George was selected for one of the rarest and most dangerous roles in the second world war. He served as a Chindit (known as the forerunners of the SAS). He was to join a column under Orde Wingate operating behind enemy lines in the jungles of Burma fighting against the Japanese.S
The Chindit survival rates were appalling due to the men having to walk hundreds of miles on foot; relying on sporadic air drops of food when they could organise them. Because of the subtropical conditions they were susceptible to many jungle diseases, dehydration and combat injuries. Men who were too severely injured or ill to carry on were left with a pistol and a ration of food,as it was not always possible to organise an airlift particularly well within enemy territory. Most would not want to be captured by the Japanese and face brutal conditions and horrific torture and would use the pistol on themselves. Each patrol would last 3 to 4 months before returning to base.
Mules were used to carry all the Chindits' supplies through the rough terrain of the thick jungle and across deep, dangerous rivers. To make sure the mules' noise didn't give away the men's location to the enemy, their vocal cords were cut. This apparently, was a quick and relatively painless procedure and was not permanent. The Chindits formed close bonds with their mules.
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