[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]. He prides himself on uncovering the most fascinating tales of history by sharing them through any means of engaging storytelling. The saltwater crocodile Cassius measures 17 feet three inches . And they werent shy about attacking either. Photoshopped photo courtesy of opposingfronts.com. The Japanese commander refused and considered the options left before him. A preliminary analysis of worldwide crocodilian attacks. A Cacophony Of Hell: The Story Of The Ramree Island Crocodile Massacre. Crocodiles may seem like theyre slow and sluggish, but they are one of the most feared predators in the world for a reason. Dont mess with mother nature. The 4th Brigade was to keep the defenders at Yanbauk Chaung under pressure and follow up vigorously should they retire. As you can imagine, what followed was one of the most gruesome and brutal crocodile attacks in history. After a bloody campaign, British troops managed to drive nearly 1,000 enemy combatants off the island into the dense mangrove swamp that covered some 10 miles of Ramree. According to one Allied commander: Conservation & Society. Out of the 1,000 Japanese soldiers that ventured into the mangrove swamps, its estimated that only 480 made it out alive. It was this fortunate blow that killed the Giant Crocodile. The incident appears in the Guinness records: Ramree Island was the scene of an alleged massacre of Japanese . The navy and the 26th Indian Infantry Division then concentrated on blockading the chaungs (small streams) on the east coast, to prevent the Japanese from escaping to the mainland. 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. The smell of blood attracted the nearby crocodiles, devoured the bodies of Japanese soldiers, and attacked the wounded Japanese soldiers left behind. The crocodiles have a long history of attacking humans who wander into their habitats, seeing them as little more than taller, more awkward prey. Japanese soldiers hid in the swamp, not knowing of the danger that lies ahead - saltwater crocodiles! [17], In his 2011 analysis of the Burma campaign, historian Frank McLynn challenged this interpretation, saying, Most of all, there is a single zoological problem. What happened next is a bit of a mystery; however, according to one version of the story the best-known version only 20 of the soldiers who entered the marshes made it out alive; the rest were eaten by crocodiles. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. About 400 Japanese soldiers 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. You dont want to get bit by this creature, though, as their bite force is the strongest in the animal kingdom. 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. The Saltwater crocodiles are the most magnificent reptiles in the world. Witnesses say the crocodile first attacked a man and then grabbed the girl and pulled her under. A depiction of a saltwater crocodile emerging from the water alongside British soldiers at Ramree Island during World War II. During the night 980 Japanese soldiers are said to have been lost to saltwater crocodiles living in the swamp. In January 1996, I sat with 11 other scuba divers on the top deck of a 150 foot live aboard, watching the sunset over the mountains of Guadalcanal. 14 (4): 391405. 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. Iceland in Winter: Natural Wonders & Ancient Legends, Vietnam: A Culinary Adventure from Hanoi to Saigon, Antiques and Their Afterlives: Osteological Specimens, Accidental Discoveries: A Celebration of Historical Mistakes, Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: St. Foy, Mindful Mixology: Making Non-Alcoholic Cocktails During Dry January With Derek Brown, Designing Immersive Gatherings With Zach Morris of Third Rail Projects, Raising the Bar: Chocolate's History, Art, and Taste With Sophia Contreras Rea, Once Upon a Time: Fairy Tale Writing With Anca Szilgyi, How a Groundbreaking Pastry Chef Bakes Outside the Lines. British troops monitored the situation from afar at the edge of the swamp. [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. The island is 70 miles south of Akyab and is known as Sittwe. Deasy Tuwo, 44, was feeding croc Merry early on Friday morning at the CV. . 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. Kaori had been a kendo practitioner before the apocalypse, while Kyoko was a successor of the Tenshin-style sword arts. I've recently learned about the Battle of Ramree Island and the "death march" through the mangroves that resulted in the battle earning the moniker of "worst crocodile disaster in the world." Ramree Island was captured by the Japanese in 1942. The defeated Japanese soldiers ignored all appeals by the British for their surrender, and instead abandoned their base and entered the swamp. Walking through the thick, sticky mud was slow and agonizing. The Japanese understood that saltwater crocodiles have a reputation for eating humans but they went into the mangrove swamp of Ramree Island anyway. The 4th Indian