JS(AC)76a / AF12a Battle of Sangshak PARA cover

JS(AC)76a RAF cover dual numbered AF12 as part of the Airborne Forces series commemorating the Battle of Sangshak 20-26 March 1944. Cover depicts a likely scene from the battle with the 50 Indian Para Brigade repulsing a Japanese 'Banzai' attack. Cover bears 25p Northern Ireland Defin and is cancelled with BFPS 2411 postmark for the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Sangshak. Postmark depicts the Airbourne Forces Insignia. Cover has been flown from Heathrow to Bangkok and then onto Rangoon and Burma.

By late February 1944 the Japanese army in Burma had its sights on Delhi in India and was preparing to take two important objectives - Imphal and Kohima. Unbeknown to Japanese intelligence the 50th Indian Parachute Brigade with 152 ( Indian ) and 153 ( Gurkha ) Parachute battalions had been arriving in Kohima to exercise in jungle-warfare. One of the most important battles of the Burma campaign began on the 20th March and raged for 6 days. Casualities were high with 585 fatalities and food, water and supplies ran out resulting in much hand to hand fighting. The Indian Parachute Brigade and their Gurkhas held on until the 5th Indian Division arrived and renforced Imphal and the forces at Sangshak were ordered to 'fight their way back' to Imphal, but managed to slip away into the Jungle during a lull in the fighting. The battle blunted the Japanese offensive and cost the enemy over 2000 men during the course of the six days.

Unsigned variant
Cover size 190mm x 113mm