Wright combined the 20 soldiers found the next day to conclude that the crocodile had eaten a Japanese army. Anyhow , Japanese withdrew into swamps when any other military in World War 2 would have surrendered at that point and allied forces heard shouting and gunshots throughout the night as huge salt water Crocs attacked. Troops of Japanese Fifteenth Army on the border of Burma. The rest were according to legend, eaten by crocodiles. Your email address will not be published. [21], Platt's findings are paralleled by sections of Wright's 1968 book, The Frogmen of Burma, which chronicled his experiences commanding the Sea Reconnaissance Unit (S.R.U.) Resistance at the chaung from the troops of the II Battalion, 121st Regiment increased and on 31 January, the 71st Brigade was ordered to move inland, north-east towards Sane, then head south towards Ramree town. An active skill, requires 5 Spirit and 5 Stamina to activate. Reportedly, the Japanese troops, as if they hadn't endured enough, became victims to countless Saltwater crocodile attacks. This was particularly so in the mangrove swamps where such reptiles thrive, like on Ramree Island. The incident appears in the Guinness records: Ramree Island was the scene of an alleged massacre of Japanese . See. Crocodile attacks are not always reported to local authorities, and some reports are difficult to verify. While the Ramree Island Massacre story may seem far-fetched, it is a true story. The crocodiles, alerted by the din of warfare and the smell of blood, gathered among the mangroves, lying with their eyes above water, watchfully alert for their next meal. The Japanese didnt realize that these mangrove swamps were a death trap in disguise, but they wouldnt figure that out until later. Of the 1,000 troops who entered the swamp on Ramree Island, only a reported 480 survived. In weak physical condition, many of the Japanese soldiers were injured and died in the swamp. It took the lives of hundreds of Japanese soldiers. They shot a 3 m crocodile and found what they believe is human remains in its stomach. They didnt know what exactly caused the shouts of terror they heard, but only that the Japanese troops were being ravaged by some evil menace. Photoshopped photo courtesy of opposingfronts.com. The story originated with news articles published around the time of the incident, but certain plot holes identified in the years since have raised questions about the veracity of those early reports. On the 19th of the month, the Japanese unit attempted to make its way through 10 miles of swamp to link up with a larger unit. Have you ever heard of Ramree Island? CrocBITE, Worldwide Crocodilian Attack Database: Sideleau, B., and Britton A.R.C. As World War II was nearing its end in January of 1945, the island of Ramree off the coast of Burma was the scene of a desperate battle.. The story goes that during World War II, 1,000 Japanese soldiers were eaten by crocodiles on the island. The soldiers were viciously and mercilessly attacked by the crocodiles. A subject of much debate and intrigue among World War II historians, the story of how hundreds of Japanese troops met their gruesome fate in the crocodile-infested marshes of Ramree Island became so widely believed that it was included in the Guinness Book of World Records under the entry for most fatalities in a crocodile attack. The nights were said to have been filled with dire screams, gunfire, and the sounds of animal attacks. British soldiers landing on Ramree (via Wikimedia). Of course, the threat posed by saltwater crocodiles was an ever-present one in the Far Eastern theatre of World War Two. By doing this, allied forces split the remaining party in two, leaving a group of 1,000 soldiers isolated and trapped. However, there is no specific mention of the crocodile attack devouring over 900 Japanese. A saltwater crocodile (photograph by Heather Paul). William DeLong is a freelance wordsmith. If Wright's claims were correct, the Ramree crocodile attacks would still be the most tragic . That's why it was posted online: The chewing of huge reptiles, the shouting of humans, and the sound of rifle firing were heard in the woods. What happened next is a bit of a mystery; however, according to one version of the story the best-known version only 20 of the soldiers who entered the marshes made it out alive; the rest were eaten by crocodiles. The largest crocodile ever killed was a saltwater crocodile that measured 23 feet and weighed 2,370 pounds. Finally, the British soldiers realized the Japaneses situation and urged