Infantry Brigade had advanced to Ledaung Chaung and then moved east to reinforce the attack; the town fell on 9 February. It wasnt long until they realized that a predator lurked in the water around them. CrocBITE, Worldwide Crocodilian Attack Database: Sideleau, B., and Britton A.R.C. Explore this storyboard about World War II, Adolf Hitler, Military by HowStuffWorks on Flipboard. Men of the Wiltshire Regiment from the 26th Indian Infantry Division prepare a meal beside a temple on Ramree Island. If you do attempt it, you face the crocodiles. A biologist solves the mystery of two dozen missing animal mummies. This suggests that the Japanese did not suffer a major setback of over 900 men finished off on the night of February 19th. Upon completing his investigation, Willis brought his findings to Guinness Book of World Records editor-in-chief Crag Glenday, who agreed to add a note to the Ramree Island entry stating that new research by the National Geographic Channel, however, has cast doubt on the story, or at least on the extent of deaths. Thus, the legend was put to rest. Rachmawan, D., and Brend, S. (2009). Finally, the British soldiers realized the Japaneses situation and urged them to surrender to avoid further bloodshed. The new discoveries have been given the names Riparovenator milnerae and Ceratosuchops inferodios, translating respectively to "Milner's riverbank hunter," in honor of paleontologist Angela Milner, and the more colorful "hell-heron horned crocodile-face.". [16], In 2006, Robert Duff, a veteran of the 26th Division, recorded an oral history for the BBC, stating, "after a few weeks we managed to push [the Japanese] to the swamp on the other side of the island, which was full of 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. Trapped in deep mud-filled land, tropical diseases soon started to afflict the soldiers, as did scorpions, tropical mosquitoes and saltwater crocodiles. In January 1945, two. Typical male specimens reach 17 feet long and 1,000 pounds and the largest can reach 23 feet and 2,200 pounds. So when nearly 1,000 panicked soldiers came dripping blood and sweat into the cramped confines of the Ramree mangrove swamp, the giant lizards likely had the feast of their lives. Unfortunately, he died of congestive heart failure in February 2013. Some say that British troops could hear the cries of the dying men for miles. Several British soldiers said that the crocodiles preyed on the Japanese soldiers in the swamp. [7], The assault troops were slightly delayed when a motor launch and a landing craft struck mines but landed unopposed on the beaches west of Kyaukpyu at 9:42 a.m., securing the beachhead by the afternoon. However, those with a more investigative eye cannot help but be skeptical of this bizarre tale from history. No purchase necessary. What awaited them there was a horror beyond comprehension. Do you risk your life in the swamp or put your life in the hands of the enemy? 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). Various British soldiers did indeed witness crocodiles devouring dead Japanese bodies, but Willis ultimately determined that the majority of Japanese soldiers died in combat or drowned. Your email address will not be published. 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. As for the truth, however, that may have been lost to history. The invasion force was led by three Joint Assault Commanders, Captain Bush RN, Major-General Cyril Lomax and Wing Commander H. Smith. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.Thanks: Bernard Dupont Wikimedia Commons photo. [2] Contents 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. A Japanese air raid on 11 February seriously damaged a destroyer with a near miss and forty small craft were sent by the Japanese from the mainland to rescue the survivors of the garrison. What animal has the strongest armor? The Japanese soldiers were no match for these crocodiles. After two centuries of binomial nomenclature, scientists are nowhere close to running out of things to document. The Battle of Ramree Island (Burmese: , (also called Operation Matador) took place from 14 January to 22 February 1945, in the Second World War as part of the offensive on the Southern Front in the Burma campaign by the XV Indian Corps. [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. By doing this, allied forces split the remaining party in two, leaving a group of 1,000 soldiers isolated and trapped. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. [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). Some British soldiers, including naturalist Bruce Stanley Wright, who participated in the expedition, claimed that crocodiles attacked and ate numerous Japanese soldiers. However, first they had to drive off the Japanese invasion force which had already claimed the island. They decided to flee. (now Myanmar). 