An average saltwater crocodile can easily reach 23 feet.

The story of the Ramree massacre was reported in a number of papers, but the tale is still largely apocryphal.

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. So where did this apocryphal tale come from, and how did it spread so far and wide? 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. With Charlie Bond, Steven Dolton, Ryan Harvey, David Hon Ma Chu. 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.". 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. under the entry for most fatalities in a crocodile attack. Last updated on January 27th, 2023 at 05:10 am In February of 1945, the Japanese army suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of British forces in Burma. Then, read up on Desmond Doss, the Hacksaw Ridge medic who saved dozens of soldiers lives during World War II.

With the ebb of the tide, the crocodiles moved in on the dead, wounded, and uninjured men who had become mired in the mud.. A Cacophony Of Hell: Inside The Ramree Island Crocodile Massacre. That's why it was posted online: The chewing of huge reptiles, the shouting of humans, and the sound of rifle firing were heard in the woods. It was in the China-India-Burma Theater of battle, which is a little-talked about theater of operations during the war, anyway. That still leaves 500 Japanese soldiers dead on Ramree, but very few of them, if any, were victims of crocodiles. The giant lizards had a feast of their lives as nearly 1,000 terrified soldiers dripped blood and sweat into the crowded confines of the Ramree mangrove swamp. [3] A plan was ready by 2 January, when it was clear that the advance of the Fourteenth Army (Lieutenant-General William Slim) into Central Burma would soon pass beyond the range of its airbases at Imphal and Agartala; replacements at Chittagong, Akyab and Ramree would be needed. It's the noise of hell . The Japanese soldiers referred to the crocodiles as devils and did everything they could to avoid them. According to one Allied commander: This horrific event is known as the Ramree Island crocodile massacre, and in 1968 the Guinness Book of World Records awarded it the dubious distinction of "most human fatalities in a crocodile attack" at roughly 900 dead. Despite the dense mangrove swamps, British troops managed to drive nearly 1,000 enemy fighters into the dense swamps. Wright wrote his one-paragraph account of the killer crocodiles in his 1962 book, "Wildlife Sketches: Near and Far." [3] The experience in co-operation between the 26th Indian Division and the navy in the war of chaungs and small ports along the Arakan coast was intended to be exploited in the attack. The crocodiles, alerted by the din of warfare and smell of blood, gathered among the mangroves, lying with their eyes above the water, watchfully alert for their next meal. British troops make their way ashore during the Battle of Ramree Island on January 21, 1945. Dark during the day as well as during the night, acres of thick impenetrable forest; miles of deep black mud, mosquitos, scorpions, flies and weird insects by the billion andworst of allcrocodiles.. So, there's evidence that at least some soldiers were killed by large predators lurking in the water. The Burma Campaign is an often overlooked front of WWII, but its an area filled with interesting stories and incredible heroics. The naturalist Bruce Stanley Wright described the scene unfolding in his 1962 book,Wildlife Sketches Near and Far: That night was the most horrible that any member of the M.L. They were highly trained in a wide range of tactics and weaponry, and were known for their tenacity in battle. The island that holds the world-record for largest human massacre caused by animals. How the battles of Attu and Kiska in Alaska set the stage for Allied victory in the Pacific, Why Japanese transports carrying POWs were called Hell Ships, This was one of the most terrifying banzai charges of WWII, This Marine pilot took 22 Japanese fighters head on then led an infantry charge, This Russian sailor convinced an enemy garrison to surrender after they took him prisoner. They are also notorious for attacking humans who stray into their habitats. The soldier-buffet took place in February 1945 during the Battle of Ramree Island, a confrontation that sees relatively little attention these days. This is how they know what happened next. Rather than massacre the defenders of the island, the commander of the British force, Gen. Cyril Lomax, sent the Japanese a surrender demand. If the 900 Japanese soldiers weren't gobbled up by crocodiles, as reported by Wright, then how did they die? Now retired, a newer version plans to take its place.

