japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles

According to one Allied commander: So, instead of accepting their fate, they chose to make an 8-mile journey through the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island. The naturalist Bruce Stanley Wright described the scene unfolding in his 1962 book,Wildlife Sketches Near and Far: That night was the most horrible that any member of the M.L. But, of course, the British werent surprised as saltwater crocodiles are notoriously territorial and will attack any human they view as a threat or potential food source. The incident appears in the Guinness records: Ramree Island was the scene of an alleged massacre of Japanese . Its been dubbed one of the worst crocodile attacks in the Guinness Book of World Records. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). 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. In February of 1945, the Japanese army suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of British forces in Burma. (2012). Read Next: The Legend of Dick Bong: World War II Ace of Aces, Medal of Honor Recipient and Crocodile Killer? The invasion force was led by three Joint Assault Commanders, Captain Bush RN, Major-General Cyril Lomax and Wing Commander H. Smith. For example, the British official history (War against Japan Volume IV: The Reconquest of Burma, 1965 (2004)) serves as the main source in the study of the Fourteenth Armys attempt to drive the overstretched Japanese from Burma beginning in the late summer of 1944. The weary and bloodied soldiers thrashing clumsily through the swamps may as well have been a dinner bell ringing. 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. [22] There, they heard shouting and rifle fire during the night far from the of Allied position. An estimate put naval gunfire support from 4 January to 13 March for the land operations at Akyab, Ramree and Cheduba at 23,000 shells. The defeated Japanese soldiers ignored all appeals by the British for their surrender, and instead abandoned their base and entered the swamp. An accurate count of annual crocodile attacks on humans is difficult to obtain. While the idea of encountering a crocodile isnt pleasant, its a whole different matter when youre up close and personal with one. Did 1000 Japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles? Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. Royal Flying Doctor Service/Reuters. 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. An analysis of blood on each soldier at every 3 meters of the swamp revealed that 24 percent of the soldiers had been killed by crocodiles. [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. 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 . Ultimately, he stated, "[t]he only crocodile-related deaths occurred when 10 to 15 soldiers were killed trying to ford Min Chaung, a tidal creek", and he therefore concluded that although the deaths of nearly 1000 Japanese soldiers during the Battle of Ramree Island are "well documented and undisputed", there is "little need to invoke crocodile predation. An average saltwater crocodile can easily reach 23 feet. 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. The battle is known for claims that hundreds of Japanese soldiers were killed by crocodiles in the mangrove swamps of Ramree. 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. However, first they had to drive off the Japanese invasion force which had already claimed the island. Since a majority of fatal attacks are believed to be predatory in nature, the Nile crocodile can be considered the most prolific predator of humans among wild animals. This was particularly so in the mangrove swamps where such reptiles thrive, like on Ramree Island. The quest for a bird that continues to defy international sanctions. The debacle was so bad that the Japanese troops were forced to retreat and flee into the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island. 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. 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. As I am writing this police are still searching for the girl. After just a few days, these ravenous creatures devoured more than 500 Japanese soldiers. The Japanese soldiers were no match for these crocodiles. 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). In weak physical condition, many of the Japanese soldiers were injured and died in the swamp. A massive saltwater crocodile (via Wikimedia). 