i read the book about 6 months ago like many accounts of the war in the east it can be quite harrowing at times. A little like the warrsaw uprising in many ways.
The issue of the captured map has excited historians for years and it apparent ‘loss’ has been much debated.
However, a close inspection of the 23 Division War Diary for 23 March 1944 reveals the existence of a captured enemy map showing the routes of advance for several Japanese columns. Rather than burying/ ignoring this map, it appears that 23 Division immediately recognised its value and ordered British patrols to watch these potential lines of advance. Of course, without a surviving copy of the map it is unknown whether the captured map mentioned in the 23 Division Diaries is definitely the same one as found at Sangshak. But it appears likely. The timing of its discovery and its mention in the 23 Division War Diary is so close and the coordinates of the likely enemy routes mentioned in the War Diary are located just to the southwest of Sangshak. Both of these facts suggest that that the map found by 50 Brigade and the one referred to by the 23 Division War Diary are the same. If so, this finally puts to bed the question of the captured Japanese map and lays to rest yet another conspiracy theory advanced by some in relation to the Sangshak battle...
He was treated very badly by IV Corps which simply did not know the story of Sangshak and what Hope-Thompson had done, but he went on to great things and a DSO in NWE.
My father Charles David Reed was a gunner at Sangshak and also a volunteer on three inch motars.
i read the book about 6 months ago like many accounts of the war in the east it can be quite harrowing at times. A little like the warrsaw uprising in many ways.
Remarkable story. I have ordered the book. Another one for the pile.
Thanks James
A wonderful summary of this important battle!
The issue of the captured map has excited historians for years and it apparent ‘loss’ has been much debated.
However, a close inspection of the 23 Division War Diary for 23 March 1944 reveals the existence of a captured enemy map showing the routes of advance for several Japanese columns. Rather than burying/ ignoring this map, it appears that 23 Division immediately recognised its value and ordered British patrols to watch these potential lines of advance. Of course, without a surviving copy of the map it is unknown whether the captured map mentioned in the 23 Division Diaries is definitely the same one as found at Sangshak. But it appears likely. The timing of its discovery and its mention in the 23 Division War Diary is so close and the coordinates of the likely enemy routes mentioned in the War Diary are located just to the southwest of Sangshak. Both of these facts suggest that that the map found by 50 Brigade and the one referred to by the 23 Division War Diary are the same. If so, this finally puts to bed the question of the captured Japanese map and lays to rest yet another conspiracy theory advanced by some in relation to the Sangshak battle...
Thank you David
Hope-Thompson was sent home after this, ends up as 2 ic 5 Dorset in November 44. Seems harsh
He was treated very badly by IV Corps which simply did not know the story of Sangshak and what Hope-Thompson had done, but he went on to great things and a DSO in NWE.