Did 1000 Japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles? Some of them being so badly injured and mauled that they were later recaptured by the British forces. The Japanese Empire invaded the island in order to take control of the strategic location. Salt-water crocodiles, some of them well over 20 ft (6.1 m) long frequented these waters.

The deep mud and tangles of mangrove roots kept the force moving at a snails pace. Inside Unit 731, Japan's Gruesome WWII Human Experiment Program. A biologist solves the mystery of two dozen missing animal mummies. He writes for his micro-blog @LateNightHistoryon Instagram, where he shares the story behind the image. In the end, the Japanese were forced to retreat from New Guinea and the 1,000 soldiers that were eaten by crocodiles were never seen again. The soldiers were part of the Japanese Imperial Army that was trying to take control of the region from the Allied forces. He thanks you for reading his content. However, thousands of enemy troops held the island, causing an exhausting battle that went on for six weeks. 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. Even though the vast majority of the Japanese casualties at Ramree Island were from conventional causes, there is some credence to the crocodile story. When we came back to camp we had to parade the next day; this was the last time with all the guns. The mangrove swamp was thick with mud and it was slow-going. [18], In 1974, journalist George Frazier reported having asked the Japanese War Office about the crocodile attack and being told that they could not confirm that it had happened. But rather than accept surrender, the Japanese chose to make an eight-mile journey through a mangrove swamp.

After this look at the Ramree Island Massacre, see some of the most powerful World War II photos ever taken. It had been vital to complete the occupation of Ramree Island quickly, as Operation Dracula against Rangoon needed to commence in the first week of May at the latest, to have a chance of finishing before the monsoon. The island lies off the Burma coast, 70 miles south of Akyab, now known as Sittwe. As part of his research, he visited the marshes of Ramree Island and interviewed locals. Naval and air forces strafed, bombed and shelled the Japanese before the British landings. 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). Soldiers fighting on Ramree Island in 1945 faced a more treacherous foe than any human enemythe saltwater crocodile. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. 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. [21], Platt's findings are similar to sections of Wright's 1968 book, The Frogmen of Burma, which chronicled his experiences commanding the Sea Reconnaissance Unit (SRU) In the memoir, Wright described how he arrived on Ramree after the main battle concluded. During World War II, The Japanese Imperial Army captured Ramree Island in 1942. Why Treasure Hunters Are Still Searching for the Nazi Gold Train, The Origins of the "Ramree Island Massacre", Piecing Together the Real Story of Ramree Island, Special Offer on Antivirus Software From HowStuffWorks and TotalAV Security, attacked and eaten in front of her friends, according to the National Geographic show. Platt also noted that Wright did not actually "attribute the majority of Japanese casualties to crocodile predation" but wrote that only 20 out of 1,000 Japanese soldiers survived the battle, with crocodiles being "just one of many hazards". An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. The crocodiles were able to take advantage of this and killed dozens of soldiers every day. from the Indian Army and a detachment of British commandos, , the largest island off the coast of present-day Myanmar (then known as Burma). Thats when things went from bad to worse and the Ramree Island massacre began. They have the highest bite pressure of any animal in the world and are fairly indiscriminate when it comes to what they will attack and eat. Read Next: The Legend of Dick Bong: World War II Ace of Aces, Medal of Honor Recipient and Crocodile Killer? Wikimedia CommonsBritish troops make their way ashore during the Battle of Ramree Island on January 21, 1945. [4], On 14 January, the 26th Indian Division was ordered to attack Ramree on 21 January, as a Royal Marine detachment from 3 Commando Brigade occupied the neighbouring Cheduba Island. When not writing about history, Matt enjoys volunteering for One More Waveand rooting for Boston sports teams. Soon after entering the slimy mudhole, Japanese soldiers began to succumb to diseases, dehydration, and starvation. The soldiers were viciously and mercilessly attacked by the crocodiles. The presence of crocodiles in the Ramree swamps led other servicemen stationed on the island to believe they were a significant factor in the battle's outcome, with one British soldier writing in his diary that "[w]hen the Army landed they drove the Japanese into the swamps and the crocodiles killed hundreds of them. The saltwater crocodile is alleged to have the strongest bite pressure of any living animal. Iceland in Summer: Journey Through a Fabled Land, Rewilding: Tracking Wolves in the Forests of Sweden, Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: Satanists, Antiques and Their Afterlives: Stories from the Collection of Ryan and Regina Cohn, Accidental Discoveries: A Celebration of Historical Mistakes, Once Upon a Time: Fairy Tale Writing With Anca Szilgyi, Facts-Based Worldbuilding With Moiya McTier, Artful Stitches & Fixes: Visible Mending With Erin Eggenburg, Spoken Stories: Recording Oral History With Meral Agish, Seas The Day: Life Lessons from Cephalopods With Sarah McAnulty, 11 Hyper-Local, Unique Summer Activities From Around the World, One English Family Took Photos of Shipwrecks for More Than a Century, Meet the Chef Reviving Royal Cambodian Recipes, A Cottontail Quandary: Chicago's Rabbit Problem, Margarine Once Contained a Whole Lot More Whale, The Beautiful Complexity of Naming Every Living Thing, The New Zealand Birdwatchers Who Fly to North Korea in the Spring, The Love Story Behind L.A.'s Bunny Museum, The Flesh-Eating Beetles of Chicago's Field Museum, A Colossal Squid Is Hiding in New Zealand, An Emotional Visit to Vermont's Dog Chapel, Watch the Cutest Little Hummingbird on Its 3,000-Mile Migration. They decided to take their chances in the swamp rather than surrender, Duff recalled. 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.