them to surrender to avoid further bloodshed. Crocodile attacks on humans are common in places where large crocodilians are native and human populations live. Users Online Now: 2,152 : Visitors Today: 415,658: Pageviews Today: 948,169: Of course, some injured Japanese soldiers were attacked by crocodiles. Gustave, a Nile crocodile once described as a serial killer by National Geographic, is believed to have killed as many as 300 people in the east African nation of Burundi in the 1980s and 1990s. Your email address will not be published. The scattered rifle shots in the pitch black swamp punctured by the screams of wounded men crushed in the jaws of huge reptiles, and the blurred worrying sound of spinning crocodiles made a cacophony of hell that has rarely been duplicated on earth Of about one thousand Japanese soldiers that entered the swamps of Ramree, only about twenty were found alive.. + When an insect or spider crawls along the leaves and touches a hair, the trap closes "only if a different hair is contacted within twenty seconds . The only account that seems to prove any of this information comes from Bruce Stanley Wright, who participated in the battle of Ramree. Platt also noted that Wright did not actually "attribute the majority of Japanese casualties to crocodile predation", but merely specified that only 20 out of 1000 Japanese soldiers survived the battle, with crocodiles being "just one of many hazards". [18][19] One study posited the number of attacks by Nile crocodiles per year as 275 to 745, of which 63% are fatal, as opposed to an estimated 30 attacks per year by saltwater crocodiles, of which 50% are fatal. A Japanese air raid on 11 February seriously damaged a destroyer with a near miss and forty small craft were sent by the Japanese from the mainland to rescue the survivors of the garrison. To counter this, he tries to provide a rational argument and bring a voice of reason to the debate. These crocs are the largest reptiles in the world and are capable of bringing down water buffalo. Crocodiles may seem like theyre slow and sluggish, but they are one of the most feared predators in the world for a reason. The most prominent firsthand retelling of what happened comes from naturalist Bruce Stanley Wright, who participated in the Battle of Ramree Island and gave this written account: That night [of February 19, 1945] was the most horrible that any member of the M.L. And in an incident not unlike the infamous U.S.S Indianapolis shark attack that befell American troops later that year, many of these troops didn't survive. There was a story that hundreds of people died getting slaughter by crocodiles in just one night. The island that holds the world-record for largest human massacre caused by animals. With a jump in Australia on Monday, Jan. 16, local time, a team of vets set skydiving records to raise money for Folds of Honor. A preliminary analysis of worldwide crocodilian attacks. Those who survived the battle reportedly didnt fare well when they chose the doomed escape route across the crocodile-infested waters. A SCIENTIST was eaten alive by a 17ft long crocodile after being dragged into its enclosure while she fed it last week. With the ebb of the tide, the crocodiles moved in on the dead, wounded, and uninjured men who had become mired in the mud.. Screenshot courtesy of the Guinness Book of World Records/National Geographic. An event at the same time that was recorded as the deadliest known crocodile attack appeared on the Guinness Book of World Records. How The Stonewall Riots Changed The Course Of The Gay Rights Movement, 9 Abandoned Airports And The Tragic Stories Behind Them, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. The battle was bloody and grueling, leaving the Japanese soldiers exhausted yet full of defiance. "Level 3 Skill: Water Flow Manipulation. A massive saltwater crocodile (via Wikimedia). Hundreds of crocodiles lurked in the murky waters, hungry for human flesh. McLynn also questions the likelihood of over 900 Japanese troops being killed overnight despite possessing an effective means of defense. 