In January 1945, British forces launched a major offensive against the Japanese in Arakan, then Burma. The British plan called for the 3rd Commando Brigade to be deployed south of the Japanese positions at Kangau to cut off the forces of the Japanese 54th Infantry Division there.
The British occupied the strategically important Hill 170 from where they controlled the forced retreat routes of their opponents. The 1st Commando (commando squadron) of the 3rd Brigade took over the defense of the hill and securing it against any Japanese attempt to break the cordon.
The Japanese stuff counterattacked en masse. Somewhere along the northern defensive perimeter of the hill was defended by young Lieutenant George Nowland's 4th Platoon . The platoon had a strength of 25 men, including its leader.
On 31 January 1945 the Japanese began shelling the platoon's positions with mortars, sweeping them, alongside machine gun fire. Still, Knowland moved from trench to trench cheering on his men, ignoring the fire. Suddenly screams were heard and the firing stopped. Then over 300 Japanese rushed against the platoon's positions.
The few British fought splendidly encouraged by the example of the brave lieutenant who was first in the fire going from trench to trench distributing ammunition and throwing grenades at the enemy in full exposure.
Suddenly the men manning a Bren gun were hit. Nowland then rushed into the trench, took the machine gun himself and began to fire from cover – the slope of the ground did not allow him to fire from the trench – at the Japanese who had come within 10m. He continued to fire allowing first aid to be administered to the men and their transport possible.
Two other men who attempted to get to the point and take over the machine gun were also wounded, so Nowland remained in place until two of his men finally managed to get through the Japanese fire unscathed and take over.
The Japanese attack was repulsed. But a second, more severe one followed. Nowland then grabbed a 50mm flounder. and using it roughly as a rifle set against the enemies. His first missile neutralized six Japanese.
When he ran out of mortar shells, he grabbed a rifle and continued to fight. He then found a Tommy-gun and started mowing down the Japanese. He was wounded but continued to fire until he was mortally wounded, but having killed many enemies.
Nowland's heroism inspired the platoon which, despite having 14 of its 24 men killed or wounded, fought the fanatical Japanese for 12 hours. Reinforcements gradually arrived and the British counter-attacked from the position held by the brave lieutenant and his men and succeeded in cutting off the escape route of the Japanese 54th Infantry Division.
Nowland was only 22 when he was killed. Born in Kent, he had enlisted in the Royal Norfolk Regiment and from there transferred to the 1st Commando. For his sacrifice he was awarded the highest British award, the Queen Victoria Cross.
