Indian troops climbing a hill during a daylight attack, Arakan, Burma, May 1944

Photograph, World War Two, Far East (1941-1945), 1944.

The second Arakan campaign, which began in December 1943 was an important psychological success for the Allies. The Japanese surrounded the British-Indian forces, but found themselves stubbornly resisted by troops from 7th Indian Infantry Division and parts of the 5th Indian and 81st West African Divisions.

The Japanese infiltration and encirclement tactics failed to panic the defenders. Supplied by air, they held out and by June 1944 the Allies were established on a line north of Akyab, where they stayed through the monsoon until the following December.

From a collection of 650 photographs compiled by the Commando Association.