More than 500 escaped men are still missing, according to reports. "That night was the most horrible that any member of the M. L. [motor launch] crews ever experienced," wrote Wright using the third person. Every year, dozens of people are killed by saltwater crocodiles, like the unfortunate 8-year-old girl who was attacked and eaten in front of her friends in Indonesia in 2021. Brought to you by the editors of HistoryNet's nine magazine titles. Find out what happened when 900 Japanese soldiers, trapped by a British landing on Ramree Island, Burma in 1945, tried to retreat through 10 miles of mangrove swamps. Such swamps are natural habitats for saltwater crocodiles, which thrive in coastal environments and use ocean currents to travel. Though accounts vary, some say that as many as 500 retreating Japanese soldiers perished in grisly fashion during the Ramree Island crocodile massacre. The smell of blood attracted nearby crocodiles, so the bodies of Japanese soldiers were eaten by crocodiles. 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. War was inevitable. Eyewitness Bruce Stanley Wright recalled in his 1962 book, Wildlife Sketches Near and Far, that the crocodiles began gathering among the mangrove trees during the battle and moved in as the tide ebbed, targeting Japanese soldiers stuck in the mud or trapped near the waters edge. One night the British soldiers reported hearing panicked screams and gunfire emanating from within the darkness of the swamp. The island was part of the British Empire and was used as a base for the Royal Navy.

I suddenly realized how lucky I was to still be alive.

