Most of these photographs came from specific collections. Some are refreshingly new — some I hadn’t seen until recently. Unless mentioned otherwise, all photographs are from 1944. If you have a photo that you would like to contribute, kindly e-mail it to me. All photos will be appropriately credited. Numbers indicated in brackets below are Imperial War Museum reference numbers.
The Calvert Collection
Brigadier Mike Calvert (far left) with Lt-Colonel Freddie Shaw and Major James Lumley (right) in the ruins of Mogaung town. Driven to the breaking point by the U.S. Lt-General Joseph “Vinegar Joe” Stilwell (incidentally, well portrayed by Robert Stack in Steven Spielberg’s movie 1941), Calvert led out the surviving Chindits, badly emaciated by disease and heavy casualties.
Major Lumley’s daughter is the British actress, Joanna Lumley, who famously starred in the Pink Panther series and on television. (MH 7288)
(LEFT) Two survivors from the first Chindit expedition. The expedition was the first Allied success in the campaign for Burma after a disastrous defeat the year before — witness to the British Army’s greatest retreat in history. On the left is Regimental Sgt-Major William Livingstone (MC) and Company Sgt-Major Richard M. Cheevers (DCM), both of Column 8. (RIGHT) A Chindit flamethrower operator aims his No. 2 Mk II weapon. Nicknamed the “Lifebuoy” for its unique round shape which aided maximum gas pressure, the weapon had a maximum range of 40 yards and fuel for only a ten second sustained burst. The flamethrower was the one infantry weapon feared greatly by the Japanese – understandably so.
(LEFT) Wingate (holding cane) with Major R.B.G. “George” Bromhead, planning the first Chindit expedition from his headquarters in the Imphal Golf Club. Success here would elevate the eccentric Wingate to that of a mythical figure. (RIGHT) Two weary Chindits with a supply-carrying mule. Most of the pack mules had their vocal cords cut to to keep them silent in the field – an act that blanched many of the Chindits. (SE 7910)
A batch of Chindit replacements gather their arms and mules at a fortress airfield.
(LEFT) Wingate (in pith helmet) briefs the C-47 Dakota pilots of the U.S. 1st Air Commando at Sylhet in Assam. Immediately behind him is one of the Air Commando leaders, Lt-Col. Philip Cochrane (wearing cap). (MH 7877) (RIGHT) The attackers inspect latest intelligence at Lalaghat. From right — Brigadier Tulloch, Wingate, Calvert, RAF Air Marshal Johnny Baldwin, Lt-Colonel Scott, US Lt-Colonel John Alison. Rest unknown. (MH 7884)
(LEFT) Last minute intelligence showed that tree trunks had blocked a landing field codenamed “Piccadilly.” Despite concerns that the Japanese might have caught news of the imminent airborne landings, Wingate decided to proceed with the operation, with “Piccadilly” crossed off the list as a feasible landing zone. The trees were later discovered to have been felled as part of a routine logging operation. (RIGHT) The night of the assault, just before take-off. From left: John Alison, Calvert, Captain George Borrow (Wingate’s Aide-de-Camp), Wingate, Scott and Calvert’s Brigade Major, E. Francis Stuart. Three of the men would be dead before the year was out: Wingate and Borrow in an air crash that March, and Stuart, by battlefield-contracted tuberculosis in July. (MH 7873)
(LEFT) Maj-Gen. W.D. “Joe” Lentaigne (on left) with the tough and much-respected Brigadier Henry T. Alexander at headquarters. Alexander would go on to become one of eight Chindits to reach the exalted rank of Major-General. (RIGHT) A Gurkha section walks at “Broadway.”
(LEFT) An aerial view of “Broadway,” a fortress carved out of the heavy jungle. (RIGHT) A heavy weapon section at the perimeter of a Chindit jungle airbase, probably at “White City.”
(LEFT) A British 40mm AA crew at “Broadway.” (RIGHT) Lancashire Fusiliers from the Commando Platoon of 50 Column at “White City.” The man in front seems to bear a passing resemblance to the present-day American actor, Dylan McDermot.
Calvert’s final war chapter. After the Chindits were disbanded in February 1945, Mike Calvert was transferred to Europe where he took over command of the famous Special Air Service (SAS) Brigade in March. Composed of five SAS battalions, including two staffed entirely by Free Frenchmen and one of Belgians, Calvert held command until the end of the war and like in the Chindits, was immensely popular.
(LEFT) Calvert consoles the widow of a French SAS officer who has been killed in action. (RIGHT) Calvert (in center with officer’s cap), inspects the Frenchmen of his command during an official ceremony at Tarbes in the south of France. The ceremony transferred the men from the British to the French Army. (B 15783) As he had with the Chindits, Calvert witnessed the disbandment of the SAS (in October 1945) as the largely conservative senior army leadership of the time saw little worth to special forces.
LIFE Magazine
At the “Aberdeen” fortress, U.S. Lt-Colonel Philip Cochrane of the 1st Air Commando (on left) discusses the evacuation of wounded men with British Officers.
(LEFT) In rare agreeable mood, Stilwell dashes up the steps to his headquarters to keep his appointment with the pretty journalist, Claire Boothe. Captain Frederick L. Eldridge smiles at the exuberance of his normally dour commander. (RIGHT) Two-day rations for the Chindits. It contains biscuits, dates, cheese, sugar, salt, chocolate, matches, tea, powdered milk and cigarettes. The pack seen standing is for parachute drop, and contains the equivalent of 10 days worth of the items displayed.
Weary and wounded Chindits wait by an improvised air strip for evacuation back to India. These men were part of a small raiding force which had attacked the Japanese south of Myitkyina. Two men stand on guard, not for protection but to watch a handful of Burmese collaborators and a Japanese soldier who have been captured (barely visible at the left of the picture).
Casualties from an attack on a Japanese roadblock the night before lie in a makeshift tent in enemy-held Burma. Although they have been evacuated from the frontline by light planes, another trip in larger Dakota transport planes to a regular hospital in India awaits them that night.
