Battle of the Admin Box facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of the Admin Box
Part of the Burma campaign in the South-East Asian theatre of World War II
Sikh troops of the 7th Indian Infantry Division man an observation post in the Ngakyedauk Pass area of the Arakan, Burma, February 1944
Date 5–23 February 1944 Location Arakan, Burma 20°55′55″N 92°26′58″E / 20.932080°N 92.449349°E / 20.932080; 92.449349 Result Allied victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom British Raj	Japan  Azad Hind
Commanders and leaders
Philip Christison	Tokutaro Sakurai
Strength
At start: 2 infantry divisions 1 armoured regiment Reinforcements: 2 infantry divisions	1 infantry division
Casualties and losses
3,506 total 3 Fighter aircraft	3,106 killed 2,229 wounded 65 Fighter aircraft

The Battle of the Admin Box was a key battle during World War II. It happened in Burma from February 5 to 23, 1944. This fight was part of the larger Burma campaign.

Japanese forces tried a surprise attack against the Allies. Their goal was to pull Allied soldiers away from another important battle area. But the Allies fought back strongly. They stopped the Japanese attack and learned new ways to win battles. These new methods helped them win many more fights later on.

The battle gets its name from a special area. This was the "administration area" for the 7th Indian Infantry Division. When their main headquarters was attacked, this area became a strong defensive spot. Major-General Frank Messervy and his team defended it.

Why the Battle Started in 1944

In 1941 and 1942, the Japanese army had taken over Burma. They pushed out Allied troops from Britain, India, and China. In 1943, the Allies tried to attack a coastal area of Burma called Arakan. They wanted to capture Akyab Island. This island had an important airfield. The Japanese used it to attack cities in India. The Allies also needed it for their plans to take back Burma.

However, this attack failed badly. Many Indian and British soldiers were new and lacked training. Units were tired and their spirits dropped. Allied tactics were not good for fighting in the jungle. Japanese soldiers often surprised them by crossing difficult rivers and hills. Also, the Allied command was not well organized.

After this, the Allies changed their plans. They trained a lot in jungle warfare. They got ready for a new attack in 1944. This new attack was led by the British Fourteenth Army. The Indian XV Corps, led by Lieutenant General Philip Christison, was in charge of the main attack.

The Second Allied Attack Begins

The Mayu Peninsula had a flat coastal area. It was cut by many chaungs (tidal creeks). A range of jungle-covered hills, called the Mayu Range, separated it from the Kalapanzin River valley.

The 5th Indian Infantry Division attacked along the coast. This division had already fought in Africa. The 7th Indian Infantry Division attacked down the Kalapanzin Valley. They were very well trained. Another division, the British 81st (West Africa) Division, was further east. Two more divisions were kept ready as backup.

The Allied advance started slowly but gained speed. On January 9, 1944, the 5th Indian Division captured the port of Maungdaw. They then fought Japanese positions south of the port. These included a village called Razabil and a hill shaped like a tortoise.

Engineers from the 7th Indian Division improved a narrow path. This path, called the Ngakyedauk Pass, went across the hills. It helped move troops and supplies. A large supply area was set up at Sinzweya. This area later became known as the "Admin Box."

Japanese Plans and Surprise Attack

The Japanese army in Arakan was led by Lieutenant General Shōzō Sakurai. His IJA 55th Division was in charge of the area. Major-General Tokutaro Sakurai led a group of five battalions in the Mayu area.

The Japanese believed they could win again, just like the year before. They even hoped to attack Chittagong, a port vital for Allied supplies. They also planned their attack, called HA-GO, for early February. This was meant to make the Allies send soldiers to Arakan. This would clear the way for a bigger Japanese attack planned for March.

On February 5, Japanese soldiers secretly moved through the 7th Indian Division's lines. This division was spread out. The Japanese moved north to Taung Bazaar. They crossed the Kalapanzin River. On February 6, they attacked the headquarters of the 7th Division. There was fierce fighting. The 7th Division's radio operators and clerks had to destroy their equipment. They then broke into small groups and escaped to the Admin Box.

The Japanese then moved towards Sinzweya, behind the 7th Division. One Japanese battalion crossed the Mayu Range in a very difficult spot. They set up traps on the coastal road. This road was used to supply the 5th Indian Division. Other Japanese units launched smaller attacks. Many Japanese fighter planes also flew from Akyab to fight in the skies.

The Battle for the Admin Box

The situation was very serious for the Allies. But the Fourteenth Army had prepared for Japanese surprise attacks. Allied divisions were told to dig in and hold their ground. They were not to retreat. Backup divisions were sent to help them.

The Japanese next target was the Admin Box at Sinzweya. This area was defended by headquarters staff and supply troops. Brigadier Geoffrey Charles Evans was ordered to take command of the Admin Box. He brought in more soldiers, including the 2nd Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment. Two squadrons of M3 Lee tanks also arrived. These tanks were very important.