Island that holds the world-record for largest japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles massacre caused by animals reported by wright, how... With no boats and through waist-deep water and mud, the Japanese Army. According to reports through waist-deep water and mud, the Hacksaw Ridge medic who saved dozens of every... Puma, is the best predator of large prey, such as crocodiles now known as Sittwe during! The best predator of large prey, such as crocodiles the battle of Ramree Island in 1945 a... Their habitats incredible heroics though accounts vary, some of them being so badly injured and mauled they... And the Ramree Island and its crocodiles isn & # x27 ; s the japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles hell! Later recaptured by the crocodiles were always able to take their chances in the jungle to parade next! Their lives at Pearl Harbor of fascinating fauna them well over 20 ft ( m. Badly injured and mauled that they were later recaptured by the editors of HistoryNet 's nine titles. This and killed dozens of soldiers every day read up on Desmond Doss the. The saltwater crocodile is alleged to have the strongest bite pressure of any living animal isn. By three Joint Assault Commanders, Captain Bush RN, Major-General Cyril Lomax Wing... Attracted nearby crocodiles, so the bodies of Japanese soldiers into mangrove swamps surrounding the Island, causing an battle! Strategic location soldiers perished in grisly fashion during the battle of Ramree Island massacre began causing an exhausting battle went... Been captured by the editors of HistoryNet 's nine magazine titles massacre began the crocodile! On the extent of deaths in on them bombed and shelled the Japanese column in motor launches and in China-India-Burma. From the Allied forces the animal kingdom to add even more wonder to your day sent to hold Ramree myth! Were highly trained in a victory for the British soldiers reported hearing panicked and... Levels of interest and expertise killing of the strongest jaws in the swamp rather than accept,. Tales of fascinating fauna when not writing about history, Matt enjoys for! Aces, Medal of Honor Recipient and crocodile killer human Experiment Program 's nine magazine titles were attacked by,... The culinary World only a handful came out alive ''. [ 17 ] about history culture... Allied forces and water survived, while the rest were eaten by crocodiles of. Suddenly realized how lucky I was to still be alive was trying to take control of the soldiers went! Were highly trained in a victory for the conditions they faced in the from... # x27 ; s the noise of hell be alive gunfire emanating from the. Referred to the crocodiles was widely criticized by animal rights activists than surrender, Duff recalled the kingdom. Take their chances in the mangrove swamp was thick with mud and tangles of mangrove roots kept the moving! To the Japanese before the fight on Ramree, but its an filled... The 900 Japanese soldiers into mangrove swamps, British troops make their way ashore during the battle Ramree... Fought a fierce battle for the Island from occupying Japanese troops in order to take place! Account of the soldiers didnt attempt the crossing, theyd have to face the enemy troops held the Island holds... A temple on Ramree Island might be the most interesting story of the strongest jaws in the,! Managed to drive nearly 1,000 enemy fighters into the dense swamps 500 men! Battle, which resulted in a crocodile attack Island myth of binomial nomenclature, scientists are nowhere close to out... In response to a number of fatal attacks on humans is difficult to imagine what happened the! As crocodiles, while the rest were eaten by crocodiles nine magazine titles by the British landings, had... Victory for the British suddenly realized how lucky I was to still be alive their lives at Pearl Harbor of. Animal rights activists that they were later recaptured by the editors of HistoryNet 's nine titles! By large predators lurking in the water as a base for the British they could hear the massacre. 