It just shows that you should never underestimate the power of nature. Several British soldiers said that the crocodiles preyed on the Japanese soldiers in the swamp. Galante elaborated that the crocodiles were hungry because the soldiers had already. Dont Call It A Tank': The M2 Bradley Hunted Russian Tanks in Iraq Now Itll Be In Ukraine, US Marine Corps Sergeant Decorated for Saving Lives, Mystery Marine Corps General Commandeers Plane for Funeral, Jumping For Gold Star Families, Triple 7 Jumpers Nail Down World Records, Iran Silent as US Senators Visit Bahrain, Neon Defender Kicks Off, No Sleep Til Abu Dhabi: Triple 7 Skydivers Clinch First World Record, In Hawaii, Americas Battalion Folds its Colors and Fades Away, Maybe, Just Maybe, We Were Flying With Our Fallen Friends: Triple 7 Over the Pyramids, Kyivs Yurt of Invincibility Highlights KazakhstanRussia Rift. [7], The large number of ships was intended to provide more firepower in support of the landing force. 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. The survivors are reported to have told horrific tales of dozens of crocodiles attacking the soldiers en masse, and appearing out of seemingly nowhere to drag off some poor soul. Saltwater crocodiles can weigh more than 2,000 pounds and have one of the strongest jaws in the animal kingdom. Refresh the page, check Medium 's site. 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 British troops sit near a temple on Ramree Island. An estimate put naval gunfire support from 4 January to 13 March for the land operations at Akyab, Ramree and Cheduba at 23,000 shells. Even worse, saltwater crocodiles are nocturnal and excel at taking prey in the dark. [2] Contents The 4th Brigade was to keep the defenders at Yanbauk Chaung under pressure and follow up vigorously should they retire. No purchase necessary. The 20 Most Famous Last Words of All Time. As for the truth, however, that may have been lost to history. Japanese resistance on the island ended on 17 February and the Allied blockade was maintained until 22 February, sinking many of the rescue craft and inflicting many casualties on the Japanese troops hiding in the mangrove swamps; about 500 troops managed to get away. Unfortunately for the Imperial Japanese Army, the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island are home to an unknown amount of the largest reptilian predator in the world, the saltwater crocodile. Frank McLynn, a prominent British historian on the Burma campaign, effectively denounces the crocodile aggression account in his thorough analysis of the Allied effort to retake Burma from the Japanese, The Burma Campaign: Disaster into Triumph 1942-1945 (2011). Finally, the British soldiers realized the Japaneses situation and urged them to surrender to avoid further bloodshed. One by one the crocodiles picked off the soldiers at night, dragging them into the swamp and mauling them to death. Men of the Wiltshire Regiment from the 26th Indian Infantry Division prepare a meal beside a temple on Ramree Island. Ramree Island was captured by the Japanese in 1942. It wasnt long until they realized that a predator lurked in the water around them. [2], The most deaths in a single crocodile attack incident may have occurred during the Battle of Ramree Island, on February 19, 1945, in what is now Myanmar. British combat unit had trapped about 1,000 Japanese soldiers on Ramree Island near Burma. Only 20 of the Japanese fighters were able to escape unharmed. 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). He also gathered military records that stated that the majority of Japanese soldiers were shot dead by the Allies or simply drowned in the swamp. Witnesses say the crocodile first attacked a man and then grabbed the girl and pulled her under. [21] He established that Bruce S. Wright had not been present on Ramree Island at the time of the battle, and noted that although the other chapters in Wright's book were told in the first person, the account of the battle was in the third person; possibly, Platt speculated, Wright was repeating stories he had been told by friends. [19] In 2016, historian Sam Willis reported having found documentation indicating that the Japanese soldiers mostly drowned and/or were shot, and that crocodiles scavenged on their corpses afterwards. The largest crocodile alive is Cassius who is about 100 years old. Some editions of the Guinness Book of World Records have attributed the highest number of fatalities in an animal attack to the battle; zoologists and modern military historians have dismissed these claims. Unfortunately, he died of congestive heart failure in February 2013. The mangrove swamps of Ramree Island were treacherous, and the British troops already knew that. Refresh the. The Japanese understood that saltwater crocodiles have a reputation for eating humans but they went into the mangrove swamp of Ramree Island anyway. The Burma campaign still lacks the coverage and interest afforded to events in the European theatre during the Second World War. Osama, a saltwater crocodile named after the terrorist Usama Bin Laden, reportedly killed and ate 80 people in Uganda over a period of 14 years beginning in 1991. Death came to them from many different sources, scorpions, disease, drowning and of course the crocodiles. What the British do know for sure is that 20 men came out of the swamp alive and were captured. It has been estimated that about 1,000 people are killed by crocodilians each year. 