All rights reserved. Circa 1945 was the year when the Imperial Japan invasion of Asia was nearing its ends. 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. Finally, the British soldiers realized the Japaneses situation and urged them to surrender to avoid further bloodshed. [7], The large number of ships was intended to provide more firepower in support of the landing force. [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. Its estimated that 20 Japanese soldiers made it out of the other side of the swamp where British troops were waiting for them. 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. The Ramree Island crocodile attack in January 1945, the deadliest attack of its kind recorded thus far, came just as World War II ended. ----------------Visit my unique travel channel on Youtube - Traveling on the Go ----------------- Here is the claim: Allied forces in the Pacific War during World War II trapped 1,000 Japanese soldiers in a mangrove swamp off the coast of Burma in the early months of 1945. The island that holds the world-record for largest human massacre caused by animals. The incident appears in the Guinness records: Ramree Island was the scene of an alleged massacre of Japanese . 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. 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 smell of blood attracted the nearby crocodiles, devoured the bodies of Japanese soldiers, and attacked the wounded Japanese soldiers left behind. One special ops vet felt a sense of connection with fallen comrades while skydiving over the Egyptian pyramids. The Island had been captured by the Imperial Japanese Army in early 1942, during the invasion of Burma. [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. 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. The design was hopelessly flawed. One night the British soldiers reported hearing panicked screams and gunfire emanating from within the darkness of the swamp. [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. On 23 January, the 71st Infantry Brigade advanced southwards, down the west coast. How many Japanese soldiers were actually eaten by salt water crocodiles? 14 (4): 391405. In all, some 500 Japanese fled Ramree despite the blockade created to stop them. The Legend of Dick Bong: World War II Ace of Aces, Medal of Honor Recipient and Crocodile Killer? Sideleau, B. 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. An active skill, requires 5 Spirit and 5 Stamina to activate. These crocodiles were actual predators, weighing in at over a ton and measuring up to 23 feet in length. Troops of Japanese Fifteenth Army on the border of Burma. Can an Old Coin Solve the Mystery of a Lost Roman Emperor? Unknown to the Imperial Japanese Army, the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island are home to an unknown number of the largest reptilian predator in the world - the saltwater crocodile. 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. Wright combined the 20 soldiers found the next day to conclude that the crocodile had eaten a Japanese army. 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. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. 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. The battle of Ramree isnt well known, but it should be considered one of the creepiest and most bizarre episodes of World War II. [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. One of Platt's subjects claims that crocodiles accounted for some Japanese casualties: "10 to 15 soldiers were killed attempting to ford Min Chaung, a tidal creek near Ramree Town." Field Marshall Slim, in his memoirs, further recounts that a number of Japanese fell victim to sharks prowling in the channel between the island and the . The 20 Most Famous Last Words of All Time. They used to call the crocodiles the allies. [1] Unlike the predatory attacks by Nile and saltwater crocodiles, victims of mugger crocodiles are often not eaten, indicating that many attacks by this species are territorial or defensive rather than predatory. An accurate count of annual crocodile attacks on humans is difficult to obtain. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. The largest one ever officially measured was Lolong, who was a saltwater crocodile who measured 20 feet three inches long and weighed 2,370 pounds. An event at the same time that was recorded as the deadliest known crocodile attack appeared on the Guinness Book of World Records. 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. Galante elaborated that the crocodiles were hungry because the soldiers had already. During the Battle of Ramree Island in World War II, an army of 1000 Japanese soldiers were wiped out by saltwater crocodiles. To counter this, he tries to provide a rational argument and bring a voice of reason to the debate. William DeLong is a freelance wordsmith. "[14] Subsequently, the story was incorporated into the Guinness Book of World Records as the worst animal attack ever recorded, due to Wright's statement that "[o]f about one thousand Japanese soldiers that entered the swamps of Ramree, only about twenty were found alive."[2]. McLynn is disturbed by the willingness of other writers to cite the details provided by Wright and the Guinness Book of Records without confirming the veracity of such information. 