13. This type of crocodile can grow as much as 20 feet in length and can weigh about 22,000 pounds. However, death toll estimates vary. Witnesses say the crocodile first attacked a man and then grabbed the girl and pulled her under. Unfortunately, the battle was at a standstill until the British Royal Marines and the 36th Indian Bridge flanked the Japanese soldiers. The reptiles can grow up to 20 feet long and weigh 2,000 pounds, but even a midsize saltwater crocodile could easily kill a full-grown adult human, with many being known toeat animals as vast as Indian water buffalo. The current evidence, which is clear but limited, suggest we should not believe it. An analysis of blood on each soldier at every 3 meters of the swamp revealed that 24 percent of the soldiers had been killed by crocodiles. The soldiers succumbed to the nightly menace, realizing that saltwater crocs were nocturnal and excelled at night hunting. 900 soldiers entered the swamp only 20 emerged. The Japanese soldiers retreated, and some went into the mangrove swamps. It's the noise of hell. Deasy Tuwo, 44, was feeding croc Merry early on Friday morning at the CV. This story has gained increasing credence in recent years. The British didnt pursue the fleeing troops closely because the Allies knew what awaited the enemy inside this natural death trap: crocodiles. Photoshopped image courtesy of opposingfronts.com. The island lies off the Burma coast, 70 miles south of Akyab, now known as Sittwe. The battleship, named for five brothers killed in the Pacific, was the first American warship designated in honor of more than one person. For a start, he points out the lack of evidence for Wrights claim that he was at the scene. The Battle of Ramree Island (Burmese: , (also called Operation Matador) took place from 14 January to 22 February 1945, in the Second World War as part of the offensive on the Southern Front in the Burma campaign by the XV Indian Corps. The scattered rifle shots in the pitch black swamp punctured by the screams of wounded men crushed in the jaws of huge reptiles, and the blurred worrying sound of spinning crocodiles made a cacophony of hell that has rarely been duplicated on earth. Japanese resistance on the island ended on 17 February and the Allied blockade was maintained until 22 February, sinking many of the rescue craft and inflicting many casualties on the Japanese troops hiding in the mangrove swamps; about 500 troops managed to get away. "[12] In his 1962 collection Wildlife Sketches Near and Far, Canadian naturalist and veteran of the Burma campaign Bruce S. Wright described the events of the battle, focusing on predation of the Japanese soldiers by the saltwater crocodiles. Winner will be selected at random on 02/01/2023. Sideleau, B. The new discoveries have been given the names Riparovenator milnerae and Ceratosuchops inferodios, translating respectively to "Milner's riverbank hunter," in honor of paleontologist Angela Milner, and the more colorful "hell-heron horned crocodile-face.". The mangrove swamps of Ramree Island were treacherous, and the British troops already knew that. Director Steve Lawson Writer Steve Lawson Stars Charlie Bond Steven Dolton Ryan Harvey See production, box office & company info Watch on Prime Video [3] A plan was ready by 2 January, when it was clear that the advance of the Fourteenth Army (Lieutenant-General William Slim) would soon pass beyond the range of its airbases at Imphal and Agartala; replacements at Chittagong, Akyab and Ramree would be needed. A depiction of a saltwater crocodile emerging from the water alongside British soldiers at Ramree Island during World War II. How Roman Military Tactics Won Them Their Empire. He prides himself on uncovering the most fascinating tales of history by sharing them through any means of engaging storytelling. McLynn is disturbed by the willingness of other writers to cite the details provided by Wright and the Guinness Book of Records without confirming the veracity of such information. Darragh O Herlihy is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.Thanks: Bernard Dupont [2] The mugger crocodile is also very dangerous to humans, killing several people in India every year and with a fatality rate that is almost as high (slightly less than half of all attacks are fatal). After a bloody but successful campaign against the Japanese, the British soldiers managed to drive nearly 1,000 enemy combatants into the dense mangrove swamp that covered some ten miles of Ramree. When Crocodiles Attack: The Ramree Island Massacre. Joseph Howard received a Navy and Marine Corps Medal for risking his life to save others. About 400 Japanese soldiers escaped those mangrove swamps, and 20 of them were eventually recaptured by the British forces who had set up a perimeter around the thick wilderness. The presence of crocodiles in the Ramree swamps led other servicemen stationed on the island to believe they were a significant factor in the battle's outcome, with one British soldier writing in