Ellwood
634:Vietnam
407:Dracula
386:Pakokku
353:Mogaung
256:Toungoo
246:Tachiao
1216:
1212:, Pan
1208:
1200:
1192:
1174:
998:Mergui
654:Zipper
640:Jurist
609:Malaya
568:Ceylon
502:Midway
341:Kohima
326:Imphal
287:Arakan
251:Oktwin
115:
68:Result
28:, the
1067:Pa-an
1065:from
994:Dawei
964:Japan
825:Tokyo
813:Japan
730:Timor
268:Prome
118:Japan
61:Burma
1214:ISBN
1206:ISBN
1198:ISBN
1190:ISBN
1172:ISBN
950:The
835:Kure
522:Truk
321:U Go
231:Pegu
48:Date
1050:to
958:in
36:of
1262::
1166:,
1119:^
1105:^
1004:.
974:.
805:PX
714:RY
1220:.
1178:.
491:K
452:e
445:t
438:v
193:e
186:t
179:v
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