Sir John Smyth

Fall of Moulmein

On 26 January 1942, the 55th Division of the Japanese 15th Army under Lt. General Shojiro Iida attacked Moulmein. Japan's principal aim was to cut the Allied supply line from Rangoon to Chiang Kai-shek's China, "The Burma Road". The 55th Division, under Lt. General Hiroshi Takeuchi, which advanced on the city from the east via Kawkareik and Kyondo having crossed the border from Thailand. The 33rd Division approached from the northeast from Pa-an. Tavoy had already fallen on 19...