This month in History - January

During WWII, the tiny island of Ramree, some 70-miles off the coast of Burma (now Myanmar), was the centre of severe fighting between troops of the 26th Indian Division and Japanese troops during ‘Operation Matador’ between 14th January and 22nd February 1945. The Allies landed on the island and the Japanese withdrew into the marshy area of mangrove swamps, where they found themselves being attacked by an enemy of a much different kind.

In what has become known as the worst crocodile attack ever recorded, it is believed that at least 400 Japanese troops were killed and eaten by a huge gathering of saltwater crocodiles. The number eaten may be as high as almost 1000 men. There were few survivors and their evidence may be viewed with some scepticism and the incident today is considered as something of an apocryphal story. Nevertheless, whether true or not, it is listed in the Guinness Book of Records.

It happened this month in…

1644: The Battle of Nantwich

Irish troops besiege the Parliamentarian stronghold of Nantwich. Sir Thomas Fairfax broke the siege and routed the Royalist forces.

1806: Capetown Captured

British troops commanded by General Sir David Baird landed in Capetown and captured it from a Franco-Dutch force.

1815: The Battle of New Orleans

This was an American victory in the Anglo-American War, which started in 1812. The British lost almost 2500 men killed, wounded and taken prisoner from a force of 14,450. The Americans lost 333 men out of a force of 4732.

1871: Battle of Le Mans

This took place between 10th-12th of January, during the Franco-Prussian War.

1863: Hooker Promoted

General Hooker was appointed to command the army of the Potomac to replace General Burnside during the American Civil War.

1915: Battle of Bolimov

This is where the Germans used poison gas for the first time.

1941: Beda Fomm Surrender

January-February. The British 7th Armoured Division, under General Wavell, engaged Italian troops in Cyrenaica, North Africa, culminating in fighting around Beda Fomm and the surrender of 130,000 Italian troops.