In these two 1943 photos, British load-masters push parachute cargo pallets out. While two men push, a third who tied himself to a brace, kicked the load out. Static lines tripped parachutes open (as is displayed in the photo on the right). According to the photographer, William Vandivert, one crew member almost fell out on this trip. (RIGHT) Signal fires guided the supply planes to the patch of gray-green jungle in the Burmese mountains east of the Irrawaddy. Although fighter protection was slim, on this occasion, the Dakotas had an escort of four Mohawk fighters, small match for Japanese Ki-43 Oscars.
In these 1943 photos, Major Walter Scott, in a strange quilted vest, shakes hands with the crew of a landed Dakota while his men hastily pull the plane’s loads of food and ammunition out of sight into the forest (shown in right photo).
(LEFT) A group of tired Chindits bring out a stretcher case towards the photographer, immediately behind whom is the light jungle airstrip. The man at left carries two Enfield rifles, the other being the wounded man’s. To his right, another Chindit of the 3rd West African Brigade, watches the jungle for Japanese raiders. The men, from First Platoon, 41 Column, 1st King’s own Royal Regiment have been identified as: (Front-from left, excluding the West African) — Denny Dennison, Mike Shere and Sgt. Guy. On the back left is Pvt. Stan Berry, a batman to Lt. J.D. Harrison who appears behind Sheere’s right shoulder. (KY 481781)
(RIGHT) In this photo of 1943 Chindits, a Dakota transports a group of 17 back to India, many of them wounded and ill with disease. The aircraft rigger hands a cup of water from a captured German jerrycan (of all things) to Corporal Jimmy Walker who was suffering from dysentery and an infected hip. In an interesting contrast to the differing features of Asians — on the left is a Gurkha sitting on a seat, while on the right is a Burmese.
(LEFT) Two Vultee L-1 Vigilant light planes at the “White City” airstrip which had been carved out of rough ground and jungle. Note how close the runway is to the rail line at the bottom of the photo. The Japanese repeatedly attempt to break through to this runway, only to be held back at the perimeter by the defenders. (RIGHT) In this 1943 photo, survivors from the first Chindit expedition celebrate at the hospital. Incidentally they are some of the same group of men photographed in the aircraft in the row above. On the far left is Sgt. Leslie Flowers from Manchester. The two men in the center with raised bottles are Sgts. McElroy and Tony Aubrey. Fed on two bottles of beer a day and two chickens apiece for lunch, the men are on their way to recovery.
In this 1943 photo by LIFE photographer, William Vandivert, a British Dakota flies over enemy territory to airdrop supplies to Chindits deep behind enemy lines. Its crew is on high alert for enemy fighters, especially its dorsal gunners who vigilantly man their Lewis machine-guns.
(LEFT) Stilwell, in another one of his light moods, speaks with his American-born Chinese Aide, Lt. Richard Ming-Tom Young. This is Stilwell’s living room at his headquarters in Maymo. Note that a picture of the Alps hangs above the fireplace. On Stilwell’s epaulets are the three stars of a Lt-General. After the fall of Myitkyina, he would get a fourth star. (RIGHT) In this 1943 photo, a worn-out group of Chindits wait under the wing of the Dakota for an ambulance to take them to the hospital. These are the same men who were photographed while in the aircraft, three rows above. The bearded man in the center is Sgt. Tony Aubrey.
Two 1943 survivors: (LEFT) Showing the bullet that went through his back and came out of the hole in the belly, Pvt. Jim Suddery of Islington had a miraculous escape. Fortunately the bullet was of a small caliber. (RIGHT) Pvt. John Yates of Manchester. Despite his wounded hand, and suffering from a touch of fever and the usual jungle sores, he smiles broadly for the camera.
(LEFT) Chinese artillerymen from Stilwell’s American-Chinese Army fire their 75mm US-made Pack Howitzers down the Hukawng Valley Road. An American liaison officer watches them work.
(RIGHT) An American C-47 Dakota comes in low on 9 August 1943 to drop supplies without parachute to the Chinese. Many of the Chinese rank and file were pings, of the peasantry class, ill-treated by corrupt officers who sometimes denied them food and pay, and as a result they behaved as any class of destitute people frequently do — abominably, often stealing and looting supplies whenever the opportunity arose. Drops like these had to be carefully supervised by American officers. Anything less would result in whole swathes of supplies being stolen right under their noses. The drops were frequently made on ad-hoc jungle airstrips, numbered for quick identification with silk from parachutes.
In this 1943 photo, Chindits wave an enthusiastic farewell to the LIFE crew who are about to fly out in a light plane, knowing full well they themselves would only get to India by foot, still 170 miles away. When one of the men suggested a cheer, an officer said, “Cheer, but don’t make a sound,” because of the danger of nearby Japanese patrols.
The Imperial War Museum
(LEFT) The Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, General Sir Claude Auchinleck, inspects whites from a West African Brigade stationed at Bhopal in March 1944. (IND 2953) (RIGHT) The Viceroy of India, Field Marshal Archibald Wavell, knights Slim and three other generals on the field of Imphal in January 1945. Sir Robert Thompson, an ex-Chindit who later became internationally famous for defeating a Communist insurgency in Malaya in the 1960s, found this photograph haunting. ‘I see the ghost of Wingate present [every time I see this picture],” he said. “He was unquestionably one of the great men of the century,” who deserved his fair place among those honored. (CI 872)
Chindits wait insouciantly by their gliders to be flown out to “White City.” Other British and West African troops march behind them. Note the man marching in the immediate foreground – his rifle has a cup grenade launcher attached to the muzzle. (EA 20832)
(LEFT) A clean-shaven Wingate speaks with Cochrane. (RIGHT) A small detachment from the RAF’s 81 Squadron, together with a servicing party were based at “Broadway” in March. On the 13th, the Japanese discovered the airfield and attacked with 40 Ki-43 “Oscar” fighters. Getting airborne, the RAF pilots took on the enemy for 45 minutes, shooting down four planes and damaging several others. A brief respite followed, but on the 16th, more Japanese raiders appeared, only to lose one plane. Undeterred, another large group of Japanese fighters appeared on the following day. Only three Spitfires managed to get airborne. They shot down one raider before two of their own were killed, including the CO . The surviving pilot, Flying Officer Alan Peart, managed to get away to India, marking the end of the detachment’s service from the Chindit fortresses.
A Chindit Anti-aircraft crew watches a Dakota as it drops supplies in the perimeter of their fortress.