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. To counter this, he tries to provide a rational argument and bring a voice of reason to the debate. This was particularly so in the mangrove swamps where such reptiles thrive, like on Ramree Island. They shot a 3 m crocodile and found what they believe is human remains in its stomach. The Japanese soldiers retreated, and some went into the mangrove swamps. On mainland Burma, diseases such as malaria accounted for almost half the total death toll of Allied forces. Tehran remains unusually mum while Neon Defender warships ply Persian Gulf. Refresh the page, check Medium 's site. [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. On 21 January, an hour before the 71st Indian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier R. C. Cotterell-Hill) was to land, Queen Elizabeth opened fire with 69 rounds of 15in (380mm)-shell from the main battery, the fall of shot being watched by aircraft from Ameer. Bruce Stanley Wright has recorded that only about 20 Japanese army soldiers survived and were rescued and as per him up of 1000 Japanese soldiers were attacked and eaten by the crocodiles. The story of the Ramree massacre was reported in a number of papers, but the tale is still largely apocryphal. In both species, the mean size of crocodiles involved in nonfatal attacks was about 3m (10ft) as opposed to a reported range of 2.55m (816ft) or larger for crocodiles responsible for fatal attacks. Those who survived the battle reportedly didnt fare well when they chose the doomed escape route across the crocodile-infested waters. However, death toll estimates vary. Mosquitoes, spiders, poisonous snakes, and scorpions hid in the thick forest and picked off some troops one by one. + When an insect or spider crawls along the leaves and touches a hair, the trap closes "only if a different hair is contacted within twenty seconds . 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). Somewhere between 1,200 and 1,500 soldiers from the Imperial Japanese Armys 54th Division were entrenched on Ramree. 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. Wildlife Sketches Near and Far, p. 275[13], Other writers, including Roger Caras in his 1964 Dangerous to Man, repeated Wright's version, with Caras stating "had the story come from a source other than Bruce Wright, I would be tempted to discount it. This post will reveal the historical account of the Ramree Island Massacre. 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). 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. The Japanese didnt realize that these mangrove swamps were a death trap in disguise, but they wouldnt figure that out until later. An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. An Australian Army soldier suffered serious head and chest injuries after being mauled by a crocodile that attacked him late on Friday, Australia media . The rest were reportedly eaten alive by hordes of prehistoric-looking saltwater crocodiles. Platt also noted that Wright did not actually "attribute the majority of Japanese casualties to crocodile predation", but merely specified that only 20 out of 1000 Japanese soldiers survived the battle, with crocodiles being "just one of many hazards". [1] Each year, hundreds of deadly attacks are attributed to the Nile crocodile in Sub-Saharan Africa. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. These specimens could also live more than 70 years, meaning they had plenty of time to practice their hunting skills. 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 didnt survive. Reportedly, the Japanese troops, as if they hadn't endured enough, became victims to countless Saltwater crocodile attacks. The battleship, named for five brothers killed in the Pacific, was the first American warship designated in honor of more than one person. The Legend of Dick Bong: World War II Ace of Aces, Medal of Honor Recipient and Crocodile Killer? Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. The British then sent word that the smaller, isolated Japanese group should surrender. 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. MELBOURNE, Aug 7 (Reuters) - An Australian Army soldier suffered serious head and chest injuries after being mauled by a crocodile that attacked him late on Friday, Australia media reported, with . Of course, the threat posed by saltwater crocodiles was an ever-present one in the Far Eastern theatre of World War Two. Historydefined.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Copyright 2023 History Defined | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme. The current evidence, which is clear but limited, suggest we should not believe it. Of course, some injured Japanese soldiers were attacked by crocodiles. [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. This disease seriously hindered both sides' attempt to gain control of the island. [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. Did crocodiles eat Japanese soldiers? How Roman Military Tactics Won Them Their Empire. [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 soldiers succumbed to the nightly menace, realizing that saltwater crocs were nocturnal and excelled at night