Argentinian Mules of 14th Army - Burma Nov 1944

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Footage Source: British Pathe
Dedicated to RSM R H Kitson / Advanced Divisional Signals - 26th Indian Division / 14th Army

Argentinian Mules of 14th Army
The Andes Mountains of Argentina are the longest continental mountain ranges in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. They are immense.

The Argentinians also have a lot of mules used regularly in mountainous terrain.

VIDEO / RUMBLE The Argentinian Mules of the 14th Army - Advance into Burma - November 1944 https://rumble.com/vv4jbx-14th-armys-advance-into-burma-november-1944.html

The 14th Army used Argentinian Mules with paneers during the advance into Burma. The Mules had been de-voiced to keep the pack train as quiet as possible. This was a humane surgical procedure performed by a veterinarian that removed the mule's voice box. The animals can otherwise me quite loud and that would draw them to the attention of Imperial Japanese Soldiers.

Sgt Major Kitson was ROYAL SIGNALS attached to the 26th Indian Division / 14th Army. He recounted a story where-in a Japanese Zero took a few strafing runs of their column. The men jumped for cover but the mules just stood there. No men were hit but several mules died. One of them was terribly injured but was still eating grass on the side of the trail. They quickly dispatched the poor animal and they were all very upset. This was war and everyone suffered both men and mules alike. Between the monsoons, mudslides, mountainous terrain, snakes, fungus and enemy soldiers the jungle was literally eating them alive. Most of them suffered greatly from dysentery, malaria and fungal infections.

The men became very attached to their mules. Every man stood to for mule grooming every day and it didn't matter if they were the Commanding Officer or the Private. The mules received more care and attention than the men did. They all had names and they were part of the team. When ever they lost a mule the men grieved.

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