It is difficult to counter any of the reasonable arguments put forward by McLynn as there is simply no evidence to the contrary. CrocBITE, Worldwide Crocodilian Attack Database: Sideleau, B., and Britton A.R.C. Unfortunately, these reptiles are some of the most territorial species on earth and arent afraid to show aggression toward people, especially biting. They didnt know what exactly caused the shouts of terror they heard, but only that the Japanese troops were being ravaged by some evil menace. 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. The likeliness of hearing of the Battle of Ramree Island is incredibly small due to it not being one of the Second World Wars most significant skirmishes, but many consider it one of the oddest and creepiest stories in the history of warfare. And helped launch a corporation now worth more than $40 billion. The Japanese understood that saltwater crocodiles have a reputation for eating humans but they went into the mangrove swamp of Ramree Island anyway. Hundreds of crocodiles lurked in the murky waters, hungry for human flesh. [1] These are the West African crocodile (often considered quite harmless,[4] but has been involved in several attacks, also fatal),[5] American crocodile (only a few documented fatalities),[3][6][7] the Morelet's crocodile (typically considered a relatively non-threatening species, but there have been several fatal attacks),[7][8] Orinoco crocodile (fatalities recorded in the 1930s and earlier when the species was more common, but today it is very rare),[9][10] Cuban crocodile (generally considered aggressive, but only one confirmed fatality),[3][11] black caiman (fatal attacks confirmed in Brazil, but possibly underreported because of its remote range),[3] American alligator (making up an estimated 6% of fatal crocodilian attacks),[2] and false gharial (only a few confirmed fatalities, all involving very large false gharials). However, there is no specific mention of the crocodile attack devouring over 900 Japanese. 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. Crocodile attacks are not always reported to local authorities, and some reports are difficult to verify. But rather than accept surrender, the Japanese chose to make an eight-mile journey through a mangrove swamp. Photoshopped image courtesy of opposingfronts.com. [22] Interviewing other members of the S.R.U., Wright reported that two of the men abandoned their paddleboards during the battle and climbed up a mangrove tree to avoid a crocodile. Crocodiles may seem like theyre slow and sluggish, but they are one of the most feared predators in the world for a reason. Recent reports of fatal attacks on humans by crocodiles in Mexico. (now Myanmar). For a start, he points out the lack of evidence for Wrights claim that he was at the scene. 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.. While the US and NATO have yet to commit to sending full-size tanks, the Bradley is a potent armored vehicle for a mechanized war. The Japanese soldiers retreated, and some went into the mangrove swamps. 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. In addition, saltwater crocodiles are far from a misunderstood monster. You dont want to get bit by this creature, though, as their bite force is the strongest in the animal kingdom. Of course, the threat posed by saltwater crocodiles was an ever-present one in the Far Eastern theatre of World War Two. [10], In the 1965 edition of the British official history, Stanley Woodburn-Kirby wrote that the Japanese force suffered about 500 men killed and twenty men taken prisoner; British losses were "trifling".[11]. Another additional problem for the Japanese troops was the lack of drinking water and constant threat of starvation. It is located in Myanmar, and it is the most dangerous island in the world. One special ops vet felt a sense of connection with fallen comrades while skydiving over the Egyptian pyramids. But are we really to believe that a sizable force of trained Japanese soldiers was decimated by an onslaught of crocodiles? All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. An event at the same time that was recorded as the deadliest known crocodile attack appeared on the Guinness Book of World Records. These prehistoric holdovers can grow to over 20 feet in length and over 2,000 pounds in some cases, and although examples that size are rare, even a mid-sized crocodile of the species could easily kill a full grown adult human. Explore this storyboard about World War II, Adolf Hitler, Military by HowStuffWorks on Flipboard. The Japanese soldiers were no match for these crocodiles. What awaited them there was a horror beyond comprehension. British troops in a landing craft make their way ashore on Ramree Island, 21 January 1945. The 20 Most Famous Last Words of All Time. During World War II, The Japanese Imperial Army captured Ramree Island in 1942. The rest were allegedly eaten alive by . Read Next: The Legend of Dick Bong: World War II Ace of Aces, Medal of Honor Recipient and Crocodile Killer? 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. [1], The two species with the most well-known and documented reputation for preying on humans are the Nile crocodile and saltwater crocodile, and these are the perpetrators of the vast majority of both fatal and non-fatal crocodilian attacks. Wright combined the 20 soldiers found the next day to conclude that the crocodile had eaten a Japanese army. Only 20 of the Japanese fighters made it out alive. A depiction of a saltwater crocodile emerging from the water alongside British soldiers at Ramree Island during World War II. [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. 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. 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. Unfortunately, the battle was at a standstill until the . Troops of Japanese Fifteenth Army on the border of Burma. 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 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. 