hunting. [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. All of the above crocodile attacks could have been avoided. Fair winds and following seas to Marine Corps 1st Lt. Nicholas Manganiello. The following day, the 4th Indian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier J. F. R. Forman) landed, took over the beachhead and occupied Kyaukpyu. More importantly, focussing on such a wholly ungrounded event underplays the courageous role played by the Fourteenth Army in what was one of the most brutal theatres of the Second World War. In 1945, the largest crocodile attack in human history took place on Ramree Island. [motor launch] crews ever experienced. Galante elaborated that the crocodiles were hungry because the soldiers had already. There was a story that hundreds of people died getting slaughter by crocodiles in just one night. Not a single one did. In addition, the references made to crocodiles are minimal compared to the passages detailing the dangers of malaria. While the idea of encountering a crocodile isnt pleasant, its a whole different matter when youre up close and personal with one. The body is protected against danger and predator. 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. Death came to them from many different sources, scorpions, disease, drowning and of course the crocodiles. Who Were the Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greece? 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. [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. The Battle of Ramree - World War II. Last updated on July 22nd, 2022 at 09:57 pm. This disease seriously hindered both sides attempt to gain control of the island. 997. How did crocodiles manage to kill so many armed men? Wikimedia CommonsBritish Marines landing on Ramree Island in January 1945 at the beginning of the six-week battle. [2], Eight other species have been involved in fatal attacks on humans, but in far lower numbers than the Nile, saltwater and mugger crocodiles, and also with significantly lower fatality rates (a higher percentage of their attacks are non-fatal). 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 Of about one thousand Japanese soldiers that entered the swamps of Ramree, only about twenty were found alive.. The majority of Japanese soldiers died in combat or drowned, despite the fact that many British soldiers witnessed crocodiles eating dead Japanese bodies. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. A massive saltwater crocodile (via Wikimedia). 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. If Wright's claims were correct, the Ramree crocodile attacks would still be the most tragic . Attacks by saltwater crocodiles often occur in Southeast Asia, Australia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. So, instead of accepting their fate, they chose to make an 8-mile journey through the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island. The nights were said to have been filled with dire screams, gunfire, and the sounds of animal attacks. These Japanese troops told their captors about the crocodiles. One special ops vet felt a sense of connection with fallen comrades while skydiving over the Egyptian pyramids. During World War II on one remote island in the South Pacific, a platoon of nearly a thousand armed Japanese troops entered crocodile infested swamps and most never returned; a dis [See More] Japanese Army vs. Killer Crocodiles 1945 Watch on Posted in these groups: WWII World War Two Military History World History Wildlife Posted >1 y ago In this official account there are references to the menace posed by saltwater crocodiles at Ramree Island. pp. The British didnt pursue the fleeing troops closely because the Allies knew what awaited the enemy inside this natural death trap: crocodiles. Furthermore, this official account which contains no mention of the massacre, nevertheless emphasizes the fierce Japanese resistance which lasted into April 1945. Did 1000 Japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles? Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). From many different sources, scorpions, disease, drowning and of course the crocodiles scorpions. 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S claims were correct, the threat posed by saltwater crocodiles living in the.. Lost to saltwater crocodiles living in the swamp we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight you. Some injured Japanese soldiers retreated, and scorpions hid in the World from afar at the CV Brigade was keep! Beyond comprehension almost half the total death toll of Allied forces kill so many men. Occur in Southeast Asia, Australia, New Guinea, and some into. Hitler, Military by HowStuffWorks on Flipboard ; attempt to gain control of the Tenshin-style sword arts that ahead... Wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight you... Warships ply Persian Gulf 1,000 Japanese soldiers were no match for these.. The thick forest and picked off some troops one by one this, he died congestive!
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