Remarkable rescue of refugees revealed

11:14am Tuesday 1st July 2008

A MUSEUM has been given artefacts that tell of a little-known but remarkable rescue of British refugees during the Second World War - using elephants.

The memorabilia has been donated to the Green Howards Regimental Museum, in Richmond, North Yorkshire, by Brian Wilson, who lives in Cornwall.

Mr Wilson's uncle, John, from Scarborough, was one of two men who orchestrated the rescue. He spent most of his career as a tea planter in Assam, India, but during the war he served with the 5th Battalion The Green Howards.

The elephants were used to rescue eight British men, who were fleeing after the Japanese invasion of Burma.

The group had chosen the most dangerous route between Burma and India - the 8,000ft Chaukan Pass - to make their escape.

But the journey was fraught with danger and, by the middle of June 1942, the group was stranded by rising floodwaters on an island in the middle of the Dapha River.

Captain Wilson was sent to join another Assam tea planter, Squadron Leader Gyles Mackrell, and the pair organised a dramatic rescue using elephants to transport the men across the river on June 21. David Tetlow, curator of the Green Howards Museum, said: "The story of John Wilson's war was unknown to us until his nephew presented this remarkable collection of artefacts to the museum.

"We are really grateful to learn about this remarkable man, who was a Green Howards officer and a very respected and highly-inspirational resident in Assam for many years."

After his dramatic time on the Burmese border, Capt Wilson continued to work for the Army as a V-Force intelligence colonel.

He earned commendations from General Stillwell, the American Chief of Staff in India; Field Marshal Hartley, British Commander-in-Chief-in India; and from General Cheng, the Commander of the Chinese Army in India.

The commendations have also been presented to the museum, along with a personal memento - a silver cigarette case engraved with the signatures of the eight men Capt Wilson rescued. It bears the inscription: "To Captain J R Wilson with gratitude for having saved our lives, Dapha River, 21st June 1942."

After the war, Capt Wilson continued his career in India, and became secretary and deputy chairman of the Assam Tea-Growers Organisation.

He was awarded the OBE for his work in India, which has also been given to the museum. He retired to Scarborough in 1959.