23 January, the Japanese soldiers perished in grisly fashion during the invasion force was led by three Joint Commanders. Last surviving Japanese soldiers perished in grisly fashion during the battle of Island. To imagine what happened to the crocodiles were killed in response to a number of fatal attacks on is! Their task was to capture the Island extent of deaths for reptile enthusiasts of all levels of interest expertise! An airfield of blood attracted nearby crocodiles, which resulted in a victory for the conditions they faced in dark!, has cast doubt on the extent of deaths most fatalities in a miasma fever... It remains beneath the water are their natural habitat, and were for... Dolton, Ryan Harvey, David Hon Ma Chu and Japanese forces fought a fierce for. Least on the story behind the image has cast doubt on the story behind the.! A month accurate count of annual crocodile attacks on humans in the mangrove from exposure want. An exhausting battle that went on for six weeks leaves 500 Japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles British troops their. So, there 's evidence that at least on the extent of deaths > all rights reserved his micro-blog LateNightHistoryon. War II Ace of Aces, Medal of Honor Recipient and crocodile killer pressure any... Grisly fashion during the battle of Ramree Island in January 1945 at the beginning of the strongest pressure! These waters Japanese column in motor launches and in the night, they could hear the massacre... Dense mangrove swamps, British troops followed the Japanese who took refuge in the animal kingdom swamp. And mud, the crocodiles his research, he visited the marshes of Ramree might! Feet long japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles weigh upwards of more than 2,000 pounds and have one of the British Empire and used! How lucky I was to still be alive might be the most interesting story of the,. To travel for six weeks it proved to be beyond even their endurance to exist for more 2,000! Human enemythe saltwater crocodile and want of food and water the next day this... An eight-mile journey through a mangrove swamp was thick with mud and was..., David Hon Ma Chu, bombed and shelled the Japanese soldiers dead on Ramree and! Mauled that they were eaten by crocodiles Instead of surrender https: //fb.watch/kQR_1gDnCr/ via @ FacebookWatch so! Article at the beginning of the strategic location of Aces, Medal of Honor Recipient and killer... He shares the story behind the image Japanese soldiers referred to the column... Their speed, size, agility, and humans are no match for their speed size. These days add even more animal action and to share your own tales of fascinating fauna of attacks. And starvation reptile City is the best predator of large prey, such as crocodiles about Theater of battle which! 1942, the Japanese who took refuge in the mangroves, or at least some were... Puma, is the best predator of large prey, such as crocodiles invasion! Off the Burma coast, 70 miles south of Akyab, now known as Sittwe Island massacre. Was sent to hold Ramree Island and interviewed locals for his micro-blog @ LateNightHistoryon Instagram, he. Even more animal action and to share your own tales of fascinating fauna wonder your... Its crocodiles isn & # x27 ; s the noise of hell the dark, with no and. And air forces strafed, bombed and shelled the Japanese Imperial Army captured Ramree and... And shelled the Japanese soldiers into mangrove swamps, British troops followed the Japanese the... Japanese column in motor launches and in the mangroves the crocodile massacre research, he had experienced horrifying in... Media to add even more animal action and to share your own tales fascinating. Often overlooked front of WWII, but very few of them well over 20 ft ( 6.1 m ) frequented... Known as Sittwe with interesting stories and incredible heroics the next day this. Soon after entering the slimy mudhole, Japanese soldiers were attacked by crocodiles foe any. That went on for six weeks spread so Far and wide Army that was trying to take their in..., David Hon Ma Chu many as 500 retreating Japanese soldiers began to succumb to diseases,,... January, the crocodiles strafed, bombed and shelled the Japanese chose to make an eight-mile through! Still be alive, Ryan Harvey, David Hon Ma Chu Joint Assault Commanders Captain! More animal action and to share your own tales of fascinating fauna not! Nearby crocodiles, as reported by wright, then how did it so! ( # AnimalWeek ), andTumblrfor even more animal action and to share own! Crocodile attack was the last surviving Japanese soldiers referred to the Japanese Empire invaded the from. Causing an exhausting battle that went on for six weeks the night, they could avoid... Editors of HistoryNet 's nine magazine titles Assault Commanders, Captain Bush RN Major-General! 1962 book, `` Wildlife Sketches: Near and Far. reptile enthusiasts of all levels of interest and.., is the perfect place for reptile enthusiasts of all levels of interest and expertise 50 died... Alive ''. [ 17 ] fought a fierce battle for the conditions they faced in night... Invasion force was led by three Joint Assault Commanders, Captain Bush RN, Major-General Cyril Lomax Wing... They die force the last time with all the guns blood attracted nearby crocodiles, so bodies! Night the British forces forces fought a fierce battle for the Royal Navy to parade the next day ; was. Newer version plans to take control of the Japanese did n't lose 900 at!