(LEFT) Men of the Royal Indian Army Service Corps (RIASC) usher along their mule train deep behind enemy lines. Aside from transport planes, mules constituted the next major transport element for Chindit columns in the jungle. (IND 1885) (RIGHT) Gurkhas cautiously edge forward through the Burmese undergrowth. (IND 3803)
Wingate, in typical unabashed style, tries out one of the mule pens on board a Dakota. On the right, he is shown moments later, straddling his Enfield SMLE No. 4 long-range rifle. These are some of the last photographs taken of him before his death. (EA 20828 & EA 20829)
(LEFT) Japanese troops probe a Chindit perimeter. (RIGHT) Lt-General Renya Mataguchi (without helmet), the stubborn commander of the Japanese 15th Army speaks with one of his men. Mataguchi’s testimony and that of other Japanese officers on Wingate’s efficacy, countered many of the negative things said about the Chindits after the war.
This group of tough hombres, from the HQ company of the 81st West African Division, pose for the photographer, their Enfield rifles held out. The most muscular among them seems to be the cook in the white apron, and any typical complaints of army food were probably not forthcoming. (SE 205)
Private Thomas Maycox of Salford, Lancashire, shaves in the jungle. Being on operations offered scant opportunity for proper hygiene and grooming, so moments were snagged when they could. Maycox belonged to a Mortar platoon as is evinced by the small 2-inch mortar lying in front of the foxhole, but his exact unit is unclear. (SE 3764)
(LEFT) A meeting of senior officers at Lalaghat – From left: US Brigadier-General William D. Old of the American Troop Carrier Command, General William “Uncle Bill” Slim, Wingate, Major Gaitley and Derek Tulloch. (MH 7881) (RIGHT) A Japanese-dominated bridge goes up in flames and smoke at Henu. (SE 7924)
Wingate waits at “Broadway” for C-47 Dakotas. To his left is U.S. Lt-Col. Clinton B. Gaty holding a signalling light and on the far right is Captain Baker. The popular Gaty commanded the Air Commando’s Light Plane Force but went on to lead the Air Commandos later that year. He never returned from a combat sortie against Japanese-held Meiktila on 26 February 1945. (MH7882)
Both combat types of the Air Commando captured on film at Hailakandi airfield – P-51A Mustangs overhead and a B-25 Mitchell medium bomber taxiing on the ground. (EA 20833)
Experimental Sikorsky Y-4 helicopters of the Air Commando during preliminary flights. The then-radically new machines went through their first combat deployment in the aid of Chindits. (IWM IND 3810)
“The Chindits” Booklet
These photo were published in a 1945 booklet written by Frank Owen for the Supreme Allied Commander, Southeast Asia. Layout was by Fred Oxtoby. It was printed by Don A. Lakin of The Stateman Press, Calcutta, India.
(LEFT) Chindits stroll past the physical embodiment of their insignia at newly-cleared Mawlu — the mythical Chinthe. (RIGHT) West Africans board a Dakota bound for White City. The timely arrival of the Africans would help win the battle there. (IND 7046)
(LEFT) West Africans hack an airstrip out of the jungle. (RIGHT) Men from Brigadier Lance Perowne’s 23rd Brigade prepare for a good bath after weeks of action against Japanese invaders in India.
A column of West Africans out on patrol, led by a white officer.
(LEFT) Using Lake Indawgyi near Hopin and the “Blackpool” fortress as an evacuation zone, the RAF flew in Sunderland flying boats to take out the wounded. (RIGHT) Gurkhas wait in ambush for the Japanese.
Hoofing it by air and sea: (LEFT) A mule is forcefully ejected from a transport plane onto Chindit-held Burma. Many of the mules had to be sedated for flight. (RIGHT) Other mules cross the 450 meter-wide (550 yards) Irrawaddy River.
(LEFT) An RAF liaison section in the field. Men like these were critical in keeping the air link open to the RAF and American 1st Air Commando Group. (RIGHT) Chindits safely back in India take the chance to rid themselves of their beards, cultivated in the field, partly to keep mosquitoes at bay and partly because there was little time or means for grooming on the battleground.
US 1st Air Commando Group (Other Photographs)
The notable pre-war child-star John Leslie “Jacki” Coogan, now an Air Commando glider pilot, fiddles with a gadget. No martinet, Coogan went in with the first wave on the night of 5 March 1944 — and survived. After the war, he famously starred as Uncle fester in The Addams Family. Before the war, Coogan’s earnings were stolen by his parents who openly declared that young Jackie “would not get a cent.” When later Coogan fell into financial difficulties, he was saved by Charlie Chaplin. (US National Archives)
(LEFT) In 1944, the Chindits would get their own private air force – the American 1st Air Commando Group, an equally dashing formation filled with unconventional types. One admiring British officer, Captain Griffin, would call the group an “extraordinary [flying] circus.” (US Air Force)
(RIGHT) An Air Commando fighter pilot, Lt. Jack Klarr, wears a jacket with the insignia of the group’s Fighter Element. Klarr’s first kill, a Japanese Ki-43 Oscar, occurred on May 19 during a patrol over “Blackpool.” By September the Chindits had been withdrawn and the Air Commando reorganized. Anti-airfield sweeps began on October 17 against a ring of airfields around Rangoon, and on the 20th, Klarr destroyed a Japanese aircraft on the ground at Hmawbi. More action soon followed. On December 13, while escorting twelve RAF Liberators on a bombing raid, his squadron encountered ten Oscars. Klarr gave the lead plane a burst from his guns. The Japanese fighter rolled and dived away, smoke trailing from its engine. Jack Klarr was awarded a “probably destroyed.” In 1945, he became a Captain and would go on to survive the war. (Elwood Jamison, 1st Air Commando Association)
(LEFT) The two co-commanders of the First Air Commando, Lt-Col. John Alison (in front row, without hat) and Phil Cochrane (on far right) at Hailakandi in March 1944. The other men, from left, are: Capt. Walter Radovich, Maj. Arvid “Ollie” Olsen and Lt-Col. Robert T. Smith who flew the B-25 in the background, Barbie III, named after his wife. Alison was a combat ace with seven aerial kills to his credit before he was assigned (along with his friend, Cochrane) to the ultra-secret Project 9, a unit which ultimately morphed into the 1st Air Commando. Alison passed away on 6 June 2011. He was 98. (U.S. Air Force Association) (RIGHT) Cochrane and Alison together in a wartime Associated Press color photo. (U.S. Air Force)
Sources:
For a full bibliography of all Chindit writing on this site, check the bottom of this post: Chindits – In 1944.