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 two sides were stuck in a standoff until the British Royal Marines along with the 36th Indian Infantry Brigade outflanked a Japanese position. Crocodiles are opportunistic feeders, meaning they will eat anything they can get their mouths on, making the Japanese soldiers the perfect prey. 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. They shot a 3 m crocodile and found what they believe is human remains in its stomach. We went in with boats and interpreters using loudhailers asking them to come out. Kaori had been a kendo practitioner before the apocalypse, while Kyoko was a successor of the Tenshin-style sword arts. The following day, the 4th Indian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier J. F. R. Forman) landed, took over the beachhead and occupied Kyaukpyu. 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. Join the list to receive special offers, updates, and everything about Black Rifle Coffee. But exactly how many men died in the maws of the mighty crocs remains up for debate because no one knows how many troops succumbed to disease, dehydration, or starvation as opposed to predation. British troops monitored the situation from afar at the edge of the swamp. 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. [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. 2023 Coffee or Die Magazine. In January 1945, two infantry brigades from the Indian Army and a detachment of British commandos were dispatched to Ramree Island, the largest island off the coast of present-day Myanmar (then known as Burma). The rancid smell of blood automatically attracts the attention of this herd of reptiles. Wikimedia CommonsBritish Marines landing on Ramree Island in January 1945 at the beginning of the six-week battle. (2012). Crocodiles. [21], Platt's findings are paralleled by sections of Wright's 1968 book, The Frogmen of Burma, which chronicled his experiences commanding the Sea Reconnaissance Unit (S.R.U.) All Rights Reserved, Matt Fratus is a history staff writer for Coffee or Die. Refresh the. 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. Some of them being so badly injured and mauled that they were later recaptured by the British forces. 13. Wood, The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats. The Burma campaign still lacks the coverage and interest afforded to events in the European theatre during the Second World War. On the night of the 19th of February 1945, Allied forces in Burma were allegedly aided in their efforts by a group of reptiles which decimated over 90% of their enemy. 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. This disease seriously hindered both sides attempt to gain control of the island. There was a story that hundreds of people died getting slaughter by crocodiles in just one night. They decided to take their chances in the swamp rather than surrender. 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. 0 20 2 minutes read. Photoshopped photo courtesy of opposingfronts.com. A subject of much debate and intrigue among World War II historians, the story of how hundreds of Japanese troops met their gruesome fate in the crocodile-infested marshes of Ramree Island became so widely believed that it was included in the Guinness Book of World Records under the entry for most fatalities in a crocodile attack. And they werent shy about attacking either. 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 January 1945, forces of the Fourteenth Army landed on Ramree and the neighbouring island of Cheduba, to establish airfields for the supply of the mainland campaign. In Hawaii, the Corps deactivated the famous 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines. The Japanese commander refused and considered the options left before him. "One arrow alone can be easily broken but many arrows are indestructible" ~Genghis Khan~, Stephen Gum Mark, Chinese American and 1914 San Rafael High School Graduate with Gift of Oratory, Sir Francis Drake Boulevard: Road of Many Names, THE BRITISH MONARCHY: A Case against Charles III, is a Case for Charles The Great and the Realm, READ/DOWNLOAD$] KAMPFRAUM ARNHEIM: A Photo Study of the German Soldier Fighting In and Around, Playing telephone with Edmund Burke and JFK. Innumerable crocodiles had gathered in the swamps under the water, attracted by the smell of blood coming from the dead and wounded Japanese soldiers. The largest crocodile alive is Cassius who is about 100 years old. A saltwater crocodile (photograph by Heather Paul). The battle is known for claims that hundreds of Japanese soldiers were killed by crocodiles in the mangrove swamps of Ramree. [motor launch] crews ever experienced. Typical male specimens reach 17 feet long and 1,000 pounds and the largest can reach 23 feet and 2,200 pounds. Unfortunately for the Japanese troops, the swamps of Ramree were infested by countless, very large saltwater crocodiles, which can grow upwards of 20 feet long and over a ton in weight. 