Taik Chun

Last updated
The Guardian of Burma Taik Chun.jpg
The Guardian of Burma

Captain Aung San Thuriya Thuya Taik Chon (aka) Captain Taik Chon (serial no: BC/5453 and BC/7288) was the only Chin (Matu) soldier to have received both Thuya and Aung San Thuriya Medal, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry and bravery in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to members of Myanmar Armed Forces. He won the award at the Raid on U Seikkein Monastery at Battle of Insein near during the fight against of Karen insurgency in Myanmar.

The raid on U Seikkein Monastery can be regarded as one of the most prominent part of Battle of Insein. The structural pattern of U Sakkein monastery was something like a systematically built fortress. It was built on a hillock surrounded by other monasteries. The Karen insurgents were using these monasteries on the hillock as their stronghold and taking advantage of the uphill position to open fire on any approaching government forces. Lieutenant Taik Chon and his squad from No. 1 Chin Rifles Battalion (Chin Tha Nat Kine Tat Yin - Chin Tha Na Ka) was ordered to raid the monasteries complex. Lieutenant Taik Chon and four privates raided the fortified insurgents positions in the monasteries and killed numerous insurgents troops. Lieutenant Taik Chon fought bravely against the enemies who are firing upon his small squad from the heavily fortified positions.

Lieutenant Taik Chon was awarded Aung San Thuriya medal in 1950 for his exemplary bravery and honourable sacrifices in face of superior number of enemy forces in the following battles:

  1. 10 April 1949 - Battle of Saw Bwar Kyee Gone
  2. 16 April 1949 - Battle of U Seikkein Monastery
  3. 18 April 1949 - Battle of U Seikkein Monastery

There have only been 6 recipients of Aung San Thuriya Medal in the history of Myanmar. Lieutenant Taik Chun is the only person to be still alive when Aung San Thuriya Medal was awarded while the rest were awarded posthumously.

He was also awarded Thuya medal for his bravery in other battles and promoted to the rank of Captain in 1950. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aung San</span> Burmese politician and revolutionary (1915–1947)

Bogyoke Aung San was a Burmese politician, independence activist and revolutionary. He was instrumental in Myanmar's struggle for independence from British rule, but he was assassinated just six months before his goal was realized. Aung San is considered to be the founder of modern-day Myanmar and the Tatmadaw, and is commonly referred to by the titles "Father of the Nation", "Father of Independence", and "Father of the Tatmadaw".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U Saw</span> Burmese politician

U Saw, also known as Galon U Saw, was a leading Burmese politician who served as Prime Minister of British Burma during the colonial era before the Second World War. He is also known for his role in the assassination of Burma's national hero Aung San and other independence leaders in July 1947, only months before Burma gained independence from Britain in January 1948. He was executed by hanging for this assassination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japanese occupation of Burma</span> Period of Burmese history from 1942 to 1945

The Japanese occupation of Burma was the period between 1942 and 1945 during World War II, when Burma was occupied by the Empire of Japan. The Japanese had assisted formation of the Burma Independence Army, and trained the Thirty Comrades, who were the founders of the modern Armed Forces (Tatmadaw). The Burmese hoped to gain support of the Japanese in expelling the British, so that Burma could become independent.

This article describes the religious, military and civil orders, decorations and medals of the Union of Myanmar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aye Cho</span> Burmese soldier (died 1948)

Major Aung San Thuirya Aye Cho was a Burmese soldier. He was the Bamar recipient of Aung San Thuriya Award, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry and bravery in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to members of Myanmar Armed Forces and he is also the first recipient of Aung San Thuriya medal in Myanmar. He won the award at the Battle of Po Tha Aung Gon Bridge during the outbreak of Communists insurgency in Myanmar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hla Thaung</span> Awarded the Aung San Thuriya

Private Aung San Thuriya Hla Thaung of 3rd Burma Rifles Battalion was a recipient of Aung San Thuriya Award, the highest and most prestigious award in Myanmar (Burma) for gallantry and bravery in the face of the enemy. He won the award at the Battle of Daik-U during the fight against of Karen insurgency in Myanmar.

Saw Ba Yi is an ethnic Karen and the only civilian to have won the Aung San Thuriya Medal, the highest award for gallantry and bravery in Burma (Myanmar) in 1951. Under normal circumstances, the medal is only awarded to members of the Myanmar Armed Forces.