Achilles the Heel 
That is my dad, Jack Klarr. I still have all of his photos from the 1st Air Commandos. He was the one who was supposed to rendevous with Col. Gaty when Gaty disappeared. He searched for days for the Col. They didn’t find out until many years later that the Japanese had shot him down. Dad used to talk of transporting the Chindits and their mules. He was also trained to fly gliders and had one of the first P-51 A Mustangs. He was one of the first group of helicopter pilots to train in WWII. They were going to use the helicopters to evacuate the wounded in the jungles of Burma, but most of the helicopters were damaged during transport to India. My father was pleased because he viewed the early helicopters as unreliable and dangerous to fly.
Ms. Klarr,
Thanks for your message. I did know that your father was one of those who searched for Colonel Gaty, but I wasn’t aware that he was one of the first Y-4 helicopter pilots. That’s very interesting. If you are willing to share any of his photographs, kindly let me know. Thanks.
Most of his pictures are of airplanes or tourist places in India or of people on the streets. I think my brother has one picture of the helicopter crews with my dad. I will be out of town for two weeks, but when I get back I will go through the pictures and see if any are interesting. There are lots of pictures of the planes painted in the “Invasion of Burma” stripes. Most of the pictures are not labeled as to where they were taken or when. I would be glad to send you copies of any that are interesting. This was a part of the War that most people know nothing about and it is not mentioned in many books. Especially about the helicopters. There is a case devoted to the First Air Commandos at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. My dad did get to visit it before he died and was very pleased to see it. Thank you for your interest.
Hello Kate,
Do you have any picture of Brigadier Lancelot Edgar Connop Perowne ?.
Sorry, most of his pictures are of planes and the members of his squadron. I don’t think there are any pictures of British troops, just some “tourist” pictures of India.
My dad, Norman Goldsher, was in the 1st Air Commando Group, 6th Fighter Squadron. He was an aircraft mechanic and worked on P-47s and P-51s stationed in Asansol and Harpers Ferry, India. I have some pictures of him and some of his group with the planes. He died May, 2012 at 92 years old. He didn’t talk much about the war but was proud of his service and liked his airplanes, (especially the P-47). I have often wondered if any of the people in his unit survive.
I believe there may be an Air Commando association you could contact, in order to find surviving members – if any. Albeit, chances may be a little slim, however.
If you are willing to share any of those photographs on this site, do let me know.
I have five or six pictures of my dad and some of his crew on my computer. I probably could send them in. Where do I send them?
Hi, the photos are truly amazing to look at. My late grandad was in the Chindits but my knowledge of where he was based in the war is a little limited. He went by the name Jimmy Harris from Forfar. And because of my limited communication with my father and my late grandad I’m a little short on what I know of his role and regiment.
Please if anyone knew of Jimmy Harris and could supply me with stories or if in fact they knew him it would be much appreciated to here. I’m so proud of him and for all served in conflict it can never be forgotten.
Hi, I’m presently doing my family tree and I too am looking for information about my grandad. His Name was Henry Ingram, from Leicestershire, (known as Harry I believe) He served with Colonel Wingate in Burma but not sure if it was 1943 or 44. I’ve googled ‘The Chindits’ and followed all the links without success.
Any info would be great or a link to a site that lists the soldiers names.
Many thanks for any help anyone can give me.
Regards
You could try and contact Steve Fogden, an authority on the 1943 expedition. He possibly may have a list of all the 1943 Chindits. He’ s a very helpful guy. His website is at; http://www.chinditslongcloth1943.com/index.html
You could also try to request information from the Ministry of Defense, which has records on every serviceman. It would really help if you knew his regiment or even what sort of decorations he had.
The photograph of the air gunners in the Dakota shows my late uncle Thomas “Wilber” Wright . He is manning the Lewis gun on the left in the photograph. He was a Warrant Officer, wireless operator air gunner. He talked very little about the war but he did tell me they took Vera Lynn from one location to another.
Also, while flying over the hump they had to throw equipment from the aircraft as they could not gain height due to icing. My father said they also threw out the mules they were transporting but I never heard this from my uncles lips. He was a serving police officer before joining the RAF and on demob returned to the police force in the North Riding of Yorkshire. He retired as an Inspector in the 1970’s
Great information. I always wondered about the identities of those men in the photograph. Thanks.
A little appalled to hear about the poor mules though.
My late husband’s uncle was in the chindits and wrote an article for a magazine about his escape from Burma his name was Tom Hatton and he lived in Southport.
Hi Anonymous, can you direct me to Tom Hatton’s article about his escape from burma. My dad was in the same group of men.
Hi
I used to live next door to Tom + Gladys hatton in hesketh bank
Tommy was very proud of the Burma stars – a lovely man
Thomas was my Great Uncle. He was a fantastic man and I think of him fondly. My mum has the Ministry of Defence manuscript of the escape at home. He was a true hero.
My father was in the chindits in Burma but I have no idea about his exploits. He died soon after I was born (1951). His name was Joseph Sheldrick and I would like to hear from anyone who has any information to share.
My father was also a chindit in Burma in the early part of 1944. He left a rudimentary war diary, which briefly mentions an awful battle. He also mentions his commanding officer, Michael Calvert, by name. In his diary Dad mentioned scant rations and having to keep in water to avoid detection. He was hospitalized for quite some time after it all and rarely spoke of his experiences once us four children were old enough to really ask questions. I don’t suppose I’m alone in wishing that I’d shown more interest and asked a lot more questions once I’d grown up.
Hello Barbara,
I was wondering if you could tell us more about this battle mentioned in the diary. Calvert’s 77th Brigade was indeed in the thick of some outrageous close-quartered combat.
I should have added that my father’s name is Albert Thomas Pegler. He was billeted in Blackpool before leaving the UK, but his home was in Dagenham, Essex. I would appreciate hearing from anyone with knowledge of his war experiences.