Under Brigadier Evans, the Admin Box became a strong defensive area. It was about 1,200 yards across. Ammunition was piled up at the base of a central hill, called "Ammunition Hill." When Major-General Messervy reached the Admin Box, he let Evans handle the defense. Messervy focused on leading the rest of his division.

Allied Dakota planes dropped food and ammunition to the trapped soldiers. They flew 714 missions, dropping 2,300 tons of supplies. The Japanese had not expected this. While the Japanese ran out of supplies, the Indian soldiers could keep fighting. The Japanese tried to send supplies by mules and porters. But these supplies were ambushed and captured.

At first, Japanese fighters attacked the supply planes. But three squadrons of Spitfires arrived. They flew from new airfields near Chittagong. These Spitfires quickly took control of the sky. Sixty-five Japanese planes were shot down or damaged. Only three Spitfires were lost. The Japanese fighters were soon driven away from the battle area.

On the ground, the fighting for the Admin Box was very tough. It was often hand-to-hand combat. On the night of February 7, some Japanese soldiers captured the main medical station. Sadly, 35 medical staff and patients were killed. This made the defenders even more determined to fight. Japanese fire caused many casualties in the crowded defenses. Ammunition dumps caught fire twice. But the tanks stopped all Japanese attempts to overrun the defenders. The Japanese had no way to fight the tanks once their few mountain guns ran out of ammunition. The Japanese tried a big attack on February 14. They captured one hill on the edge of the defenses. But the 2nd West Yorkshire Regiment, with tank support, took it back the next day.

By February 22, the Japanese soldiers were starving. Colonel Tanahashi, who led the main Japanese force, said his regiment was down to 400 men from 2,150. He refused to attack anymore. On February 24, he retreated without permission. On February 26, the Japanese commander, Sakurai, had to stop the operation.

The 26th Indian Division arrived to help. They sent a brigade to break through the Ngakyedauk Pass. This relieved the 7th Division. The Japanese unit that had cut off the coastal road was trapped. They suffered heavy losses trying to get back to their own lines.

What Happened After the Battle

Entrance to one of the disused railway tunnels on the Maungdaw-Buthidaung road, captured by Allied troops in March 1944

Even though the Allies had more total casualties, the Japanese had to leave many wounded soldiers behind to die. Five thousand Japanese dead were counted on the battlefield. For the first time in the Burma campaign, the Japanese tactics had been defeated. This victory showed the Allies how to win future battles. It also greatly boosted the morale of British and Indian soldiers. They had held their ground and beaten a major Japanese attack.

The importance of Allied air power was clear. It became a key factor in the overall Allied victory in Burma. At the Japanese surrender meetings in 1945, Major General Ichida spoke about two big reasons for their defeat:

• Allied air supply: This allowed ground forces to stay in place and not retreat. It made Japanese surprise attacks useless.
• Allied air superiority: This stopped Japanese supplies. Thousands of Japanese soldiers faced starvation and illness. They also lacked fuel, equipment, and materials to fight.

In March, the 161st Indian Infantry Brigade captured the "Tortoise" hill and other Japanese forts. Then, the 26th Indian and 36th British Divisions continued the attack. The 36th Division captured the railway tunnels by April 4. On April 6, the 26th Division captured a vital hill called Point 551.

At this point, the XV Corps' operations were reduced. This was to free up planes and soldiers for the Battle of Imphal. As the rainy season began, the Allies pulled back from some areas. This was because the low-lying land was unhealthy and caused malaria. The Japanese moved another division to Arakan. They launched a successful counter-attack against the 81st West African Division. This forced them to retreat.

Akyab remained under Japanese control until January 1945. Then, a new Allied attack, with landings from the sea, drove the Japanese out of Arakan. The Allies cut off their retreat, causing heavy losses.

Indian National Army's Role

A lightly armed battalion from the Indian National Army was supposed to join the Japanese attack. They left Rangoon in early February. But by the time they reached Akyab in early March, the Japanese attack was almost over. This battalion later advanced against Commonwealth African units. They crossed into India and occupied Mowdok.

Some reports suggest that Indian National Army troops were involved in the attack on the medical station. This is based on the account of an Indian Army doctor who was captured.

Awards for Bravery

Several soldiers received awards for their bravery during the battle:

• Major Charles Ferguson Hoey was given the Victoria Cross. This is the highest award for bravery. He received it after he died, for his courage at the Ngakyedauk Pass.
• Lieutenant Edward Otho Briggs received the Military Cross. He was honored for his bravery in building a crossing for tanks.
• Lieutenant John Dyson Kaye also received the Military Cross. He bravely defended his position in the West Tunnel area.
• Sepoy Karam Singh was awarded the Military Medal. He later won the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military honor.
• L/Bdr. H. Mills and Sgt. W. M. Adrain received the Military Medal. Lt. H.G. Bing received the Military Cross. All three were from the 8 (Belfast) HAA Regiment Royal Artillery.