Taukkyan Roadblock The Taukkyan Roadblock was an engagement in the Burma campaign in World War II . It was an attempt to clear a roadblock held by elements of the Japanese 33rd Division , which was preventing the evacuation of the main force of the Burma Army from Rangoon . After heavy fighting throughout 7 March 1942 , and a counterattack that night , the roadblock was taken on the early morning of 8 March , with little resistance . As a result , the Burma Army was able to withdraw northwards unimpeded , and avoid being captured in Rangoon by the Japanese forces . Background . Taukkyan is a village north of Rangoon , at a junction where the road from Rangoon north towards Prome met the road eastwards to Pegu . Pegu is strategically located to cover Rangoon from an attack from the east , and so in early 1942 it had been garrisoned by a force of Indian troops from the 48th Indian Infantry Brigade . However , this force had been outflanked by a Japanese attack , and was now surrounded . On the 6th of March , a force from 1st Battalion 11th Sikh Regiment was sent north from Rangoon to relieve Pegu , but stopped partway to take up a defensive position on the Taukkyan - Pegu road , after reports of extensive Japanese infiltration . The battalion held this position overnight , and early on the 7th , following the Battle of Pegu , the survivors of the garrison pulled out of Pegu and fell back through their lines . That evening , the battalion then withdrew towards Taukkyan . Meanwhile , on the 6th , the decision had been made to evacuate Rangoon and march north towards Prome . However , the Japanese army had moved around the garrisons on the Pegu road , and had established a strong roadblock at Taukkyan . As a result , the whole of Burma Army , including the Army HQ for Burma , the bulk of 17th Indian Division , and 7th Armoured Brigade were caught in Rangoon , unable to retreat northwards . Fight for Taukkyan . It became apparent that the roadblock needed to be cleared , as otherwise the bulk of the Burma Army would be surrounded . The first attack , on the 7th , was made by a troop of M3 Stuart light tanks , from the 7th Hussars , with infantry support ; however , they withdrew with the loss of one tank and heavy infantry casualties . A second attack was made by a squadron of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment with artillery support , and by the 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment , but this was unsuccessful . The final attack that day was made by two companies of the 2nd / 13th Frontier Force Rifles , which again failed , and the surviving forces withdrew to establish a defensive perimeter for the night . The Japanese launched a heavy counter - attack during the night , but despite being pushed into hand - to - hand combat , the battalion was still holding its place the next morning . The only fresh troops available were the 1st / 11th Sikhs , withdrawing from Pegu , and the 1st / 10th Gurkha Rifles . A plan was prepared for them to attack the roadblock at 8 . 45 on the morning of the 8th , with artillery support . A squadron from the 7th Hussars would support the attack ; other units involved included a detachment of the Burma Military Police , attached to the Gloucestershire Regiment . Whilst moving into position , the Sikhs were attacked by a force of Japanese aircraft , taking severe casualties ; the Gurkhas , meanwhile , lost their way to the forming - up area and did not arrive in time . The artillery barrage failed to materialise , and the 11th Sikhs and 7th Hussars moved toward the roadblock , with the Sikhs breaking into an unexpected bayonet charge . The small garrison present immediately abandoned the roadblock and fled , leaving the British forces in control without any significant resistance . Aftermath . Japanese forces launched a small counter - attack in approximately platoon strength , with air support , shortly after the Sikhs had occupied the roadblock , but were quickly repelled . This was the limit of the Japanese response . It later transpired that General Iida , the Japanese commander , had anticipated that the British would stand and fight in Rangoon , and so had ordered the 33rd Division , the force moving against the city , to push forwards with speed rather than to try and surround the city . As a result , a strong roadblock had been laid at Taukkyan , but only with the intention of protecting the division ' s flanks ; once it had passed through and was marching on Rangoon , the garrison was withdrawn . The first of the rear - area units passed through the roadblock shortly after it was secured , and the convoys continued until around noon , at which point the bulk of Burma Army had been fully evacuated . The combat units withdrew through Taukkyan at around 4 . 30pm , and the Sikh rearguard moved northwards at 6pm . The battle honour of Taukyan was awarded to one British regiment , the Gloucestershire Regiment , for their role in the engagement . It was not claimed by the 7th Hussars or the Royal Tank Regiment , nor by the 11th Sikhs .