Hi Barbara
My grandfather was also in the same campaign and from dagenham.
William F. lawrence (d. 1989)
I’m trying to trace some history on him, maybe they knew each other as he was also billeted to Blackpool. I have one photo from his time in durban with two others on a rickshaw! Before his journey to burma.
Does this ring any bells?
Sry he was attached to 2nd bat yorks & lances reg….
Long shot but you never know
Danny
Hi Danny
My Dad was in the in the 13th Kings Regiment and went out to India via Durban, I recall seeing a picture you describe but can’t find it among what papers I have. His name was George Bagot and he was from Blackpool.
Regards
Alan Bagot (Son)
Hi Alan
I’m a bit busy at the mo but I will dig out the snap and post it here some point this week
Would be brilliant if one of them was your father!
Danny
He talks about how ‘Everyone was running, even the officers and then the Japanese opened fire and killed nearly all my men.’ Most of this and more is heavily scribbled out but another comment he makes is ‘digusted with the army.’
Wow. Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Barbara, the battles could have been White City or Mogaung. Many of Calverts 77 Brigade were killed, wounded or died of disease before they were finally evacuated out to India. My father also there and survived.
Barbara is there any means of viewing your fathers diary? I am trying to fill in some gaps and write about my fathers experiences.He also wrote a diary but stopped writing, possibly because the events were too painful.
Hi Frankie, My Dad was in Mogaung and the area as a medic he had a diary. I am going to Mogaung in January to check out a few places. Get back to me if you want.
Barbara (or others)
My father was radio opp for gurkas and was I am told awarded a leather
medal by the chindits. Are any pictures or information about chindits medals available
Special forces Roll of Honor website has listings of many Chindits from both years. Also people on ww2talk.com have masses of info.
Fantastic site,
My Dad is a Chindit.
His name is Philip Hayden.
Still going strong at 93 years old.
He was homered by The Lord Mayor of Liverpool Yesterday for being the last Chindit left in Liverpool.
1st battalion, Kings Liverpool redgt.
He was flown into broadway by Glider at night and was one of the lucky ones that made it.
What amazing men they were.
They endured the most awful conditions with Malaria, Sand fly Fever and leeches.
Lack of sleep and Malnutrition.
And still had to fight.
Total respect for these heroes.
Oustanding!
Date: Sat, 1 Feb 2014 05:02:38 +0000 To: pops.49@hotmail.co.uk
My grandad was also in the Kings and his name is Charlie Mayor. He was shot twice. Placed in a field hospital in Burma and went back into action.
Hi, my dad was with Wingate’s phantom army; he was also in that regiment. His picture is in the book “Wingate’s Phantom Army” by W.G.Burchett.
Hi Anon.
I would very much like to hear more about your father and his time in Wingate’s Phantom Army.
I have a website in their honour at http://www.chinditslongcloth1943.com
It would be good to hear from you in time.
Hi Peter,
Just a few words to say that my father, Dennis Hardy also of the 1st. Battalion Kings Liverpool Regiment was also on that flight into Broadway by glider. He is still alive and living in Leicestershire and totally recalls his exploits there. I think he was in 81 column but will ask him tomorrow to confirm.
You are are right, they were amazing
Regards,
Neil Hardy
Hi Peter,
My father, Dennis Hardy who was 93 yrs old earlier this month was also in the 1st. battalion of the Kings (Liverpool) Regiment, I think 81 column and also took part in the drop into Broadway by glider. He totally remembers his exploits there and you are most certainly right in saying they were amazing.
Regards,
Neil Hardy
Hi. My father, Sgt Tom Stephens, was part of 81 Column. If Dennis remembers him, please tell him that Tom survived the War and died in 1996, a week short of his 82nd birthday. Cheers, Robert Stephens
Very brave men indeed!
Hi,Peter, you will not know me, but i have the deepest admiration for those men who came back and those that did not.
One who did survive did an interview with the BBC prior to Rememberance Sunday 2018, his name is John Hutchin(s) and he related his story about being wounded and knowing that he would be left behind , he was determined to make it back himself alone…quite a moving story really!
These last few years i have been going to the Cenotaph on Rememberance Sunday, obviously to show my respect to the fallen but also to see Mr. Hutchin(s) with his slouch hat on along with some of his comrades, although in a wheelchair, he will get up and march past the Cenotaph to give the salute…..they say they are the “Forgotten Army” …..i will never forget them……Paul Gaffikin.
Agreed, heroes all!
Do you have any info on Bertrem Arthur Hudson who served under Colonel Wingate?
Regards, Richard, his son
Thank you
If anyone can help, kindly let Richard know.
Hi Richard, I have one mention of a B.A. Hudson of the Royal Engineers in my records for the Chindits of 1943.
The document mentions him in regard to help he gave in identifying the missing from the first operation in 1943. I would like to hear more about your father.
Steve
My father Matthew John Flynn MM and bar served with the chindits he spoke very little about his time in Burma apart from the photo of his presentation we do not have any other photos during that time
My uncle was in the Chindits but I never met him. Where is the best place to search for his name as such.
Leslie C Cryer was his name.
H. There do you have any further info, such as dob, did he survive the war etc….
Yes he did. 1917 – 1965. Selby Yorkshire. He was suppose to have spent time in North Africa and Burma.
Thanks
Any luck?
Fred Symes [no relation to Brig.G.Symes] my dad was 21 column queens with 16-ferguson. The walk from ledo near killed all of them and then the small amount of fighting with no food and water finished off those that were in bad shape. Dad only had a few contacts in the jungle and reckoned they were on the run the whole time. He spent time then back in india recovering only then at the end of the war to guard the japs at changi prison…which hurt as he saw the carnage they dished out. Next they sent him to java to fight the uprising which he had zero interest in. spent five years away fighting from italy to java with burma in between.
needless to say he was a tough old cookie with no teeth!
Died 2012 aged 90. RIP dad.
Great web site and well done with huge thanks.
Thanks much for sharing this touching, intriguing story. Yup, 16th Brigade had it rough. Feel free to elaborate on your tale if you wish,
The part about the “tough old cookie with no teeth” made me grin.