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. Thats when things went from bad to worse and the Ramree Island massacre began. So while the historical accounts are unclear, the British almost certainly did encounter the 20 Japanese soldiers who explained the horrors they endured. [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. If the British 14th Army succeeded in taking the island, it could build an airbase there and use it as a launch point for bombing missions over Burma and Malaysia. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. They decided to flee. 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. During the night 980 Japanese soldiers are said to have been lost to saltwater crocodiles living in the swamp. Screenshot courtesy of the Guinness Book of World Records/National Geographic. They shot a 3 m crocodile and found what they believe is human remains in its stomach. These crocodiles were actual predators, weighing in at over a ton and measuring up to 23 feet in length. Japanese soldiers hid in the swamp, not knowing of the danger that lies ahead - saltwater crocodiles! 14 (4): 391405. Refresh the. On Feb. 25, 1945, the British newspaper The Guardian reported that Japanese stragglers who are trying to escape from Ramree Island off the west coast of Burma, are being forced by hunger out of mangrove swamps and many have been killed by crocodiles. From there, the story took on a life of its own. The Japanese soldiers were soon faced with a decision: stay and die of disease or dehydration, venture further into the swamps, and risk being eaten alive. pp. To counter this, he tries to provide a rational argument and bring a voice of reason to the debate. 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 On the 19th of the month, the Japanese unit attempted to make its way through 10 miles of swamp to link up with a larger unit. 8. 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. 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 set up a perimeter around the thick wilderness. As part of their retreat they had to cross a 16km mangrove swamp. "[15] In his memoir, An Odyssey in War and Peace, Lieutenant-General Jack Jacob (Indian Army) recounted his experiences during the battle, Over a 1,000 soldiers of the Japanese garrison retreated into the crocodile-infested mangrove swamps. In this official account there are references to the menace posed by saltwater crocodiles at Ramree Island. As the boat moved away from the shore and headed out to sea the intense heat and humidity of mid-summer began to fade as we sailed into an ocean climate. Nine hundred soldiers of an Imperial Japanese Army unit, in an attempt to retreat from the Royal Navy and rejoin a larger battalion of the Japanese infantry, crossed through sixteen kilometres (ten miles) of mangrove swamps that contained saltwater crocodiles. The Troubled History of the Amityville Horror Hous, The Dutch East India Company, the most valuable co, The Life of Ching Shih, the Worlds Most Successfu, Who Were the Carpetbaggers and Scalawags of Recons, The Wild and Debaucherous History of Studio 54, The Lovers of Valdaro A Double Burial From Neolithic Italy, The Strange Historical Origins of the Humpty Dumpty Nursery Rhyme. The soldiers were viciously and mercilessly attacked by the crocodiles. Typical male specimens reach 17 feet long and 1,000 pounds and the largest can reach 23 feet and 2,200 pounds. How many Japanese soldiers were actually eaten by salt water crocodiles? 2023 Coffee or Die Magazine. The mangrove swamp was thick with mud and it was slow-going. He writes for his micro-blog. Resistance at the chaung from the troops of the II Battalion, 121st Regiment increased and on 31 January, the 71st Brigade was ordered to move inland, north-east towards Sane, then head south towards Ramree town. 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). The body is protected against danger and predator. 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. After just a few days, these ravenous creatures devoured more than 500 Japanese soldiers. In January 1945, during World War II, the Allies were fighting the Japanese at the Battle of Ramree Island in Myanmar. What will one do when you have to face death on both ends of a road Director Steve Lawson Writer Steve Lawson Stars Charlie Bond Steven Dolton Ryan Harvey See production, box office & company info Watch on Prime Video [7] When the British outflanked a Japanese stronghold, the 900 defenders abandoned the base and marched to join a larger force of Japanese soldiers across the island. Many historians debunk the tale of the massacre, but some facts do point to some veracity of the incident. Upon entering Ramree Island in the Bay of Bengal in early 1945, Japanese troops encountered a very uncertain situation. It is estimated that each year hundreds of people die from crocodile attacks in Africa many of these attacks are never reported in the media. 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. This post will reveal the historical account of the Ramree Island Massacre. However, we must ask the question: did this event really occur? [2] Contents In weak physical condition, many of the Japanese soldiers were injured and died in the swamp. [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. Inspired by actual events during World War 2. In addition, the references made to crocodiles are minimal compared to the passages detailing the dangers of malaria. 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. Wikimedia Commons photo. The names give some indication of how the dinosaurs lived. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. No purchase necessary. Wikimedia CommonsBritish Marines landing on Ramree Island in January 1945 at the beginning of the six-week battle. On January 26, 1945, British troops made their way to Ramree Island so that they could establish a new airbase. Deasy Tuwo, 44, was feeding croc Merry early on Friday morning at the CV. But what really happened?. 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