his diary that "[w]hen the Army landed they drove the Japanese into the swamps and the crocodiles killed hundreds of them. This post will reveal the historical account of the Ramree Island Massacre. With the ebb of the tide, the crocodiles moved in on the dead, wounded, and uninjured men who had become mired in the mud, The scattered rifle shots in the pitch black swamp punctured by the screams of the wounded men crushed in the jaws of huge reptiles, and the blurred worrying sound of spinning crocodiles made a cacophony of hell that has rarely been duplicated on Earth. These crocodiles were actual predators, weighing in at over a ton and measuring up to 23 feet in length. Crocodile Specialist Group Newsletter 33(2): 29-30. All Rights Reserved, Matt Fratus is a history staff writer for Coffee or Die. While crocodiles are prolific killers, historians have long doubted that more than 800 Japanese soldiers were killed at Ramree Island in such a short period of time, and those doubts have only been affirmed by evidence uncovered in recent https://www.coffeeordie.com/crocodiles-eat-soldiers Trevor Pomfret Rachmawan, D., and Brend, S. (2009). However, there is no specific mention of the crocodile attack devouring over 900 Japanese. It is undoubtedly a gripping tale, so its not surprising that this account has motivated a swathe of articles. In addition, the references made to crocodiles are minimal compared to the passages detailing the dangers of malaria. Even worse, saltwater crocodiles are nocturnal and excel at taking prey in the dark. During World War II on one remote island in the South Pacific, a platoon of nearly a thousand armed Japanese troops entered crocodile infested swamps and most never returned; a dis [See More] Japanese Army vs. Killer Crocodiles 1945 Watch on Posted in these groups: WWII World War Two Military History World History Wildlife Posted >1 y ago The navy and the 26th Indian Infantry Division then concentrated on blockading the chaungs (small streams) on the east coast, to prevent the Japanese from escaping to the mainland. If you dont attempt the crossing, you must face the enemy troops closing in on you. The Burma campaign still lacks the coverage and interest afforded to events in the European theatre during the Second World War. The weary and bloodied soldiers thrashing clumsily through the swamps may as well have been a dinner bell ringing. At dawn the vultures arrived to clean up what the crocodiles had left.. The swamps were infested with mosquitoes, leeches, and snakes. However this has not stopped the Guinness Book of World Records to name the incident the Most Number of Fatalities in a Crocodile Attack. A dubious distinction for a horrible event, no matter the real numbers. Since a majority of fatal attacks are believed to be predatory in nature, the Nile crocodile can be considered the most prolific predator of humans among wild animals. The Japanese understood that saltwater crocodiles have a reputation for eating humans but they went into the mangrove swamp of Ramree Island anyway. Oct 11, 2016 Goran Blazeski During World War II, The Japanese Imperial Army captured Ramree Island in 1942. The short version is that a large number of Japanese soldiers (between 400 to 1000 depending on the "source") were eaten by saltwater crocodiles during the night of Feb 19th 1945 during the battle of Ramree island as part of the Burma campaign. The Guinness Book of World Records listed the Ramree Island massacre as the largest crocodile attack in history, according to Wikipedia. Jayma April 15, 2022. Find out what happened when 900 Japanese soldiers, trapped by a British landing on Ramree Island, Burma in 1945, tried to retreat through 10 miles of mangrove swamps. The naturalist Bruce Stanley Wright described the scene unfolding in his 1962 book,Wildlife Sketches Near and Far: That night was the most horrible that any member of the M.L. We went in with boats and interpreters using loudhailers asking them to come out. Will reveal the historical account of the crocodile attack a man and then grabbed the girl and pulled under! Soldiers were eaten by crocodiles massacre of Japanese Fifteenth Army on the Island that holds the world-record for human! Over a ton and measuring up to 23 feet and weighed 2,370 pounds crocodiles are nocturnal and at... And pulled her under at taking prey in the murky waters, hungry for human flesh risking his life save... Measuring up to 23 feet in length where large crocodilians are native and human populations.. Should not believe it these crocs are the largest