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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 122

'Everyone who manned those Carriers on Donbaik beach, knowing that there was a grave possibility of being blasted to hell, deserved the highest recognition and I am proud to be associated with them.

'Bert' Causey on the action at Donbaik, which won Parkash Singh his Victoria Cross

The campaign group of five awarded to Captain A Causey, 5-8th Punjab Regiment, who was severely wounded at Donbaik in 1943; unable to evacuate his crippled Bren Gun Carrier, Havildar Parkash Singh entered the stage to rescue him and won his remarkable Victoria Cross in the process

Most incredibly, Causey & Singh were re-united by Thames TV on the very Carrier to re-live the events - the recording survives to this day


1939-45 Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S. E. Asia 1945-46 (Capt. A. Causey, 5-8 Punjab), very fine (4)

Albert Causey was born at Wigan on 28 January 1919. Causey was a drapery salesman when he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 12 February 1942, into the 8th Punjab Regiment. He was the Platoon Commander of the Bren gun carrier section which took part in the major action at Donbaik supported by the Inniskilling Fusiliers.

The objective was the Japanese naval and air base on Akyab Island which lay at the end of the Mayu Peninsula. This consisted of a narrow, steep and jungle covered range of hills which separated the narrow coastal plain on the Bay of Bengal from the fertile rice growing valley of the Mayu River. Two roads skirted the Mayu peninsula. On the western side, a good coastal road led along the Bay of Bengal towards the Japanese base at Donbaik north of Akab. On the eastern side another, less good, road led along the foothills skirting the Mayu River.

The capture of Akyab would provide the base for all operations against the Japanese flank. A plan for a seaborne assault had to be abandoned because sufficient naval forces, particularly landing craft, were not available. Instead, a land-based attack down the Mayu peninsula was put in place. This was to be carried out by 14th Indian Division, commanded by Mayor General W. L. Lloyd. In this Division were the Inniskilling's in 47th Infantry Brigade, with two other battalions, 1st Battalion, 7th Rajput Regiment and 5th Battalion, 8th Punjab Regiment.

The first attack on Donbaik was by 47th Brigade on 7-9 January. The attack was repulsed however the Japanese defensive bunkers could not be penetrated by field artillery.

Short stories from the British Indian Army takes up the story:

'Once again, 8 Punjab was tasked to attack and capture the same Japanese Company position at Donbaik. The attack was launched on 19 January with additional carriers. This time Havildar Prakash Singh was the Bren gun carrier commander. During the assault, the Japanese had knocked out many Bren carriers with accurate fire from their anti-tank weapons. One of them went in flames. Having seen this Hav. Prakash Singh moved his carrier to a safer position. From there he observed the enemy and engaged them. At that time one of the carriers in which his Battalion officer Lieutenant Bert Causey was leading the attack had broken down due to enemy fire.

Prakash moved out from his safe place towards the immobilized carrier under enemy fire and found Lt. Causey and one more man inside the carrier. He realized that both were seriously wounded and would endanger their life if he moved them to his own carrier. L. Causey told him to leave him alone and go away from the enemy fire. Prakash refused to leave them in that condition. With total disregard to his own safety, he improvised a tow chain and towed the broken-down carrier o safety and saved their lives.' (In the account above Prakash is spelt incorrectly.)

Causey being the Section Commander was in the lead carrier when it was halted by an anti-tank round. It severed the legs of Causey's driver and seriously wounded Causey. His Havildar seeing that his commander was wounded rescued him and other comrades. For his bravery on this day and earlier Havildar Parkash Singh was awarded the Victoria Cross, which today is on public display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum London.

The citation gives good detail:

'Singh's Victoria Cross citation:

'On the 6th January, 1943, at Donbaik, Mayu Peninsula, Burma, when two Carriers had been put out of action, Havildar Parkash Singh drove forward in his own Carrier and rescued the two crews under very heavy fire. At the time, the crews of the disabled Carriers had expended their ammunition, and the enemy were rushing the two disabled Carriers on foot. This N.C.O.'s timely and courageous action, entirely on his own initiative, saved the lives of the crews and their weapons.

On the 19th January, 1943, in the same area, three Carriers were put out of action by an enemy anti-tank gun and lay on the open beach covered by enemy anti-tank and machine-gun fire. One of these Carriers was carrying the survivors of another Carrier in addition to its own crew. Havildar Parkash Singh, on seeing what had happened, went out from a safe position in his own Carrier, and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, rescued the combined crews from one disabled Carrier, together with the weapons from the Carrier.

Having brought the crews to safety, he again went out on the open beach in his Carrier, still under very heavy anti-tank and machine-gun fire and with the utmost disregard for his personal safety, dismounted and connected a towing chain on to a disabled Carrier containing two wounded men. Still under fire, he directed the towing of the disabled Carrier from under enemy fire to a place of safety. Havildar Parkash Singh's very gallant actions, entirely on his own initiative, were an inspiration to all ranks both British and Indian.'

Causey later served as the Intelligence Officer for the 49th Infantry Brigade in South-East Asia (Medal & clasp). For the extraordinary story told by the men themselves, produced by Thames Television, please see:

youtu.be/U2hIjmwnV98



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Estimate
£1,400 to £1,800

Starting price
£1200