Maj Hugh Paul “Grandfather Longlegs” Seagrim https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56530332/hugh-paul-seagrim
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Seagrim
http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/burmaweb/ABRO-officers-March-1940.htm
Arthur Leonard Bell Thompson, born, 1st December 1917. Before joining the Army, worked on the staff of Steel Brothers, Rangoon, 1941. Promoted to Lieutenant, ABRO (ABRO 088), 14th October 1941. Served with the 1st Battalion, The Burma Rifles, 1941 to 23rd March 1942. As Company Commander of the Karen Company, 1st Battalion, The Burma Rifles, ordered to take his company from Toungoo to support the Karen Levies operating in the Mawchi area., 23rd March 1942. Served as Lieutenant with the 2nd Battalion, The Burma Rifles, 1944. Served with Special Operations Executive (S.O.E.), 1944 to 1945. As temporary Captain, The Burma Rifles, awarded the Distinguished Service Order, gazetted, 22nd March 1945, the citation for which reads:
Brigade: Burma Levies, Burma Army
Unit: 1st Burma Rifles, attached Burma Levies
Action for which recommended: - On March 23rd, 1942, Captain Thompson, with 135 Karens of his Bn. was ordered to join a Burma Levies detachment under Capt. Boyt in the Karen Hills. His force was limited to one rifle and 50 rds. per man, plus four TSMG [Thomson Sub-Machine Guns]. Capt. Thompson was ordered to cover demolitions by levies on the Toungoo-Mawchi road. on 2/4/42 the Japs moved up the road a spearhead of approx. one Bn. supported by AFVs and m/c troops. Capt. Thompson engaged this greatly superior enemy force at the Paletwa bridge, which had been destroyed, and delayed it with heavy casualties till his left flank was overrun and his position turned. Capt. Thompson then extricated his force and took up another position further up the road. 25 Karens were lost in this engagement. Sporadic minor clashes occurred as the enemy moved cautiously forward until 4/4/42, when the party took up a new position over the next major demolition and again fought it out till overrun, inflicting heavy casualties on the Japs and greatly delaying and discouraging them. In this action the Karens lost a further 45 men including Sub. Thong Pe. After assisting with further demolitions the party then passed through the Chinese who had by then moved up. Throughout this period Capt. Thompson’s party was subjected to constant pressure by a greatly superior enemy. Capt. Thompson showed the highest quality of courage, leadership, and skilful handling of his men throughout. His determined reaction to enemy pressure during this critical period was of the utmost importance to all concerned in this very significant action. In all Capt. Thompson gained some four days time for regrouping of the Chinese 6th Army in the Southern Shan States. This enabled the 6th Army to hold up the Japs just long enough to let the Chinese 5th Army, then fighting at Pyinmana, send a division (the 200th) round to Taunggyi in time to stem the enemy’s thrust westwards through Thazi-Meiktila-Yenangyaing. It is a fact that Capt. Thompson’s magnificent delaying action saved the Chinese and British armies in Burma from encirclement.
Though this particular action forms the subject of this recommendation it was not the end of Capt. Thompson’s excellent work. Although later cut off by the enemy, he withdrew the very small remnants of this force through their lines and brought his men to safety in Fort Herz after a march of some 900 miles. Throughout this desperate adventure, made as it was with virtually no supplies and very little money for food, Capt. Thompson continued to display the same high standard of leadership, and it is safe to say that without it none of the party could have made the journey.
Recommended by: H. Stevenson (late Lt. Col, Commandant Burma Levies)
NOTE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Clifford_(author) AKA Arthur Leonard Bell Thompson
