2nd Lieutenant Saw Lader MC

(1) On 26/27th March 1944, Lieut SAW LADER was leading a recce patrol of 2 sections near KAUKKWE CHAUNG when he found his party surrounded by a force of 500 Japanese. The enemy attempted to capture the party but when a platoon of them advanced frontally he and Naik KYA LIN of the Burma Rifles drove them back by their own fire. The enemy then advanced on him from the rear. Once again he drove them back. Lieut SAW LADER managed to give the enemy the impression that his force was much larger than it was and the enemy started digging in around him. He then ordered the party to crawl and after one hour, managed to lead them through the enemy positions.

(2) On 5/5/44 he was on recce for his column when he heard that 3 Japanese were asleep in a house. He decided to capture the party for intelligence purposes and also to prevent the enemy from getting information of the Columns whereabouts. He led a party of 2 B.O.Rs to the house and entered it by himself. He found that 2 Japanese had left and the other was still asleep. He posted 2 B.O.Rs outside in case the enemy returned and then set upon the remaining Japanese, who had by now awakened. After a struggle he managed to secure him as a prisoner. During the struggle the remainder of the enemy appeared and Lieut SAW LADER ordered the B.O.Rs to open fire; on which they disappeared.

(3) He has on many occasions performed dangerous recces for his Column e.g. on one occasion during a rainstorm he entered a Japanese dump protected by 100 Japanese. He moved about inside the dump getting the exact disposition of the area. The heavy rain kept the enemy indoors and this fact enabled him to get back.

(Signed) J.A.E.MacPherson, Major
O.C. Burma Rifles detachment. 4-6-44.

(Signed) J.Masters, Major,
A/Comd. 111 Ind Inf Bde. 4 June '44.