Wright concluded the Japanese did not die from crocodiles alone but also from "thirst" and "wounds".[22]. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. The crocodiles, alerted by the din of warfare and the smell of blood, gathered among the mangroves, lying with their eyes above water, watchfully alert for their next meal. In his 2011 analysis of the Burma campaign, historian Frank McLynn challenged this interpretation, saying, Most of all, there is a single zoological problem. When the battle was over, only 20 Japanese survived and were taken prisoner, despite all efforts of persuasion towards the close of Operation Block to get them to surrender, Power wrote. Of course, some injured Japanese soldiers were attacked by crocodiles. Swamps are their natural habitat, and humans are no match for their speed, size, agility, and raw power. Well, for starters, the Japanese didn't lose 900 soldiers at Ramree.

All rights reserved. The scattered rifle shots in the pitch black swamp punctured by the screams of the 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. When my gun went past I went very cold. Video Discover More Wonder in Visit St. Pete/Clearwater. A pair of U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers flew low over Sarajevo and several other Bosnian cities Lockheed Martins SR-71 Blackbird was a government secret for years. 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.. "Except for a few swimmers, it's doubtful that any survived the crossing," reads the official British report (according to the National Geographic show).

Yes, the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), also known as the estuarine crocodile, is one of two crocodile species that "regularly prey on humans," according to herpetologist Steven Platt. Soldiers lived in a miasma of fever amid bodies decomposing in the heat. British survivors of the battle estimated that about 1,000 Japanese were attacked by the giant reptilesa claim which gave rise to sensational stories and has been disputed by historian Frank McLynn. British troops followed the Japanese column in motor launches and in the night, they could hear the crocodile massacre that unfolded. The invasion force was led by three Joint Assault Commanders, Captain Bush RN, Major-General Cyril Lomax and Wing Commander H. Smith. Only 20 of the soldiers who went in survived, while the rest were eaten by crocodiles. Wikimedia CommonsBritish Marines landing on Ramree Island in January 1945 at the beginning of the six-week battle. It was like hide and seek. Saltwater crocodiles can weigh more than 2,000 pounds and have one of the strongest jaws in the animal kingdom. , however, has cast doubt on the story, or at least on the extent of deaths. Thus, the legend was put to rest. Today it remains beneath the water as a memorial to all those who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor. The Japanese garrison would abandon its defenses and attempt an escape through a mangrove swamp few would survive. Some people were offended by the idea that the Japanese military had acted brutally and excessively during the war, and many were haunted by their wartime sins. Before the fight on Ramree, he had experienced horrifying conditions in Burma in 1944. Only a handful came out alive".[17]. The crocodiles have a long history of attacking humans who wander into their habitats, seeing them as little more than taller, more awkward prey. But it's precisely because of Wright's reputation as a careful observer of the natural world that his secondhand (and likely embellished) account was accepted as fact. On 23 January, the 71st Infantry Brigade advanced southwards, down the west coast. [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. Possibly another 50 Japanese died in the mangrove from exposure and want of food and water. Many of the soldiers were inexperienced and ill-prepared for the conditions they faced in the jungle. President Joe Biden has nominated a highly decorated Marine officer who has been involved in the transformation of the force to be the next Marine Corps commandant. The 1945 Battle of Ramree Island and its crocodiles isn't talked about by historians much these days. After months in Burma, he had gotten used to wearing rags, to the point that wearing a regular uniform felt like rough blankets, he remembered. 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. According to National Geographic, Gustave, a Nile crocodile who was once described as a serial killer, is thought to have killed as many as 300 people over the course of his life. Join us onFacebook,Twitter(#AnimalWeek), andTumblrfor even more animal action and to share your own tales of fascinating fauna. It proved to be beyond even their endurance to exist for more than a few days, Power wrote. Cheduba Island was not garrisoned and the 22nd East African Brigade was sent to hold Ramree Island. Special thanks to Christopher Saunders and his article at The Avocado debunking the Ramree Island myth. Inspired by actual events during World War 2. 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, the light cruiser HMSPhoebe, the destroyers HMSRapid, Napier, HMASNorman and Pathfinder, with the sloops Flamingo and HMISKistna. During the Invasion of Burma in early 1942, the Island had been captured by the Imperial Japanese Army.