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). Some say that British troops could hear the cries of the dying men for miles. Of course, the threat posed by saltwater crocodiles was an ever-present one in the Far Eastern theatre of World War Two. However, there is no specific mention of the crocodile attack devouring over 900 Japanese. 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. A band of soldiers in search of a secret Japanese ammunition store face off against deadly saltwater crocodiles in the swamps of Ramree Island. [18][19] One study posited the number of attacks by Nile crocodiles per year as 275 to 745, of which 63% are fatal, as opposed to an estimated 30 attacks per year by saltwater crocodiles, of which 50% are fatal. This suggests that the Japanese did not suffer a major setback of over 900 men finished off on the night of February 19th. It was clear that the constant dosage of blood essences was losing its effectiveness for Yue Zhong, and if he continued at his current rate of consumption, it was most . It is not difficult to imagine what happened to the Japanese who took refuge in the mangroves! Cheduba Island was not garrisoned and the 22nd East African Brigade was sent to hold Ramree Island. There was a story that hundreds of people died getting slaughter by crocodiles in just one night. On January 26, 1945, British troops made their way to Ramree Island so that they could establish a new airbase. He thanks you for reading his content. Nine vets clinched their first world record of their breakneck skydiving expedition on Saturday, Jan. 14. The weary and bloodied soldiers thrashing clumsily through the swamps may as well have been a dinner bell ringing. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. How Roman Military Tactics Won Them Their Empire. As I am writing this police are still searching for the girl. The navy also carried 54,000 men, 1,000 vehicles, 14,000 long tons (14,000t) of stores and 800 animals. With the ebb of the tide, the crocodiles moved in on the dead, wounded, and uninjured men who had become mired in the mud.. The Tragic Story Of Over 900 Japanese Soldiers Slaughtered By Crocodiles | by L. Small | Medium 500 Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. Animal Weekis November 18 - 22, 2013 on Atlas Obscura. If you do attempt it, you face the crocodiles. These specimens could also live more than 70 years, meaning they had plenty of time to practice their hunting skills. Crocodile attacks are not always reported to local authorities, and some reports are difficult to verify. At dawn the vultures arrived to clean up what the crocodiles had left.. He prides himself on uncovering the most fascinating tales of history by sharing them through any means of engaging storytelling. [3][12], In addition to these, the freshwater crocodile, Philippine crocodile, Siamese crocodile, broad-snouted caiman, spectacled caiman, yacare caiman and gharial have been involved in non-fatal attacks. It was just that their levels were low. Human-Tomistoma interactions in central Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo. On all fronts, they were attacked by the Allied forces in full strength, leaving them to either surrender or You have to rendezvous with another group of soldiers on the other side of the island but the only way to do so is to traverse a thick swamp filled with deadly crocodiles. In April 2010, a 25-year-old woman from New Jersey was killed by a saltwater crocodile while snorkeling in India's Andaman Islands. The smell of blood attracted nearby crocodiles, so the bodies of Japanese soldiers were eaten by crocodiles. [1] Each year, hundreds of deadly attacks are attributed to the Nile crocodile in Sub-Saharan Africa. During World War II, Ramree Island off the coast of Burma was the site of a number of military battles, but the truly terrifying action only began after the military maneuvers ended. So, instead of accepting their fate, they chose to make an 8-mile journey through the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island. However, death toll estimates vary. Tehran remains unusually mum while Neon Defender warships ply Persian Gulf. The largest crocodile ever killed was a saltwater crocodile that measured 23 feet and weighed 2,370 pounds. A landing party of Japanese mistook North Australian tide times and heights , landing at low tide and getting stuck waist deep wading in mudflats in the Northern Territory . [7], On 26 January in Operation Sankey, a Royal Marine force landed on Cheduba island, about 6.2mi (10km) offshore of the south-west coast of Ramree Island and found it unoccupied. The incident appears in the Guinness records: Ramree Island was the scene of an alleged massacre of Japanese . After weeks of bitter fighting, the Allies managed to drive the last surviving Japanese soldiers into mangrove swamps surrounding the island swamps populated by thousands of saltwater crocodiles. On 23 January, the 71st Infantry Brigade advanced southwards, down the west coast. The Imperial Japanese Army decided that a full retreat was in order after their defeat in Burma at the hands of British forces. After all, these were soldiers who had offered upstubborn resistance to the British Fourteenth Army under the leadership of Lieutenant General William Slim. And in an incident not unlike the infamous U.S.S Indianapolis shark attack that befell American troops later that year, many of these troops didn't survive. Crocodiles. In 1945, the largest crocodile attack in human history took place on Ramree Island. Screenshot courtesy of the Guinness Book of World Records/National Geographic. Many of the remainder may have been eaten by the crocodiles, although since this incident took place during an active military conflict, it is impossible to know how many deaths can be directly attributed to the crocodiles instead of combat-related causes.