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Patrols sent out to various points in the Pani Chaung valley. Brigade headquarters reports that main enemy body had pulled back from Yenama area and might be expected tonight. L5 aircraft of the American Air Liaison Squadron still doing great work in evacuating wounded from the usually hastily prepared jungle airstrips. We normally recruit and pay Burmese villagers to clear suitable area which is often dry river bed or its side sand banks. Unfortunately for the pilots they seldom get the minimum length demanded. Two patrols of platoon strength were pushed out to track ambush positions about two miles north of the Battalion in the late afternoon. We heard on the wireless that it was V Day in Europe. Around 9pm we heard heavy firing and explosions coming from the direction of our advance ambush platoons. It was obvious that a sizeable enemy force was heading in our direction. NOTE 1/11 Sikh of 7th Indian Division was blocking the withdrawal of a large Japanese column from the Arakan. During fierce fighting on the 8th May much Japanese equipment was captured including five bottles of Imperial Sake. This was used by the Officers of 1/11 Sikh Regiment to toast VE Day that evening. As a result of the fighting in and around the Battalions position on 8th and 9th May 1945 over 250 Japanese dead were counted. They had attacked with about 700 troops.

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