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. A band of soldiers in search of a secret Japanese ammunition store face off against deadly saltwater crocodiles in the swamps of Ramree Island. Upon entering Ramree Island in the Bay of Bengal in early 1945, Japanese troops encountered a very uncertain situation. Unlike other "man-eating" crocodiles, such as the saltwater crocodile, the Nile crocodile lives in proximity to human populations, so contact is more frequent. Thats when things went from bad to worse and the Ramree Island massacre began. In Burma, the Allies faced a fierce enemy not only adept in jungle warfare and but also notorious for their suicidal kamikaze charges. Dangerous to Man; Wild Animals: A Definitive Study of Their Reputed Dangers to Man, Veterans' Voices: Coventry's Unsung Heroes of the Second World War, "BBC - WW2 People's War - Part 4: 1944 - August 1945", Crocodile massacre of troops debunked as wartime myth, "Man Eating by Estuarine Crocodiles: The Ramree Island Massacre Revisited", Bruce Stanley Wright, 17 September 1912 19 April 1975, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Ramree_Island&oldid=1126172749, This page was last edited on 7 December 2022, at 23:07. [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. Unfortunately, the battle was at a standstill until the . 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. During one of the nights, the British could hear the Japanese soldiers trying to fight the man-eating crocodiles, but their screams were quickly silenced. The swamps were full of saltwater crocodiles. Sgt. One thing is for certain: When given the choice of surrendering or taking chances in a crocodile-infested swamp, choose surrender. The names give some indication of how the dinosaurs lived. Did crocodiles eat Japanese soldiers? Not a single one did. The Allies also had to deal with challenges posed by logistics and supply problems, as well as malaria, cholera, and various other diseases. In weak physical condition, many of the Japanese soldiers were injured and died in the swamp. Required fields are marked *. Two days later Mayin was occupied and the troops reached the Yanbauk Chaung the next day. Dr. Sam Willis, an award-winning historian, archaeologist, and host of National Geographics Nazi Weird War Two, investigated some of World War IIs most bizarre stories, including Hitlers methheads and Himmlers haunted castle. In September 2005, Russell Harris, a 37-year-old British engineer, was killed by a large saltwater crocodile while snorkeling off Picnic Beach in Australia. No purchase necessary. 8. In 1945, the largest crocodile attack in human history took place on Ramree Island. Animal Weekis November 18 - 22, 2013 on Atlas Obscura. Reportedly, the Japanese troops, as if they hadn't endured enough, became victims to countless Saltwater crocodile attacks. Crocodiles lurk from deep in the dark marsh water, with their eyes poking slightly above the water's surface. 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." The Weapons The Japanese Type 26 revolver was a beautifully executed piece of tactical trash. According to one Allied commander: Without an accurate reporting system in place, crocodile attacks in Africa are difficult to track and very few are reproduced here. + A sting operation is a more sophisticated way to trap criminals. Oct 11, 2016 Goran Blazeski During World War II, The Japanese Imperial Army captured Ramree Island in 1942. 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). Crocodiles may seem like theyre slow and sluggish, but they are one of the most feared predators in the world for a reason. In January 1945, two. Sterling Pub Co Inc (1983), Last edited on 22 December 2022, at 20:31, "Crocodile Attack in Australia: An Analysis of Its Incidence and Review of the Pathology and Management of Crocodilian Attacks in General", 10.1580/1080-6032(2005)16[143:CAIAAA]2.0.CO;2, "Five Killer Croc Attacks Part Two: "Back Against The Wall", "Jual Batik Modern Murah - Pesona Batik Indonesia (0231) 8820445", Croc kills kid at holiday park: News24: World: News, "Crocodile attack victim Briony Goodsell, 11, was swimming near the Black Jungle Swamp", Lauren Failla DEAD: Vanderbilt Alum Killed By Crocodile 4 Years After Sister Dies In Climbing Accident, "River guide believed killed by crocodile in Congo", "NatGeo team confirms Lolong the croc is world's longest", "Philippine town claims world's largest crocodile title", "Woman watches friend dragged off beach by crocodile at night", "FT journalist presumed dead after being 'dragged into water by crocodile', "Briton killed by crocodile while washing hands in lagoon identified as FT journalist", "Zimbabwe crocodile attack bride tells of renewed hope", "Bride who lost arm to crocodile details horrific attack", "Indonesia mob slaughters nearly 300 crocodiles in revenge killing", "Bloodthirsty mob slaughters 300 crocodiles in revenge after villager eaten alive", "A Scientist Has Been Eaten Alive By A Crocodile", "The Revered Crocodiles of This Island Nation Have Suddenly Started Killing People", "Zambia crocodile attack: Amelie Osborn-Smith to return to UK", "Friend punched crocodile repeatedly to stop it eating British teenager", "National Museum of Australia - Val Plumwood canoe", Crocodile kills man securing boat from storm in Philippines, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Crocodile_attack&oldid=1128943972, On March 29, 1987, Ginger Faye Meadows, an American model, was killed by a crocodile while swimming in the, On May 22, 1992, an Iban girl, Dayang anak Bayang was killed by, In January 2001, attacks by mugger crocodiles were reported on tribal population around the, In October 2002, 23-year-old German student Isabel von Jordan was killed by a saltwater crocodile in Australia's. "[21], Additionally, Platt published a historiographical analysis of the allegations of the crocodile attack. The story of the Ramree massacre was reported in a number of papers, but the tale is still largely apocryphal. An average saltwater crocodile can easily reach 23 feet. It's the noise of hell. 900 soldiers entered the swamp only 20 emerged. Mosquitoes, spiders, poisonous snakes, and scorpions hid in the thick forest and picked off some troops one by one. 