Talk:Battle of Sittang Bridge

Latest comment: 6 months ago by Xyl 54 in topic Dubious statement

Dubious statement

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The article currently states (and has done since it was first written) that "17th Division remained in almost constant contact with the Japanese from December 1941 to July 1944, when it was taken out of the front line just before the Battle of Imphal". This is contradicted by our articles on the Battle of Imphal and on 17th Indian Infantry Division which are clear that 17 Div fought throughout the Battle of Imphal and were only withdrawn after the siege was lifted (in July 1944). However I am loathe to simply change this, because the statement has a citation; does anyone have access to to Slim’s Defeat into Victory, to check what it says on the subject? Xyl 54 (talk) 22:31, 28 April 2024 (UTC)Reply

  • Of course I do. I wrote it and the source is still on my bookshelves. The relevant paragraph reads:

By the end of July [which in context means July 1944] the 17th Division was on its way to a well-earned rest. It had been actively engaged since December 1941, that is, for three years and eight months, and almost all that time in direct contact with the enemy. A record, I should think.—William Slim, commander of Burma Corps from 8 May 1942.

Hope this helps.—S Marshall T/C 00:03, 29 April 2024 (UTC)Reply
P.S. The next paragraph, which is too long to quote in full, says that the 5th Division relieved the 17th Division on 18th July 1944. I expect the disputed sentence should read "just before the end of the Battle of Imphal", although I don't still have my research notes for this article. It was fifteen years ago and I've moved house since then!—S Marshall T/C 00:10, 29 April 2024 (UTC)Reply
@S Marshall: Thanks for replying: I thought that would be the case. I’m just wary of changing a bit of cited information without first checking the citation. As for the remedy, if the battle ended on 3rd July, and 17 Division were relieved on 18 July, a simple change to "after the battle of Imphal" would suffice; so I’ve done that. So all's well that ends well… Xyl 54 (talk) 15:26, 6 May 2024 (UTC)Reply