It took the Japanese just four months to defeat British and allied forces in Burma and force a withdrawal to India. 17 th Indian Division, which was to play a significant role throughout the Burma campaign, bore the brunt of the onslaught and, during the retreat, suffered another major setback in the Sittang area when the Brigade Commander responsible for holding the Sittang Bridge ordered it to be destroyed, leaving two Brigades on the wrong side of the river.

It is with great sadness that we record the passing on Friday 20 th June of Sergeant (retired) Muhammad Hussain who served during the Second World War with 6 th Duke of Connaught’s Own Lancers (Watson’s Horse) and later, after Partition, with 6 th Lancers in Pakistan. In 2025 he honoured the WWMMT by taking part in our promotional fund-raising film (hyperlink to film) and, despite his advanced years, was able to speak with such clarity of the experiences he had witnessed and participated in during that conflict.

The World Wars Muslim Memorial Trust (WWMMT) is a registered charity that has been set up to build a lasting memorial to honour the many Muslim soldiers who fought and died in Britain’s armed forces in both World Wars, and since. In the two World Wars, more than 750,000 Muslims served in the Indian and Allied armies, of whom approximately 147,000 were killed.