How a forgotten British captain is a hero in Myanmar

[Jonathan Fairfield]

How a forgotten British captain is a hero in Myanmar

In World War Two, British Capt Peter Robert Sandham Bankes led a company of Chin tribesmen in Burma - now known as Myanmar - in repelling the Japanese advance on the nearby border with India. He was killed in those remote hills 72 years ago, but as journalist Mark Fenn found, he remains a hero in the eyes of local people.

Editor's note: Mark Fenn completed this piece for the BBC shortly before he died suddenly in Thailand last week - it is published here with the permission of his family.

When the Japanese invaded Burma in 1942, many Burmese initially supported them, seeing them as liberators from the hated British colonial rule.

But in the Frontier Areas, hill tribes such as the Chin, Kachin, Karen and Karenni remained fiercely loyal to the British. Many were Christian, and had been favoured by the colonial authorities.

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35192153

-- BBC 2016-02-03

[HerbalEd]

What a great story. The end bought tears to my eyes.

[Gillyflower]

What a moving,, but lovely story. I did cry.

[silver sea]

A moving, and uplifting story. Well written too.

[gandalf12]

Wonderful.

[Baerboxer]

Very moving and poignant. Well written and story that should have been written.

Isn't it thought provoking how the Chin people still remember this with respect and teach their children such values.

The so called "developed" world has forgotten so much, and could learn a thing or two about values from these and other similar tribes.

[Cats4ever]

since when did British soldiers wear slouch hats?

I think you will find that they did in Burma (Myanmar), after observing how wonderful they made we Aussies look.