My father Walter Wellstead was in 22 column on the same march with the Queens and was involved in the Ambush at mile 22 ,the maps they used my father brought back, which I still have. He fought against the Italians,then the Germans in North Africa then the Vichy French in Syria,where he was taken prisoner.When the Vichy French signed there Armistace he was released,and went on to fight in Burma with the Chindits.He died in 1998 aged 82.A Hero RIP
Hi Tim, thanks for the interesting comment. I’d love to receive any scanned or photographed imagery of the maps. They could really be useful in building a clearer picture of realities on the ground.
Looking for information pertaining to Trooper Fred Pett. 44th Recce. Corp. MIA, Burma 1944. Would really appreciate any news at all.
If anyone can help, kindly let Jane Know.
Meantime, Jane, if you any other pertinent information about your brother, please post it.
Trying to find service records or any information on my granddad Peter Dyer (Service no 1650448).
Tried all different sites. Any information would be appreciated.
Does anyone remember Acting Warrant Officer/Staff Sergeant William James Gray (known as Bill) who lived in Gunness, Scunthorpe? He is my father and served in Burma with the Chindits and was in the REME.
I would love to know more of his time with the REME and would appreciate any information. Email: mariegray2009@gmail.com
Many thanks.
Hi,
Can you tell us anything more abut your father’s service with the Chindits? Did he take part in the 1943 expedition? Which column was he with? Any details at all could perhaps help someone get back to you with pertinent information.
So many still missing but still wondering and remembering my brother
Fred Pett – Many years ago I wrote:
There have been countless numbers
of men and women, friends or not
erudite or frivolous, they left their mark
But, the short life of my Brother
determined how I lived Mine.
I do not know how he died
A nation famous for its manners
lacked the grace to inform.
jb
My father was a Chindit.
His name was Bertrand William Stedeford (Bertie)
He was killed in 1950 serving in Malaya and is buried at Batu Gaja
I have a photo of him as a Chindit but cant see how to send it
Hello, if you would email it to me, I can post on the site.
Thanks.
Hi Akhil,
There is a new book out titled “Project 9, the Birth of the First Air Commandos in WWII”. By Dennis R. Okerstrom. It is available at Amazon.com. I saw an interview with the author on C-SPAN and then ordered the book. He was interviewed with 3 surviving members of the !st Air Commandos. They were much more interesting than the author was. The book is very informative on the formation of the squadron and does mention Wingate and Chindits quite a few times. A lot of the information is what we already know and he was very light on pictures. Still, it was so nice to see that someone is still interested. I ordered 4 copies of the book for my children and siblings.
Thank you for keeping the memory of the Chindits and the 1st Air Commandos alive.
Kate Klarr Long
Hi Kate,
I glanced through this book a couple of months ago. I noticed that it had a great deal of information on the Chindits.
I didn’t buy it, however. But I’ll get it at some point in the future and if there is any new information, I’ll be sure to update the site.
You’re right. It was surprising to see a new book on the Commandos. Seventy years on, and what with all the insanity going on in the world today, people are still writing about the Chindits and the Air Commandos. I was glad.
And thanks for the kind words. I hardly think I’m doing anything altruistic by writing about the Chindits and the Burma War – because the work is driven by a personal connection. Possibly others are doing more, especially like this Okerstrom gentleman. But I appreciate it nonetheless!
Hi, does anyone have any information on William Austin? Served in the Chindits.
My father-in-law was a medic in the Chindits in the second world war. His name was William Stokes Davison.
Hi
Candy short for Candade was in the chindits pathfinders.Survived the war to serve in the cavalry regiment of the Indian army&retired.as full colonel .After hearing the war heroics as a child I his daughter am amazed at the fund of information available on the web.
Proud to be the daughter of a braveheart
Gita Ramaswamy
was the letter any good for your website?
Hello John,
Did you get my email to you? I sent it a couple of days ago.
Hi
Does anyone remember my dad, Stewart Trotter, a Chindit originally from Glasgow who sadly died in 1978?
Best wishes
Pat Trotter
Kg.1972@hotmail.com
Hi
I am trying to locate any photos of one of the Daks my Dad – Stan Mellor, flew in on supply in Burma and I believe was the first in to a POW camp? Also transported Neru. The Dak was aptly named Dumbo and Dad had painted the character on the nose. Trying to put a few surprises together for his 90th birthday.
Thanks
Diane Mellor
If anyone can help Diane, kindly post a response. Thanks.
Diane. Do you know which unit your father was in?
Diane. If your father was Stanley Samuel Mellor (service number 2210028), I have a Visitors Book from RAF Leuchars, which he signed on 30 July 1958 when he was stationed at RAF Honington. If this is your father, I’d be pleased to send you a scan of the page he signed.
Hi..we have only recently been told that my dad served with or in the Chindits….he was born in 1926 so I am guessing it would have been 1943 -45…but we can not find out any more information or if indeed he was with the chindits. His name was Ken Hoskins. We have several photos of him in uniform and the hat worn is very similar to the ones worn by the Chindits.
Any information would be very much appreciated. And like many of the soldiers I have read about, my dad did not talk to us about his days in the Army, may be due to the fact that we were born a long time after.
thanx
hi, my partners father was a chindit , now 93 Denis Durkin though in poor health can still tell his stories under Wingate , says to this day , you had to be mad to want to be part of it. great fellow but even at the age of 93 he is no push over and certainly scared of no one. Bless him , a great chap !
Hi John, which unit did Mr Durkin serve with? I’m sure the community at large would love to hear some of those stories – if you feel like sharing.
hi Akhil, from what we can make out Dennis joined up earlier than he should have. Dennis is known in york for his very near miss following a German raid on the city (noted in the york press) he was on guard on top of a gas tower on watch out out for bombers, little did he know that a bomb was meant for that particular tower ‘ luckily it missed , some fíftyplus years later Dennis actualy met the German bomber officer who’s job it was to drop the bomb , Dennis thanked him for being such a bad shot ! (noted in the local press). Dennis then went in to the regulars , joining the Royal Engineers, Dennis , a well known scrapper in york , though not very tall , had the reputation as a fiesty fighter. During his time in the RE,s , Dennis longed for a greater adventure and became aware of a new section within the forces , Dennis volunteered at the start and soon found himself serving in the far east as a chindit , as so his adventures begun.
