Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Havildar (Sergeant)

Unit:

Force 136, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government

Awarded on:

February 21st, 1946

Citation:
1. Havildar Saw Po Ba Aung volunteered to accompany a party to be parachuted in to Japanese occupied territory. The Party were successfully dropped in the Katha area on the 13th February, 1944. Hav. Saw Po Ba Aung was in charge of the W/T. This party remained in enemy occupied Burma for 9 months until over-run by our Forces at the end of November 1944. During the whole of this time Hav. Saw Po Ba Aung maintained W/T contact with H.Q., passing in all 201 messages to us, and receiving 96. This in itself is worthy of high praise.

2, Hav. Saw Po Ba Aung then volunteered to accompany another mission into enemy occupied territory, and in the same capacity of W/T operator, was dropped with 3 others in the Toungee area on the 5th March 1945. Unfortunately they were dropped some 20 yards off the D.Z. in thick jungle and Po Ba Aung severely damaged an ankle. The area was found to be somewhat too populous for safety and inspite of his injury they had to make tracks immediately. No rest was possible, and although Hav. Po Ba Aung was in great pain they had to keep going, carrying aal their equipment with them. Progress was slow and Hav. Po Ba Aung could hardly walk at all. Eventually they reached the comparitive safety of a friendly village some 9 days later, and Po Ba Aung made the first contact with H.Q. In the meantime the Japanese were on their trail. It transpired later that they had been observed on the original drop and the fact had been reported. The Japanese visited every village in the area, beating up the inhabitants and torturing the Headmen, but the party were hiding in the jungle and Po Ba Aung maintained contact with H.Q., passing valuable information.

3. However, on the 29th March 1945 the party were surrounded and attacked with automatic fire and grenades. One sub-agent was killed, but the rest of the party managed to escape by crawling through a cave, although they lost all their arms, equipment and stores. At this stage the party were split up. Two agents eventually contacted an S.O.E. party and remained with them until the end of hostilities.
In the meantime, Hav. Po Ba Aung and the leader of the party, set out to try and reach a pre-arranged emergency D.Z. in the hope of receiving further supplies of food, arms and W/T equipment. After waiting for 3 days hunger drove them to contact villagers for food. They were rocognised and the villagers were very friendly., but this particula village had already had one example of reprisals for helping and S.O.E. party, and in spite of every argument our men could put forward the village Elders insisted on handing them over to the Japanese. Nevertheless, the village Headman agreed to tell a fictitious story that they had given themselves up voluntarily. For some reason this went down well with the Japanese and our men were not badly treated. They were confronted with their captured W/T set and instructed to contact H.Q. Po Ba Aung told them that it would be no good as it had been agreed with H.Q., that if contact was not made for 3 days H.Q. would stop listening. This was believed. They were taken to Toungoo and were put in a truck to be sent to Rangoon. About 10 miles from Toungoo the truck was parked under trees and carefully camouflaged, no moevement being possible on the road during daylight. The R.A.F. however, located the camouflaged truck, straffed it successfully and the truck was burnt out, the W/T set being completly destroyed. After this they were marched for a further 18 miles. The Japanese were in full retreat all along the road, and in the general confusion Po Ba Aung and his companion managed to escape. With the help of friendly Karens they were directec to the H.Q., of an S.O.E. party. Here they were made very welcome and volunteered to work for them. Unfortunately 4 days later they both went down with malaria and had to be evacuated. They were flown out to India where Po Ba Aung spent the next 8 months in hospital. Po Ba Aung's ankle was still painful and required extensive treatment.

4.During this operation it is considered that Po Ba Aung consistendly showed remarkable courga and resource. Inspite of an injured ankle he marched with the party through thick jungle country and maintained W/T contact until the party were surprised. His escape, re-capture, and then re-escape are remarkable stories. Particulary praiseworthy was his successful bluffing of the Japanese into believing that W/T contact with H.Q. was not possible.
For this and his excellent work in the first operation we recommend that he be awardd the Burma Gallantry Medal."