UBS <i>Mayu</i>

UBS Mayu was the first flagship of the Burmese Navy. She was commissioned on 25 May 1947 and saw 32 years of active service during which she participated in many counter-insurgency campaigns, safeguarding Myanmar's territorial waters, and also served as a training ship for the officers and ratings of Myanmar (Burma) Navy. The ship had been built as River-class frigate HMS Fal for the Royal Navy during World War II and was transferred to the Burmese government in 1947 on loan, and permanently in 1948. She was decommissioned in 1979 and was converted to a museum ship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tin Oo</span> Burmese general and politician (1927–2024)

Tin Oo, often referred to as U Tin Oo, was a Burmese politician, activist, and general in the Armed Forces who was one of the founders of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Myanmar, the country's largest pro-democracy political party.

Depeyin is a town in the Sagaing Division in Myanmar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burmese Gurkha</span> People of Nepali origin settled in Burma

Burmese Gurkhas are a group of Nepali language speaking Burmese people of Khas/Gurkha ethnic group living in Myanmar. While the Gurkhas have lived in Burma for many centuries, it was during the British rule in Burma, that the majority of the Gurkha migrated from Nepal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Communist Party of Burma</span> Underground political party in Myanmar

The Communist Party of Burma (CPB), also known as the Burma Communist Party (BCP), is an underground communist party in Myanmar (Burma). It is the oldest existing political party in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suk Bahadur Rai</span> Burmese Gurkha

Private Aung San Thuriya Suk Bahadur Rai was the only Gurkha to have received Aung San Thuriya medal, the highest and most prestigious award in Myanmar (Burma) for gallantry and bravery in the face of enemy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burmese resistance movement 1885–1895</span>

The Burmese Resistance Movement of 1885–1895 occurred almost immediately after the fall of Mandalay. Due to the rapidity of British advancement up the Irrawaddy River, the bulk of the Burmese army suffered few casualties. Many had not experienced actual fighting. Nevertheless, the issue of the Hluttaw’s order to surrender on 27 November 1885 meant that Burmese garrisons south of Mandalay had to disarm without putting up a fight. Soon widespread resistance started to break out in Upper Burma, Lower Burma, the Shan Hills, Kachin Hills and Chin Hills which did not die out until 1896.

"To all town and village thugyis, heads of cavalry, heads of the daings, shield bearers, heads of jails, heads of gold and silver revenues, mine workers, settlement officers, heads of forests, and to all royal subjects and inhabitants of the Royal Empire: Those heretics, the English kala barbarians, having most harshly made demands calculated to bring about the impairment and destruction of our religion, the violation of our national traditions and customs, and the degradation of our race, are making a show and preparation as if about to wage war with our State ... The local officials shall not forcibly impress into service anyone who may not wish to serve. To uphold the religion, to uphold the national honour, to uphold the country's interests, will bring about threefold good; good of our religion, good of our master, and good of ourselves; and will gain for us the important result of placing us in the path to the celestial regions and to Nibban. Whoever, therefore, is willing to join and serve zealously will be assisted by His Majesty with royal rewards and royal money, and be made to serve in the capacity for which he may be fit. Loyal officials are to make inquiries for volunteers and others who may wish to serve, and are to submit lists of them to their respective Governments."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karen conflict</span> Armed conflict in southeastern Myanmar

The Karen conflict is an armed conflict in Kayin State, Myanmar. It is part of the wider internal conflict in Myanmar between the military government and various minority groups. Karen nationalists have been fighting for an independent state, known as Kawthoolei, since 1949. The Karen National Union (KNU) and its Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) are the most prominent Karen rebel groups. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been displaced by the conflict, many of whom fled to neighbouring Thailand and survive in refugee camps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Communist insurgency in Burma</span> Armed conflict in Southeast Asia from 1948 to 1989

The communist insurgency in Burma was waged primarily by the Communist Party of Burma and the Communist Party (Burma) from 1948 to 1989. The conflict ended when the CPB, severely weakened by an internal mutiny, disbanded its armed wing.

Lance Corporal Za Kaia, was an ethnic Chin and a recipient of Thiha Thura medal, the second highest award in Burma (Myanmar) for gallantry and bravery in the face of the enemy. Throughout Myanmar Army history, only 46 servicemen have been awarded this prestigious medal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">May Thit</span> Burmese actress and singer (1925–2001)

May Thit was a Burmese actress and singer. She won Best Actress Award for 1960, Best Supporting Actress Award for 1964 and 1976 in Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards. She was famous around between 1950s and 1990s.

Brigadier General Saw Kyar Doe was a Karen military officer who served as the first deputy Chief of Army Staff from 4 January 1948 to 31 July 1948.

The Battle of Insein was a 1949 battle during the Karen conflict where the Karen National Defence Organisation briefly captured the town of Insein, 9 miles from Rangoon. After 111 days of intense fighting, the KNDO failed their goal of capturing Rangoon, and retreated into the countryside.

References

  1. Defence Museum, Yangon