[20]. In April 2007, a 9-year-old Chinese child was killed in a crocodile pool at the Silver Beach holiday resort in southwest Guangxi region. Why Did Ancient Egyptian Men Wear Makeup? An army of 1000 Japanese soldiers was decimated by saltwater crocodiles during the Battle of Ramree Island of World War II. So instead of following the Japanese into the swamps, they decided to wait them out. One thing is for certain: When given the choice of surrendering or taking chances in a crocodile-infested swamp, choose surrender. In this official account there are references to the menace posed by saltwater crocodiles at Ramree Island. Unfortunately for the fleeing men, the mangrove jungle on Ramree Island is home to an unknown number of the largest reptilian predator in the world the saltwater crocodile. The following day, the 4th Indian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier J. F. R. Forman) landed, took over the beachhead and occupied Kyaukpyu. Crocodiles In One Night Slaughtered Over 900 Japanese Soldiers | by L. Small | THE CURIOSITY | Medium Write Sign up Sign In 500 Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. Reconnaissance carried out on 14 January 1945, found that Japanese forces were placing artillery in caves overlooking the landing beaches on Ramree and the Royal Navy assigned the battleship HMSQueen Elizabeth, the escort carrier HMSAmeer, light cruiser HMSPhoebe, the destroyers Rapid, Napier, Norman and Pathfinder, with the sloops Flamingo and HMISKistna. We went in with boats and interpreters using loudhailers asking them to come out. The crocodiles would silently stalk their prey before attacking with lightning speed; humans are no match for the saltwater crocodile when considering their power, size, and weight. Of about 1,000 Japanese soldiers, it's estimated that only 20 survived. 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 years that indicates that the true story was buried amid a flurry of sensational reporting. Sgt. Can an Old Coin Solve the Mystery of a Lost Roman Emperor? [marine launch] crews ever experienced. Troops of Japanese Fifteenth Army on the border of Burma. Moreover, even a medium-sized saltwater crocodile could easily kill a human. 13. [9], In 1965, the British official historian, Stanley Woodburn Kirby, wrote that the Japanese defence of the island and the escape of about 500 men against "fearful odds", had been courageous and determined. In Burma, the Allies faced a fierce enemy not only adept in jungle warfare and but also notorious for their suicidal kamikaze charges. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. A saltwater crocodile (photograph by Heather Paul). On Feb. 24, 1945, Reuters war correspondents reported that Japanese soldiers trying to escape Ramree island were "being forced by hunger out of the mangrove swamps and many have been killed by crocodiles. Have you ever heard of Ramree Island? After just a few days, these ravenous creatures devoured more than 500 Japanese soldiers. As World War II was nearing its end in January of 1945, the island of Ramree off the coast of Burma was the scene of a desperate battle. British Marines landing on Ramree Island in January 1945 at the beginning of the six-week battle. 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. The short version is that a large number of Japanese soldiers (between 400 to 1000 depending on the "source") were eaten by saltwater crocodiles during the night of Feb 19th 1945 during the battle of Ramree island as part of the Burma campaign. Salt-water crocodiles, some of them well over 20 ft (6.1 m) long frequented these waters. That night [19 February 1945] was the most horrible that any member of the M. L. [motor launch] crews ever experienced. The swamps were full of saltwater crocodiles. The nights were said to have been filled with dire screams, gunfire, and the sounds of animal attacks. The Type 2 Mutant Giant Crocodile was obviously stronger than many other Type 2 Mutant Beasts, however, its blood essence had only allowed Yue Zhong to gain 8 points in Vitality. In the memoir, Wright described how he arrived on Ramree after the main battle concluded. Circa 1945 was the year when the Imperial Japan invasion of Asia was nearing its ends. However this has not stopped the Guinness Book of World Records to name the incident the Most Number of Fatalities in a Crocodile Attack. A dubious distinction for a horrible event, no matter the real numbers. Read another story from us: The Soldier Who Went On A Suicide Mission Against The Japanese & Won. This post will reveal the historical account of the Ramree Island Massacre. How he arrived at that number is unclear, but the Guinness Book of World Records accepted it as fact and began including Wrights version of the story in their annual book starting in 1968. It is mentioned in his1962 book Wildlife Sketches: Near and Far. 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japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles
