Troops of 2nd Battalion South Lancashire Regiment, 4th Battalion 14th Punjab Regiment and the 4th Battalion 1st Gurkha Rifles cross the Irrawaddy River near Nyaungu, Burma, to enlarge the newly captured bridgehead.

The Irrawaddy River crossing is carried out by 33rd Brigade 7th Indian Division. British troops on board assault craft and disembarking from boats on the river shore. The wounded from an earlier failed assault are carried back and movements of British troops are screened by dive bombing raids from RAF Hurribombers (Hurricane fighter-bombers) using delayed-action bombs. Men of 2nd Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers cross the river in order to take on beach organisation duties.

Notes

7th Indian Division's crossing of the Irrawaddy began in the early hours of 14 February 1945 and was according to the official history 'the longest opposed river crossing in any theatre of the Second World War'. Following a covert reconnaissance by a Sea Reconnaissance Unit and a Special Boat Section, a company of 2nd Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment were to make a silent crossing, followed as quickly as possible by 33rd Brigade. Despite some initial losses due to enemy machine gun fire, the enemy were suppressed by a concentration of artillery fire, tank fire and aerial bombing. For other film of the crossing of the Irrawaddy shot by both the British Army (JFU-series) and the RAF (ABY-series) see related items.