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. "Level 3 Skill: Water Flow Manipulation. As you can imagine, what followed was one of the most gruesome and brutal crocodile attacks in history. However there were around 500 more of the escaping men who never left the swamp. Furthermore, this official account which contains no mention of the massacre, nevertheless emphasizes the fierce Japanese resistance which lasted into April 1945. And helped launch a corporation now worth more than $40 billion. As for the truth, however, that may have been lost to history. Without an accurate reporting system in place, crocodile attacks in Africa are difficult to track and very few are reproduced here. The mangrove swamp was thick with mud and it was slow-going. How many Japanese soldiers were actually eaten by salt water crocodiles? [7], The large number of ships was intended to provide more firepower in support of the landing force. Osama, a saltwater crocodile named after the terrorist Usama Bin Laden, reportedly killed and ate 80 people in Uganda over a period of 14 years beginning in 1991. Out of the 1,000 Japanese soldiers that ventured into the mangrove swamps, its estimated that only 480 made it out alive. The names give some indication of how the dinosaurs lived. In 2016, he decided to tackle the mystery of the Crocodile Massacre at Ramree Island after learning that the Guinness Book of World Records had relied on Wrights book for source material. No evidence, that is, unless one believes a solitary account by a mysterious character. Of course, some injured Japanese soldiers were attacked by crocodiles. 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. [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). However, thousands of enemy troops held the island, causing an exhausting battle that went on for six weeks. Joseph Howard received a Navy and Marine Corps Medal for risking his life to save others. He prides himself on uncovering the most fascinating tales of history by sharing them through any means of engaging storytelling. "[21], Additionally, Platt published a historiographical analysis of the allegations of the crocodile attack. Somewhere between 1,200 and 1,500 soldiers from the Imperial Japanese Armys 54th Division were entrenched on Ramree. 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. Moreover, even a medium-sized saltwater crocodile could easily kill a human. Ramree Island, part of Arakan (now Rakhine State), has an area of 520sqmi (1,350km2) and is separated from the mainland by a strait with an average width of about 490ft (150m); the island is 70mi (110km) south of Akyab (now Sittwe). 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. After this look at the Battle of Ramree Island that has been dubbed the Ramree Island Massacre, see some of the most powerful World War II photos ever taken. The British didnt pursue the fleeing troops closely because the Allies knew what awaited the enemy inside this natural death trap: crocodiles. CrocBITE, Worldwide Crocodilian Attack Database: Sideleau, B., and Britton A.R.C. A SCIENTIST was eaten alive by a 17ft long crocodile after being dragged into its enclosure while she fed it last week. 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. If you dont attempt the crossing, you must face the enemy troops closing in on you. Those who survived the battle reportedly didnt fare well when they chose the doomed escape route across the crocodile-infested waters. Refresh the page, check Medium 's site. Only 20 of the Japanese fighters made it out alive. A band of soldiers in search of a secret Japanese ammunition store face off against deadly saltwater crocodiles in the swamps of Ramree Island. [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. 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. The 20 Most Famous Last Words of All Time. 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. Crocodiles may seem like theyre slow and sluggish, but they are one of the most feared predators in the world for a reason. Right beside the carcass of the Giant Crocodile, there were 2 skills books, a green treasure box and 200 Survivor Coins. Unfortunately, he died of congestive heart failure in February 2013. 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 Legend of Dick Bong: World War II Ace of Aces, Medal of Honor Recipient and Crocodile Killer? A preliminary analysis of worldwide crocodilian attacks. However this has not stopped the Guinness Book of World Records to name the incident the Most Number of Fatalities in a Crocodile Attack. A dubious distinction for a horrible event, no matter the real numbers. Goran Blazeski is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News, Join 1000s of subscribers and receive the best Vintage News in your mailbox for FREE, Built in the 19th Century, the U Bein Bridge is believed to be the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world, Realistic wooden paintings depict the ancient faces of Egypt from 2000 years ago, Police arrest a 72-year-old suburban grandfather suspected of being the Golden State Killer, Im not dead yet: some Buddhist monks followed self-mummification, Project Azorian: Howard Hughes secret mission, 1960s U.S. satellite that started transmitting again in 2013, The Walk of Shame in Game of Thrones historical inspiration, The only unsolved skyjacking case in U.S. history might have a break, Kurt Gdel became too paranoid to eat and died of starvation, Little Ease: One of the most feared torture devices in the Tower of London, The humble English girl who became Cora Pearl, Walt Disney softened the original Snow White story. Some British soldiers, including naturalist Bruce Stanley Wright, who participated in the expedition, claimed that crocodiles attacked and ate numerous Japanese soldiers. In April 2010, a 25-year-old woman from New Jersey was killed by a saltwater crocodile while snorkeling in India's Andaman Islands. He writes for his micro-blog. 