Uploaded March 2022 | Updated September 2026, 7 hours ago
SERGEANT NORMAN GERRISH – MILITARY MEDAL – MEIKTILA 16 MARCH 1945.
From D Box each morning, during the siege of Meiktila, the gunners of the RAF Regiment would climb out of their slit trenches and move out through the barbed-wire apron to clear the airstrip of parties of Japanese that had infiltrated onto the stirp during the night. There was no cover on the flat expanse of runway. The men would spread out and begin a sweep of the airstrip and its perimeter. Every ditch, slit trench and patch of scrub had to be searched. In the darkness they had heard the Japanese moving around, digging themselves in, and drawing fire from the defenders of D Box. On 16 March, at 0600hours, two flights of 2708 Sqn RAF Regiment moved out onto the strip.
The siege of Meiktila lasted some 30 days. On 31 March, the enemy commanders gave up hope of recapturing Meiktila. Fourteenth Army and its supporting Air Forces began regrouping for the advance on Rangoon. Over the course of three weeks, the Japanese had at times come close to completely denying use of the airfield, but they were beaten back each time by the dogged defence. The thrust for, capture, and successful defence of Meiktila was one of the significant milestones in the reconquest of Burma. “Meiktila” is one of the RAF Regiments greatest and proudest battle honours.
SERGEANT NORMAN GERRISH – MILITARY MEDAL – MEIKTILA 16 MARCH 1945.
From D Box each morning, during the siege of Meiktila, the gunners of the RAF Regiment would climb out of their slit trenches and move out through the barbed-wire apron to clear the airstrip of parties of Japanese that had infiltrated onto the stirp during the night. There was no cover on the flat expanse of runway. The men would spread out and begin a sweep of the airstrip and its perimeter. Every ditch, slit trench and patch of scrub had to be searched. In the darkness they had heard the Japanese moving around, digging themselves in, and drawing fire from the defenders of D Box. On 16 March, at 0600hours, two flights of 2708 Sqn RAF Regiment moved out onto the strip.
The siege of Meiktila lasted some 30 days. On 31 March, the enemy commanders gave up hope of recapturing Meiktila. Fourteenth Army and its supporting Air Forces began regrouping for the advance on Rangoon. Over the course of three weeks, the Japanese had at times come close to completely denying use of the airfield, but they were beaten back each time by the dogged defence. The thrust for, capture, and successful defence of Meiktila was one of the significant milestones in the reconquest of Burma. “Meiktila” is one of the RAF Regiments greatest and proudest battle honours.