Thanks much for the details, John. Interesting.
Hi Akhil,
i t has been recently suggested in one of the UKs well read papers (The Sun) that the last known surviving chindit had sadly passed away at 97 ? not sure if you were aware of this? but I can gladly say that my father inlaw (Dennis Durkin) is alive and well , sat here at the moment having a cup of coffee and also in his 90s. Are there others out there that can challenge the report and that there are in fact other chindits still here to tell the story. Regards John.
No, I wasn’t aware of The Sun’s story, but I just read it. You should write an editorial, informing the paper of its mistake. I wonder how they determined he was the last Chindit.
I have just photocopied pages of a Special Forces letter sent out to my Father, Frank Skinner, signed by Major Gen, commanding Special forces, 26th April 1943 for those men going on leave. It was lodged in behind some of Dad’s medals and the Chinthe cloth badge that he was so proud to wear.
At the time of serving his country he was living in Kimberley, Nottinghamshire, and I believe was attached to the York and Lancs regiments.
His army number is not visible in the papers I have found but I would dearly love to find out even a very small amount about him as he rarely spoke of the Burma campaign other than to praise Gen Wingate, Slim and the Gurkhas who he held in very high esteem.
I am now 77 years of age and would be so thankful to get any further knowledge to pass to my son and son in law, both members of the forces.
A very proud daughter
Vera M Phillips
My dad was a Chindit. Bruce Dransfield from Barnsley. He died in 2004. Does anyone know anything of him, or how I might research his time in Burma?
REN
My dad Douglas Crossley was a Chindit but he never spoke of it. Thank you for all the information I have been able to read on this page, sadly dad passed away in 1995, so proud of him x thanks
My Mothers Brother PVT James Higginson 4461538 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry was one of the Chindits that went into Burma on the first disastrous campaign.Sadly he passed away in the Jungle during the withdrawal on 5th April 1943 aged 27.My mother always mentioned how spick and span he was and very clean.After reading of his and the other men who went on this learning expedition,I have nothing but utter admiration for them and the utter atrocious conditions they had to endure.Wingate was the only guy with the guts and gumption to get the Japs out,but on this first foray into the enemy I think he pushed the men far to hard,hence the high rate of loss.
My Grandfather, Samuel Oliver Alec Palmer, WOII (CSM) 1st. Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers was KIA on 18 June 1944 at the battle of Moguang, thank you for the information on this site which has enabled me to better understand the Chindit missions. Sadly we do not know which Company he was with.
He originally joined the Essex Regiment (he was a Romford boy) in 1928, he left to the reserve in 1934 and re-joined in 1939. His wife’s family suffered 3 killed in 1940 (HMS Argylleshire, 1 June, SS Mill Hill, 31 August and HMS Jervis Bay, 5 Nov. He remained home service until 1943 when we went with Essex draft to India, he was then transferred to the Scottish Rifles and from there to LF. He was British 6 mile champion in 1939 and was in the London to Brighton road race team that won 3 times in the 1930’s.
Amazing story.
Glad my short pieces on the Chindits were of help to you. The battle of Moguang was a frightful affair. If I discover additional, pertinent details about the battle, I’ll update the post.
Thanks
I went to Moguang last year to follow my fathers diary. He made the trek up the ledo rd and we found the airstrip Wazzarup in north Burma that took Dad to India. I have photos. I can send photos etc. he was in the medical corp. it was an adventure in itself.
Adrian berry (son of Tom Berry) Chindit
Sure, I’d love to see those photos.
There’s a story too. So I am not sure how much space you have. I have been meaning to put it all together. The bridge at Mogaung still exist but not the Red House. But the railway line and we found the temporary air strip and Burma village. A bit of trouble up that way still!
Fascinating. Were you able to discover where exactly the red house was located? In my map of Moguang, I had guess the location, based on narratives. No one could tell me the exact location, not even the historian at the Gurkha regimental center, UK.
Very interesting to hear that you found the airstrip and Gurkha village. Would love to hear all about it and possibly include your experiences in modern-day Moguang on the site. It would offer a lot of perspective. Would you kindly shoot me an email with your thoughts?
Just about. When you enter the village from the south (where the bridge where the ferocious fighting took place,)the railway station is straight in front of you and you can gauge where the Red House was as the railway bridge heads off to the right. That bridge is on all the maps. Google Earth helps a lot. We took photos of the bridge. Rifles were found there not too long ago.There are still Burmese soldiers guarding the bridge because of insurgents. They let us take photos as we had a guide and we had our wives! The whole village was very friendly and bought us breakfast each day. They do not get too many visitors. To put Dads diary with the photos and where we went might take me a while.
It was just incredible being in the places where such events took place. Dad was flown in and out of Mogaung as he carried wounded back to India but eventually had to do the trek back to Warrazup with everyone else. He lost his photos and glasses InThe mud and was lying exhausted when an elephant walked past. He said he wished he was on its back.
How do I send you photos?
Very, very interesting. I’ll have to go back and check/update my map.
You can just email the photos and information to me at akhil213@yahoo.com
Take your time.
I can imagine the exhilaration of your trip. I really envy you, actually. A tour of central Burma would really be awesome, especially for those who are aware of what transpired there during the war.
Sorry I mean the Gurkha village
My dad was a chindit. William Walter Adams. he was wounded and died later in 1950…
Can you tell me which regiment he was with? Was he wounded during the first expedition or the second?
A very interesting web site, I’m trying to find out as much as possible about my uncle Major John Henry Brooker, Royal Norfolk Regiment attd. 3rd West African Aux Group, Gold Coast Regiment, died 5th February 1944, I belive he was swimming a river when he had a heart attack. As he could speak Urdo he answered an advert in the times for volunteers, althought he was I think to old at 44 -45. He is buried in Rangoon.
Sounds like a very interesting man.
Unfortunately, I don’t have as much information on the West African regiments as I should. They were a very quixotic bunch. What they must’ve thought of India and Burma…
Perhaps a visitor to this blog can help.
Will write if I come across any pertinent information in the figure.