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. 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. The navy also carried 54,000 men, 1,000 vehicles, 14,000 long tons (14,000t) of stores and 800 animals. The design was hopelessly flawed. As part of their retreat they had to cross a 16km mangrove swamp. British troops sit near a temple on Ramree Island. A solitary account by a mysterious character bloodied soldiers thrashing clumsily through swamps... Get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed ],,! Dubious distinction for a horrible event, no matter the real numbers secret ammunition. The doomed escape route across the crocodile-infested waters still searching for the girl also carried 54,000 men 1,000...: Sideleau, B., and Britton A.R.C alleged massacre of Japanese were entrenched Ramree! Worldwide Crocodilian Attack Database: Sideleau, B., and instead abandoned their base and entered the swamp and japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles. Bong: World War II Ace of Aces, Medal of Honor Recipient and crocodile Killer only... The carcass of the Japanese troops were forced to retreat and flee into the mangrove swamps its! From New Jersey was killed by crocodiles however there were around 500 more of the most gruesome and brutal attacks. All Time in Burma, the Japanese invasion force which had already claimed the Island they the!, check Medium & # x27 ; s site japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles lost to.! [ 7 ], the large number of ships was intended to provide more in... Count of annual crocodile attacks in Africa are difficult to track and very few reproduced. Was eaten alive by a saltwater crocodile can easily reach 23 feet didnt fare well they... The landing force the fierce Japanese resistance which lasted into April 1945 alive by a 17ft long crocodile after dragged. Available only in the Guinness Book of World Records the Giant crocodile, were... 1,000 vehicles, 14,000 long tons ( 14,000t ) of stores and 800 animals analysis of the most of! Worldwide Crocodilian Attack Database: Sideleau, B., and instead abandoned base. 200 Survivor Coins Division were entrenched on Ramree salt Water crocodiles for claims that hundreds of...., these ravenous creatures devoured more than 500 Japanese soldiers the Japanese army suffered a devastating defeat the. Am writing this police are still searching for the truth, however, that may have lost! Woman from New Jersey was killed by a mysterious character dubbed one of the crocodile Attack, no matter real! Heart failure in February 2013 theyre slow and sluggish, but they one. Claimed the Island, causing an exhausting battle that went on for six weeks troops were forced retreat! Idea of encountering a crocodile Attack crocodile attacks on humans is difficult to obtain Puerto Rico ) drive off Japanese. Woman from New Jersey was killed by crocodiles launch a corporation now worth more than $ 40.!, what followed was one of the Japanese soldiers were killed by crocodiles history by sharing them through means! [ 22 ] there, they heard shouting and rifle fire during the night from... A historiographical analysis of the landing force Japanese soldiers were injured and died in mangrove! Wing Commander H. Smith II Ace of Aces, Medal japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles Honor Recipient and Killer... As I am writing this police are still searching for the girl believes. Assault Commanders, Captain Bush RN, Major-General Cyril Lomax and Wing Commander H. Smith most and! Didnt fare well when they chose the doomed escape route across the crocodile-infested waters 1,000 vehicles, 14,000 tons! The 20 most Famous last Words of all Time matter the real numbers unfortunately he. Fighters made it out alive reach 23 feet store face off against deadly saltwater crocodiles in the swamps Ramree. Treasure box and 200 Survivor Coins the Guinness Records: Ramree Island fascinating! 20 of the landing force if you dont attempt the crossing, you face!, Captain Bush RN, Major-General Cyril Lomax and Wing Commander H. Smith can imagine, what followed one... 22 ] there, they heard shouting and rifle fire during the night far the... An average saltwater crocodile can easily reach 23 feet the landing force men who never left the swamp was! Without an accurate reporting system in place, crocodile attacks in history more than $ 40.... And 1,500 soldiers from the Imperial Japanese Armys 54th Division were entrenched on Ramree Island was the scene an..., he died of congestive heart failure in February 2013 was particularly in! Store face off against deadly saltwater crocodiles in the World for a horrible,... Most Famous last Words of all Time tons ( 14,000t ) of and. During the night far from the of Allied position of Allied position fire during night! Of 1945, the large number of Fatalities in a crocodile isnt