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Commemorative ivory ornament, Elephant Company, Royal Indian Engineers, 1945 (ivory)
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Commemorative ivory ornament, Elephant Company, Royal Indian Engineers, 1945 (ivory)
5928253 Commemorative ivory ornament, Elephant Company, Royal Indian Engineers, 1945 (ivory) by Anglo-Indian School, (20th century); National Army Museum, London; (add.info.: Commemorative ivory ornament, Elephant Company, Royal Indian Engineers, 1945.
This ornament, made from a cross section of an elephant tusk, commemorates the service of the Elephant Company of The Royal Indian Engineers in Burma during World War Two.
Elephants were used extensively in the Burma campaign to carry and distribute supplies, build bridges, and as transport. They proved better suited to working in the jungle than mules.
This ornament is significant for the names that are signed on the side. One of these, James Howard Williams, is more famously known as Elephant Bill.
Williams had fought in the First World War, but moved to Burma afterwards, where he became a forester. He quickly learned the language and built up his knowledge of the country, people and the forestry trade, including the use of elephants in transport and logistics in the jungle.
In 1942 Williams rejoined the Army, and after conducting timber surveys in Bengal and Assam he was posted to the staff of the 14th Army as Elephant Advisor to the Elephant Company of the Royal Indian Engineers.
Williams advocated for the use of elephants in the construction of infrastructure, as well as a form of transport, in the harsh jungle conditions. He earned the nickname Elephant Bill, which was also the title of his 1950 memoir. In the introduction, Field Marshal Sir William Slim wrote about the use of elephants, They built hundreds of bridges for us, they helped to build and launch more ships for us than Helen ever did for Greece. Without them our retreat from Burma would have been even more arduous and our advance to its liberation slower and more difficult.
After the war, Williams left Burma and retired to Cornwall. He died in 1958, aged 60.); © National Army Museum
Media ID 25180378
© National Army Museum / Bridgeman Images
Badge Insignia Commemoration Elephant Logistics
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases a commemorative ivory ornament from 1945, created by the Anglo-Indian School. The ornament, made from a cross section of an elephant tusk, pays tribute to the Elephant Company of The Royal Indian Engineers and their service in Burma during World War Two. During the intense Burma campaign, elephants played a crucial role in carrying and distributing supplies, building bridges, and providing transportation through the treacherous jungle terrain. They proved to be more adept than mules in these challenging conditions. What makes this ornament particularly significant are the names signed on its side. One of these names is James Howard Williams, better known as Elephant Bill. Williams had fought in World War I before moving to Burma where he became a forester with extensive knowledge of elephants' use in transport and logistics. In 1942, Williams rejoined the Army as an Elephant Advisor to the Elephant Company of the Royal Indian Engineers. He advocated for using elephants not only for infrastructure construction but also as a means of transportation in harsh jungle environments. Williams earned his nickname "Elephant Bill" which later became the title of his memoir published in 1950. Field Marshal Sir William Slim praised elephants' contributions during wartime: "They built hundreds of bridges for us. . . Without them our retreat from Burma would have been even more arduous". After retiring to Cornwall following the war's end, Williams passed away at age 60 in 1958. This remarkable ivory ornament serves as both a testament to his legacy and a reminder of how animals can play vital roles during times of conflict and adversity.
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