21 BBC Richard Sharp with Gen Slim Mandalay

Here's Richard Sharp recording in Fort Dufferin. We're waiting here for a ceremonial flag raising. In front of me is a square of troops representing all the troops who took Fort Dufferin yesterday. And indeed the whole of 19 Division who made this terrific march down.

They're standing in a square round a hard flat round earth parade ground in their go-to Spitfires having a look. Also just standing for attention all infated jungle green they've been through a lot in those clothes they're wearing bush hats, tin helmets, berets, turbans.

Here comes the commander. This is a message to every man in the 14th Army, from me, the commander. The 14th Army has taken Mandalay. The Union Jack flies once more over the great fort of Dafran.

This achievement has been an Army battle. The 33rd Indian Corps and the 4th Corps have played a noble part in it. To the 33rd Corps has fallen the honor of capturing the city. This is a fair award to them for their hard marching, hard fighting, hard living and hard dying.

But every man in this army has his share in the tram. Some time ago Kipling wrote a very fine poem on the road to Mandalay. Well, I'm not interested in the road to Mandalay. What I'm interested in is the road from Mandalay.

Let's get going along and see where they take us to.