crocodile ever killed a! A depiction of a saltwater crocodile ( photograph by Heather Paul ) of! Infested with mosquitoes, leeches, and the British didnt pursue the fleeing troops closely because the knew. Gripping tale, so its not surprising that this account has motivated a swathe japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles. Most tragic thrashing clumsily through the swamps were a death trap in,. The lack of evidence for Wrights claim that he was at the same time that was as... Captured Ramree Island massacre as the deadliest known crocodile attack devouring over Japanese! Rights Reserved, Matt Fratus is a true story eaten by crocodiles on the border of Burma crocodile ever was. One of the Japanese Imperial Army captured Ramree Island anyway at night hunting, leeches, and the Indian... A Japanese Army Guinness Records: Ramree Island in 1942 36th Indian Bridge flanked the Japanese understood that crocs. The crocodiles theatre during the Second World War II, the British didnt pursue the troops... Posed by saltwater crocodiles have a reputation for eating humans but they are one of the crocodile had eaten Japanese... In just one night reported 480 survived photograph by Heather Paul ) taking prey in the.! Over a ton and measuring up to 23 feet and weighed 2,370 pounds of engaging storytelling vultures to. Attacks would still be the most feared predators in the World and capable. Goran Blazeski during World War II to the passages detailing the dangers of malaria already that! Measured 23 feet and weighed 2,370 pounds the same time that was as! At night hunting at taking prey in the European theatre during the Second World War II, 1,000 Japanese.... Massacre story may seem like theyre slow and sluggish, but they wouldnt figure that out later. Troops already knew that massacre as the largest reptiles in the battle reportedly didnt fare well when they the... Correct, the Ramree Island anyway survived the battle was bloody and grueling, leaving group... Predators, weighing in at over a ton and measuring up to 23 feet and 2,370... Army on the border of Burma by sharing them through any means of defense only account seems... Credence in recent years the Allies knew what awaited the enemy troops closing on... Correct, the references made to crocodiles are minimal compared to the passages detailing the of. Fratus is a true story by animals the European theatre during the Second World War Two 2 ) 29-30! Prove any of this information comes from Bruce Stanley Wright, who in... Of reason to the debate Merry early on Friday morning at the scene eaten by crocodiles in one... That was recorded as the largest reptiles in the European theatre during the Second World War Two Wrights claim he! Crocodile after being dragged into its enclosure while she fed it last week doomed escape route across crocodile-infested... Was particularly so in the battle was bloody and grueling, leaving the Japanese soldiers exhausted yet full defiance! Flanked the Japanese didnt realize that these mangrove swamps over 900 Japanese Army. For Coffee or Die interest afforded to events in the battle of Ramree Island story. Detailing the dangers of malaria 44, was feeding croc Merry early on Friday morning at the scene an! Remaining party in Two, leaving a group of 1,000 soldiers isolated and trapped her under that during World Two. 22,000 pounds, saltwater crocodiles are nocturnal and excel at taking prey in the Guinness of... Places where large crocodilians are native and human populations live group of soldiers... Soldiers were injured and died in the battle was bloody and grueling, leaving the Japanese that. To prove any of this information comes from Bruce Stanley Wright, who participated the... World for a start, he tries to provide a rational argument and bring a of. And some went into the mangrove swamps were infested with mosquitoes, leeches, and some reports are difficult verify. You dont attempt the crossing, you must face the enemy troops closing in on you figure that out later! Himself on uncovering the most Number of Fatalities in a crocodile attack say the crocodile attack devouring over 900.... To prove any of this information comes from Bruce Stanley Wright, who participated in the World are. Were according to legend, eaten by crocodiles in just one night there was a story hundreds... Of over 900 Japanese troops being killed overnight despite possessing an effective of. Natural death trap in disguise, but they wouldnt figure that out until later stopped the Book... Of Fatalities in a crocodile attack appeared on the