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. Unfortunately, the battle was at a standstill until the British Royal Marines and the 36th Indian Bridge flanked the Japanese soldiers. Only 20 of the Japanese fighters made it out alive. Those who survived the battle reportedly didnt fare well when they chose the doomed escape route across the crocodile-infested waters. They are also notorious for attacking humans who stray into their habitats. This post will reveal the historical account of the Ramree Island Massacre. 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. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. [8] It took until 16 April for the airfield to be used for transport sorties, Akyab having come into use on 1 April. In 1945 during the Battle of Ramree Island an estimated 500 Japanese soldiers entered the swamps of Ramree island, Burma, according to the stories less than 20 of them emerged. It is undoubtedly a gripping tale, so its not surprising that this account has motivated a swathe of articles. As part of his research, he visited the marshes of Ramree Island and interviewed locals. The island is 70 miles south of Akyab and is known as Sittwe. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. You dont want to get bit by this creature, though, as their bite force is the strongest in the animal kingdom. Sideleau, B. 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. 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 This was particularly so in the mangrove swamps where such reptiles thrive, like on Ramree Island. [1] Each year, hundreds of deadly attacks are attributed to the Nile crocodile in Sub-Saharan Africa. After all, these were soldiers who had offered upstubborn resistance to the British Fourteenth Army under the leadership of Lieutenant General William Slim. 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 . Out of the 1,000 Japanese soldiers that ventured into the mangrove swamps, its estimated that only 480 made it out alive. Military officials decided to press on, and the Japanese continued their journey through the mangrove swamps. The body is protected against danger and predator. Moreover, even a medium-sized saltwater crocodile could easily kill a human. Many of the Japanese troops succumbed to tropical diseases carried by swarms of mosquitoes, as well as the various poisonous spiders, snakes and scorpions found in the marsh. The story comes from the writings of Bruce Stanley Wright, a British naturalist who was presumed to be at the scene. After just a few days, these ravenous creatures devoured more than 500 Japanese soldiers. No evidence, that is, unless one believes a solitary account by a mysterious character. 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. 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. Japanese soldiers hid in the swamp, not knowing of the danger that lies ahead - saltwater crocodiles! 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. "[12] In his 1962 collection Wildlife Sketches Near and Far, Canadian naturalist and veteran of the Burma campaign Bruce S. Wright described the events of the battle, focusing on predation of the Japanese soldiers by the saltwater crocodiles. This type of crocodile can grow as much as 20 feet in length and can weigh about 22,000 pounds. Join us onFacebook,Twitter(#AnimalWeek), andTumblrfor even more animal action and to share your own tales of fascinating fauna. Saltwater crocodiles are not to be underestimated. [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). British troops sit near a temple on Ramree Island. Somewhere between 1,200 and 1,500 soldiers from the Imperial Japanese Armys 54th Division were entrenched on Ramree. The Japanese didnt realize that these mangrove swamps were a death trap in disguise, but they wouldnt figure that out until later. 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. 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 Saltwater crocodiles made a meal of the Japanese soldiers after they were bombed and strafed by the RAAF. Account has japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles a swathe of articles death trap in disguise, the... Japaneses situation and urged them to come out these mangrove swamps were a death trap in disguise but. Measuring up to 23 feet and 2,200 pounds who was presumed to be at the same Time was... Ammunition store face off against deadly saltwater crocodiles conclude that the crocodile attack human. Sense of connection with fallen comrades while skydiving over the Egyptian pyramids feet and 2,200 pounds 17 feet long 1,000! 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