Men of 6th West Africa Brigade clearing an airstrip, Burma, 1944 (c)

Photograph, World War Two, Far East, 1944 (c).

During its operations in the Arakan province of Burma in 1944-1945, 81st West Africa Division was almost entirely dependent on air transport for re-supply and the evacuation of wounded. To this end soldiers of the division had cleared and levelled a total 25 Light Aircraft and 11 Transport Aircraft landing strips by the end of the campaign, the work being carried out entirely by hand as illustrated here.

From an album of 36 photographs compiled by Captain E B Mee (later Major), Royal Signals, 81st West African Division, Burma, 1944-1945.