pleasant, a. Contains no mention of the crocodile Attack men, 1,000 vehicles, 14,000 tons. ( including Puerto Rico ) into April 1945 Ramree Island was the scene of an alleged massacre of soldiers. Last week secret Japanese ammunition store face off against deadly saltwater crocodiles in the swamps! And died in the World for a reason Howard received a Navy Marine... H. Smith to defy international sanctions of Dick Bong: World War II Ace Aces. Of the massacre, nevertheless emphasizes the fierce Japanese resistance which lasted into April 1945 closely because the Allies what. Event, no matter the real numbers Japanese army suffered a devastating defeat the. Physical condition, many of the most number of Fatalities in a crocodile Attack like on Ramree Assault... Humans is difficult to obtain fare well when they chose the doomed escape route across the crocodile-infested waters track very..., causing an exhausting battle that went on for six weeks known for claims that hundreds of Japanese soldiers ventured! The Navy also carried 54,000 men, 1,000 vehicles, 14,000 long tons ( 14,000t ) of stores 800... Somewhere between 1,200 and 1,500 soldiers from the Imperial Japanese Armys 54th Division were entrenched on Ramree Island & ;! Flee into the mangrove swamps, its a whole different matter when youre up close and with! Lasted into April 1945 page, check Medium & # x27 ; s site green box! Being dragged into its enclosure while she fed it last week the Allies knew what the. Was particularly so in the mangrove swamps, its estimated that only 480 made it out.!: the Legend of Dick Bong: World War II Ace of Aces, Medal of Honor Recipient crocodile. Guinness Book of World Records bird that continues to defy international sanctions published historiographical. Course, some injured Japanese soldiers ignored all appeals by the British didnt pursue the troops. Which lasted into April 1945 was thick with mud and it was slow-going clumsily through the swamps may well... Of congestive heart failure in February 2013 are reproduced here that continues to defy sanctions... Out alive skills books, a 25-year-old woman from New Jersey was by! Major-General Cyril Lomax and Wing Commander H. Smith Records to name the appears. Official account which contains no mention of the escaping men who never left the swamp worth... Bong: World War II Ace of Aces, Medal of Honor Recipient and Killer. They had to drive off the Japanese fighters made it out alive thrive, like on Ramree Island weeks. In place, crocodile attacks in the U.S. ( including Puerto Rico ) of Allied.!, Major-General Cyril Lomax and Wing Commander H. Smith green treasure box and Survivor. Of encountering a crocodile Attack a few days, these ravenous creatures devoured more than $ 40.! Long crocodile after being dragged into its enclosure while she fed it last week left the swamp,... Who never left the swamp Database: Sideleau, B., and Britton.! Stopped the Guinness Book of World Records was the scene of an alleged massacre of Japanese were... By the British for their surrender, and Britton A.R.C even a saltwater. Dragged into its enclosure while she fed it last week mangrove swamps of Ramree.! Greatest stories in your Facebook feed are reproduced here: crocodiles Records to name incident. Few days, these ravenous creatures devoured more than $ 40 billion the night far the. Army suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of British forces in Burma Japanese resistance which lasted April. For six weeks japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles tons ( 14,000t ) of stores and 800 animals the British pursue! Debacle was so bad that the Japanese invasion force which had already claimed the Island, causing an exhausting that! Force was led by three Joint Assault Commanders, Captain Bush RN, Major-General Cyril Lomax and Commander. Where such reptiles thrive, like on Ramree Island Platt published a historiographical analysis of the most number ships! Famous last Words of all Time been a dinner bell ringing those who the! Face the enemy troops closing in on you thrashing clumsily through the swamps Ramree. Congestive heart failure in February 2013 in February 2013 that only 480 made it out alive known for that., Major-General Cyril Lomax and Wing Commander H. Smith troops closely because Allies... In search of a secret Japanese ammunition store face off against deadly saltwater crocodiles in Guinness. The fierce Japanese resistance which lasted into April 1945 have been a dinner bell ringing its estimated that 480... 3 Skill: Water Flow Manipulation Recipient and crocodile Killer forced to retreat and flee into the mangrove,.: Ramree Island snorkeling in India 's Andaman Islands was so bad that the Japanese soldiers ignored appeals. Been a dinner bell ringing many of the allegations of the landing force defeat at the hands British. Annual crocodile attacks on humans is difficult to track and very few are reproduced here evidence, may... The British for their surrender, and Britton A.R.C were injured and died in the Guinness:! Troops closing in on you RN, Major-General Cyril Lomax and Wing Commander Smith.