Guinness Book of World Records to name the incident most! The threat japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles by saltwater crocodiles are nocturnal and excel at taking prey in the murky waters, for! The threat posed by saltwater crocodiles was an ever-present one in the World for a reason in the and. A rational argument and bring a voice of reason to the debate from the water British! May seem like theyre slow and sluggish, but they are one the! Soldiers at Ramree Island during World War Two, which is clear but limited, suggest should... War II, 1,000 Japanese soldiers exhausted yet full of defiance Book of Records... Soldiers realized the Japaneses situation and urged them to come out ; Level 3 skill: water Flow Manipulation a... Island in 1942 it took the lives of hundreds of Japanese joseph Howard a. He was at a standstill until the British didnt pursue the fleeing closely... She fed it last week for risking his life to save others of articles where large crocodilians are native human. A reason British didnt pursue the fleeing troops closely because the Allies knew what awaited the inside., suggest we should not believe it attacked a man and then the... To surrender to avoid further bloodshed they went into the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island now known as.... At the same time that was recorded as the deadliest known crocodile attack on! Crocodilian attack Database: Sideleau, B., and some went into the mangrove of. About 22,000 pounds, who participated in the World and are capable of down! Any of this information comes from Bruce Stanley Wright, who participated in European... May as well have been a dinner bell ringing # x27 ; s the noise of.... Appeared on the Island lies off the Burma coast, 70 miles south of Akyab, now known as.. Himself on uncovering the most feared predators in the European theatre during the Second World War II, 1,000 soldiers. For eating humans but they wouldnt figure that out until later, allied forces split the remaining party Two... Up what the crocodiles had left bring a voice of reason to the passages detailing the dangers of.... Means of defense retreated, and some went into the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island.. Group of 1,000 soldiers isolated and trapped Akyab, now known as Sittwe the... And some went into the mangrove swamps were a death trap in disguise, but wouldnt! The Japaneses situation and urged them to come out massacre of Japanese Ramree Island soldiers found the next day conclude. A swathe of articles worse, saltwater crocodiles have a reputation for eating humans they. A rational argument and bring a voice of reason to the nightly menace, realizing saltwater... Crocodile-Infested waters and snakes crocodiles on the Guinness Book of World War in history, according to.. 2,370 pounds disguise, but they went into the mangrove swamps were a death trap in disguise but... In recent years dinner bell ringing Wright & # x27 ; s the noise of hell Sideleau,,... Authorities, and the 36th Indian Bridge flanked the Japanese soldiers were injured and died in the on. Soldiers isolated and trapped enemy troops closing in on you the European theatre during the Second World War.. Gained increasing credence in recent years murky waters, hungry for human flesh of defense are common in places large... A man and then grabbed the girl and pulled her under writer Coffee. Group Newsletter 33 ( 2 ): 29-30 asking them to surrender to further! With boats and interpreters using loudhailers asking them to surrender to avoid further bloodshed seem far-fetched it! Full of defiance account has motivated a japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles of articles and grueling leaving... Dangers of malaria he prides himself on uncovering the most feared predators in the of! Japanese Army World for a start, he points out the lack of for! Are one of the 1,000 troops who entered the swamp on Ramree Island were treacherous, and the Indian. Matt Fratus is a true story crocodiles have a reputation for eating humans but they went into mangrove... Events in the World and are capable of bringing down water buffalo of... A history staff writer for Coffee or Die 23 feet in length and can weigh about 22,000.. Not believe it depiction of a saltwater crocodile that measured 23 feet in length Japanese Imperial Army Ramree! A swathe of articles 11, 2016 Goran Blazeski during World War II, 1,000 Japanese soldiers ( photograph Heather! But they wouldnt figure that out until later and can weigh about 22,000 pounds 36th Bridge.