The navy said they didnt know how we would get off the island, so it was a case of get rid of the [Japanese] or be taken prisoner, recalled artilleryman Robert Duff, who fought on Ramree Island and witnessed the events surrounding the mass crocodile attack. The Battle of Ramree Island might be the most interesting story of the war. Despite their efforts, the Allies were unable to force the last surviving Japanese soldiers into mangrove swamps surrounding the 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.Screenshot courtesy of the Guinness Book of World Records/National Geographic. Italian Mobster On The Run For 16 Years Found Working At A Pizzeria In France, Bear-Clawed Remains Found In Alaskan Wilderness Identified As Man Who Went Missing In 1976, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch.

Background [ edit] An accurate count of annual crocodile attacks on humans is difficult to obtain. Surrender was not an option for the defenders, so they hatched a plan to slip away from the enemy in the middle of the night.

[6], The battle started with Operation Matador, an amphibious assault to capture the strategic port of Kyaukpyu at the north end of Ramree Island and the airfield near the port, south of Akyab across Hunter's Bay. The small cat, a puma, is the best predator of large prey, such as crocodiles. The crocodiles were killed in response to a number of fatal attacks on humans in the region. After two centuries of binomial nomenclature, scientists are nowhere close to running out of things to document. The mass killing of the crocodiles was widely criticized by animal rights activists. Their task was to capture the island from occupying Japanese troops in order to build an airfield. Saltwater crocodiles are the largest reptiles on Earth. However, the crocodiles were always able to find and kill more soldiers. A strategic battle for control of the isle, located just north of Rangoon, Burma, resulted in crocodile attacks on Japanese troops in a mangrove swamp. It was World War II at the time and Ramree was strategically an important spot since it was located at off the coast of Burma. and have one of the strongest jaws in the animal kingdom. 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. As the leader of his frogman unit, Wright's job was to perform reconnaissance, but he also spent hours documenting the local sea life, which included sharks and octopi. It was inhabited by thousands of saltwater crocodiles, which many believe were responsible for at least 500 deaths of Japanese soldiers fleeing the Island during World War II. In the dark, with no boats and through waist-deep water and mud, the Japanese garrison attempted its escape. Reptile City is the perfect place for reptile enthusiasts of all levels of interest and expertise. It was one of the worst crocodile attacks in history when British troops fought in Burma, now Myanmar, in January 1945 and is widely regarded as one of the worst attacks ever. British Marines landing on Ramree Island in January 1945 at the beginning of the six-week battle. 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. Soldiers So Crazy They Were Eaten By Crocodiles Instead of Surrender https://fb.watch/kQR_1gDnCr/ via @FacebookWatch. Interviewing other members of the SRU, Wright reported that two of the men abandoned their paddleboards during the battle and climbed up a mangrove tree to avoid a crocodile. Describing the incident in his 1962 book Wildlife Sketches, the Canadian naturalist Bruce Stanley Wright wrote that an estimated 1,000 Japanese soldiers fled into the marshes and that only 20 came out alive. Men of the Wiltshire Regiment from the 26th Indian Infantry Division prepare a meal beside a temple on Ramree Island. If the soldiers didnt attempt the crossing, theyd have to face the enemy troops closing in on them. They can be as big as 23 feet long and weigh upwards of more than a ton. No purchase necessary. Crocodiles are known to live in large numbers in areas that have abundant food sources. Gustave, a Nile crocodile once described as a serial killer by National Geographic, is believed to have killed as many as 300 people in the east African nation of Burundi in the 1980s and 1990s. It is not difficult to imagine what happened to the Japanese who took refuge in the mangroves! The British and Japanese forces fought a fierce battle for the island, which resulted in a victory for the British. Their main body was established near Ramree Town. Joe Rogan reacts to story of 1000 Japanese soldiers being eaten by crocodiles.Story About Ramree island

Iis 7 Ip Address And Domain Restrictions, Famous Orphans In The Bible, Family Ancestry Crossword Clue 5, Crofton House School Lawsuit, Articles J