japanese soldiers eaten by crocodilesjapanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles

Troops of Japanese Fifteenth Army on the border of Burma. Some British soldiers, including the naturalist Bruce Wright, who participated in the battle, claimed that the large population of saltwater crocodiles native to the mangrove swamps on Ramree Island preyed on the trapped Japanese force at night and ate many soldiers. What animal has the strongest armor? In January 1945, during World War II, the Allies were fighting the Japanese at the Battle of Ramree Island in Myanmar. So the next time youre going through a swamp, just remember the story of the Ramree Island Massacre and be grateful that you werent one of the 500 Japanese soldiers who lost their lives to these crocodiles. Gas prices have fallen since mid-June. The incident appears in the Guinness records: Ramree Island was the scene of an alleged massacre of Japanese . No purchase necessary. A depiction of a saltwater crocodile emerging from the water alongside British soldiers at Ramree Island during World War II. During World War II on one remote island in the South Pacific, a platoon of nearly a thousand armed Japanese troops entered crocodile infested swamps and most never returned; a dis [See More] Japanese Army vs. Killer Crocodiles 1945 Watch on Posted in these groups: WWII World War Two Military History World History Wildlife Posted >1 y ago There is a long history of saltwater crocodiles attacking humans who wander into their habitats, and ultimately only 520 out of 1000 Japanese soldiers managed to survive the Ramree swamps. Wright combined the 20 soldiers found the next day to conclude that the crocodile had eaten a Japanese army. The crocodiles have a long history of attacking humans who wander into their habitats, seeing them as little more than taller, more awkward prey. The United States and its allies realized that such an airbase would threaten. As the Indian and British troops closed in, the Japanese soldiers were faced with two options: They could stay and fight or attempt to flee through the marshes and escape by sea. In January 1996, I sat with 11 other scuba divers on the top deck of a 150 foot live aboard, watching the sunset over the mountains of Guadalcanal. While this may have seemed a fine opportunity to slip into the wilderness and regroup, most of the Japanese soldiers would never be heard from again. On February 8, 2009, 5-year-old Jeremy Doble was attacked by a crocodile in far north, On March 15, 2009, 11-year-old Briony Goodsell was killed by a crocodile when swimming with friends at Lambells Lagoon near. Perhaps the biggest question that the crocodile story doesnt sufficiently answer concerns the staggering death toll: How did only 20 Japanese soldiers survive? Ramree Island, part of Arakan (now Rakhine State), has an area of 520sqmi (1,350km2) and is separated from the mainland by a strait with an average width of about 490ft (150m); the island is 70mi (110km) south of Akyab (now Sittwe). Then, read up on Desmond Doss, the Hacksaw Ridge medic who saved dozens of soldiers lives during World War II. There were 2 experts from the small Japanese village, one was Kyoko, the other was Kaori. Cheduba Island was not garrisoned and the 22nd East African Brigade was sent to hold Ramree Island. Too much bad in the world Let us not add to it The majority of Japanese soldiers died in combat or drowned, despite the fact that many British soldiers witnessed crocodiles eating dead Japanese bodies. See. With a jump in Australia on Monday, Jan. 16, local time, a team of vets set skydiving records to raise money for Folds of Honor. In all, some 500 Japanese fled Ramree despite the blockade created to stop them. This was particularly so in the mangrove swamps where such reptiles thrive, like on Ramree Island. Screenshot showing the 2017 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records adding a note to the previous edition correcting information about the claim that saltwater crocodiles killed hundreds of Japanese soldiers at Ramree Island in World War II. I've recently learned about the Battle of Ramree Island and the "death march" through the mangroves that resulted in the battle earning the moniker of "worst crocodile disaster in the world." The route took the Japanese through 9.9mi (16km) of mangrove swamp and as they struggled through it, the British encircled the area. They faced an enemy as old as the dinosaurs and just as fierce.Help support my channel - see below for details:https://www.paypal.me/markfeltonproductionhttps://www.patreon.com/markfeltonproductionsDisclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. (2014). We went in with boats and interpreters using loudhailers asking them to come out. 111114. Moreover, even a medium-sized saltwater crocodile could easily kill a human. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. A depiction of a saltwater crocodile emerging from the water alongside British soldiers at Ramree Island during World War II. Even worse, saltwater crocodiles are nocturnal and excel at taking prey in the dark. [3] A plan was ready by 2 January, when it was clear that the advance of the Fourteenth Army (Lieutenant-General William Slim) would soon pass beyond the range of its airbases at Imphal and Agartala; replacements at Chittagong, Akyab and Ramree would be needed. The worst "mass attack" by crocodiles allegedly occurred during World War II on the night of 19 February 1945, when approximately 1000 Japanese soldiers found themselves pinned down in a mangrove swamp separating Ramree Island from the mainland of Myanmar (then Burma). He thanks you for reading his content. The most prominent firsthand retelling of what happened comes from naturalist Bruce Stanley Wright, who participated in the Battle of Ramree Island and gave this written account: That night [of February 19, 1945] was the most horrible that any member of the M.L. The soldiers were viciously and mercilessly attacked by the crocodiles. Crocodiles of Guadalcanal. How Roman Military Tactics Won Them Their Empire. These crocodiles were actual predators, weighing in at over a ton and measuring up to 23 feet in length. The ecosystem of a mangrove swamp, with an exiguous mammal life, simply would not have permitted the existence of so many saurians before the coming of the Japanese (animals are not exempt from the laws of overpopulation and starvation). The reptiles can grow up to 20 feet long and weigh 2,000 pounds, but even a midsize saltwater crocodile could easily kill a full-grown adult human, with many being known toeat animals as vast as Indian water buffalo. 2023 Atlas Obscura. All rights reserved. After a bloody campaign, British troops managed to drive nearly 1,000 enemy combatants off the island into the dense mangrove swamp that covered some 10 miles of Ramree. An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. [marine launch] crews ever experienced. Imagine youre part of a military force outflanked by the enemy on a tropical island. The two sides were stuck in a standoff until the British Royal Marines along with the 36th Indian Infantry Brigade outflanked a Japanese position. [22] Likewise, vultures often appeared over areas [British] forces had never reached[22] Wright ultimately concluded the Japanese did not die from crocodiles alone but also from "thirst" and "wounds."[22]. Trapped in deep mud-filled land, tropical diseases soon started to afflict the soldiers, as did scorpions, tropical mosquitoes and saltwater crocodiles. Reviews indicate that at least half of all attacks by the Nile and saltwater crocodiles are fatal[1] (in Australia, however, only about 25% of saltwater crocodile attacks are fatal). A saltwater crocodile (via Wikimedia) Around 500 Japanese soldiers are thought to have escaped those mangrove swamps, and 20 of them were eventually recaptured by the British forces who had. Not a single one did. A saltwater crocodile (photograph by Heather Paul). 13. These crocs are the largest reptiles in the world and are capable of bringing down water buffalo. February 1945, Japanese forces on Ramree island attempt to withdraw from the British and link up with a larger force. [2], The early capture of Akyab made the 26th Indian Infantry Division (Major-General Henry Chambers) available for an attack on Ramree Island, 70mi (110km) to the south, the island being 50mi (80km) long and 20mi (32km) wide, flat and an obvious site for airfields. 14 (4): 391405. Nile freshwater crocodiles, like the one pictured here, have a reputation as man-eaters, similarly to the saltwater crocodiles that were rumored to ravage Japanese soldiers at Ramree Island in Myanmar in 1945. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Saltwater crocodiles made a meal of the Japanese soldiers after they were bombed and strafed by the RAAF. Have you ever heard of Ramree Island? (2012). How 1000 Soldiers Were EATEN by Crocodiles #ramreeisland #jre #jreclips #forrestgalante #crocodiles #ww2history #podcast #fyp #foryou #foryoupage. Photoshopped photo courtesy of opposingfronts.com. After a bloody but successful campaign against the Japanese, the British soldiers managed to drive nearly 1,000 enemy combatants into the dense mangrove swamp that covered some ten miles of Ramree. Hundreds of crocodiles lurked in the murky waters, hungry for human flesh. Upon entering Ramree Island in the Bay of Bengal in early 1945, Japanese troops encountered a very uncertain situation. Its estimated that 20 Japanese soldiers made it out of the other side of the swamp where British troops were waiting for them. If you dont attempt the crossing, you must face the enemy troops closing in on you. Men of the Wiltshire Regiment from the 26th Indian Infantry Division prepare a meal beside a temple on Ramree Island. Offer subject to change without notice. The Battle of Ramree - World War II. The scattered rifle shots in the pitch black swamp punctured by the screams of wounded men crushed in the jaws of huge reptiles, and the blurred worrying sound of spinning crocodiles made a cacophony of hell that has rarely been duplicated on earth. In January 1945, two. Attacks by saltwater crocodiles often occur in Southeast Asia, Australia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. What will one do when you have to face death on both ends of a road In the memoir, Wright described how he arrived on Ramree after the main battle concluded. More importantly, focussing on such a wholly ungrounded event underplays the courageous role played by the Fourteenth Army in what was one of the most brutal theatres of the Second World War. The saltwater crocodile Cassius measures 17 feet three inches . No evidence, that is, unless one believes a solitary account by a mysterious character. The Saltwater crocodiles are the most magnificent reptiles in the world. Unfortunately, it seems that the Japanese didnt know what awaited them in the swamp, or they were so desperate to escape that they didnt care. Join the list to receive special offers, updates, and everything about Black Rifle Coffee. The story originated with news articles published around the time of the incident, but certain plot holes identified in the years since have raised questions about the veracity of those early reports. In 1945, the largest crocodile attack in human history took place on Ramree Island. 2023 Coffee or Die Magazine. An average saltwater crocodile can easily reach 23 feet. [20], In 2000, herpetologist Steven G. Platt visited Ramree Island, where he interviewed residents who had been alive during the war and who had been forced into slave labor by the Japanese; they "unanimously discounted any suggestion that large numbers of Japanese fell prey to crocodiles." Inspired by actual events during World War 2. Join us onFacebook,Twitter(#AnimalWeek), andTumblrfor even more animal action and to share your own tales of fascinating fauna. Saltwater crocodiles are not to be underestimated. Military officials decided to press on, and the Japanese continued their journey through the mangrove swamps. [5] The Japanese garrison of Ramree consisted of the II Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment (Colonel Kanichi Nagazawa), part of the 54th Division, with artillery and engineer detachments to act as an independent force. Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has announced plans to divert traffic from the Clock Tower junction along Entebbe road for two months starting January 14th up to March 14th, 2023. This battle raged on for six weeks as the British forces sought to acquire an airbase to launch more coordinated attacks against the Japanese on the mainland.. All of the above crocodile attacks could have been avoided. While crocodiles are prolific killers, historians have long doubted that more than 800 Japanese soldiers were killed at Ramree Island in such a short period of time, and those doubts have only been affirmed by evidence uncovered in recent https://www.coffeeordie.com/crocodiles-eat-soldiers Trevor Pomfret The battle is known for claims that many Japanese soldiers were killed by crocodiles in the mangrove swamps of Ramree. "[12] In his 1962 collection Wildlife Sketches Near and Far, Canadian naturalist and veteran of the Burma campaign Bruce S. Wright described the events of the battle, focusing on predation of the Japanese soldiers by the saltwater crocodiles. At dawn the vultures arrived to clean up what the crocodiles had left.Of about one thousand Japanese soldiers that entered the swamps of Ramree, only about twenty were found alive." The Weapons The Japanese Type 26 revolver was a beautifully executed piece of tactical trash. 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