I am currently working on my husbands family tree. His dad John Morris died when he was only 1 year old in 1950 so not much info available. We believe he was in the 77th Brigade (Calvert) 1st Kings (Liverpool) Regiment / Lancashire Fusiliers. Any information you could provide would be helpful. His DOB is around 1922 / 1923. Love the site great informaiton
It would be highly advisable to find his records with the National Archives. it’ll provide clues about which direction you can proceed to uncover more information.
You could also contact Steve Fogden, a very nice guy, who has built up a veritable archive of Chindit records (albeit of the first expedition). You can google him.
Does anyone knows something about Jeffrey Lockett, he was a Major in the B. A. and served with the Chindits in Burma
trying to find out about my uncle ALAN HARDWICK a chindit ,does any one know of info !!!!
Does anyone know anything of Bruce Dransfield? He was a Chindit in Wingate’s expedition.
I would be interested to know whether Sgt Guy was my father, David Guy.
>
My father was a chindit. John McVey Royal Engineers and joined 14th I believe.
Before the Chindits was V Force with elephants to provide intelligence my father-in-law ,was there for years behind the lines promises were made to locals that were not honoured by UK.
Douglas Dwyer .
Can anyone help i am trying to find information regards my Grandfather Leslie Richard Parker, 1st Essex (Column 44 & 56) 23 Brigade, not much seems to have been written about this brigade even though they were involved in the jungles around Kohima & Dimapur. if any has any info or knows of any diaries that might be able to help i would be grateful
My late father Bob Robinson was a Chindit medical officer with the 1st Essex. You are right, not much was written about them because that brigade alighted with their mules from a train near to Dimapur and marched in, unlike other brigades who were towed in gliders that landed in prepared jungle strips. Dad’s brigade were covert in every sense of the word, so little was reported. Its role was to cut off the enemy supply line and slow down the Japs. It was a success exactly how Wingate had planned it with no direct confrontation and the we managed to hold Kohima, and arguably India, as a result. His brigade walked hundreds of miles through thick mud on jungle tracks taking him across rivers and over mountains up to 6000ft, eventually relieved at Ulkuru. Illness was probably 100%, but the death rate of their own men was lower than other Chindit columns. Whole columns of the enemy lying there dead in their tracks were passed, confirming the the strategy as outlined by Wingate was the right one.
would you have any pictures of your father in Burma, i have never been able to find any of my Grandfather but i always keep hoping that someone might have a picture with him in it.
There is a photo of the 1st Essex Regiment showing officers (including, I believe, your father) of the 44 and 56 columns “at the conclusion of operations in Assam and Burma, July 1944” at pp96 of The Essex Regiment 1929-195 by Colonel T A Martin MBE..
I wood tove to no what you no about the chindits they were called or kown as the forgotten army he was under G SLIM I have many medals so pride
Our dad William Henry Brindley was in the Chindits but never knew anything about it until the day I was watching our local Uttoxeter poppy parade and a man that knew about our dad said to me: “DID YOU KNOW that your dad was in the Chindits?” I said I knew nothing about what was telling me.
He told me to go to our local library and ask them to help me to find out about the Chindits. So I did and now I have details about our dad and replicas of his medals that he won. I am sorry to say our dad Bill as he was known has passed away. And after the war I was told he was a changed man. All through our childhood he had lots of mental breakdowns and was taken away for treatment for his illness. It was hard on our mother bringing 6 children up on her own. She died very early at the age of 46. Which left me to look after my brother and sisters.
It is all water under the bridge now and we have all turned out well and have loving families of our own. Our dad was a very brave man and we never really knew him because of the war. But he had to do his duty. God rest his soul.
My father-in-law in VForce had non- physical problems for many years after . I was always in admiration how an accountant could be transferred to the jungle for 5years after a lifetime at a desk. I believe he was selected for the ability to navigate in the jungle. The Nothern tribes were absolutely essential survival.
My dad was in the Royal Signals, I know he was in Burma/ Malaya in WW2 but he, like so many, never spoke of it. There was some talk of him being involved in the destruction of the Bridge over the River Kwai, but I don’t know if that’s right. I watched a TV programme about Burma’s Secret War and “The Chindits” rang such a bell with me I wondered if that was who he was with. He was very much affected by his service, he suffered a lot of after effects. I would really appreciate it if anyone knows anything about him, his name was: Angus Thompson, an RSM, I think, with the Royal Signals
Hi, my dad is still alive aged 92, does anyone know if there are anymore chindits still living?
my father was with the 1st Lancashire fusiliers 3rd battalion Gurkha riffles his name was Harold Verdun Clark also known as knobby to his friends he was one of the lucky ones that came home but sadly past away some years age if any one as any information about him please post it
My dad is 94 and still alive. He was in Royal Engineers in Burma . His name is Tony Boon.anyone knew him?
Hi Col, my dad is still alive, aged nearly 93. He also was in the Royal Engineers in Burma. His name is Dennis Durkin, but known to his friends as Digger, or Danny.
My Father was a Chindit and as far as I am aware he was involved in both operations Longcloth and Thursday. Sadly he passed away in 1966, He was in the Liverpool Kings Regiment having joined up prior to the outbreak of war with his brother from the Liverpool 8th Irish TA Brigade. Like many Chindits he didn’t really speak about about his experiences and by the time I was old enough to ask, it was too late.
My mother said than when they went in with gliders, he was in the planes that followed as he had a mule and they were too unpredicable to risk in the gliders.
His name was John Joseph Mackrell and he was an ex-pupil of SFX School Liverpool
If anybody has any information relative to his time with the Chindits I would be delighted to hear from them.
My Father was also in the Kings Liverpool – sadly he passed away in 1999 but did not speak much of being a Chindit – he suffered from Malaria picked up in Burma. I have a few pictures of him on the way to Burma via Durban and India
My father William Henry Tippey was in the RAF Chindit Support he sailed from Liverpool via Durban to India and onto Burma. He spent most of his time in Burma servicing planes in the Burmese jungle, they were specially designed to take off on very short runways made in jungle clearings. He suffered from malaria for the rest of his life. I have no details of his unit or where he was located, he was very reluctant to speak about his experiences. If anyone has information I would appreciate receiving same.
My Father Albert (Bert) quinn was a radio operator with the Chindits in Burma, He came from the Scotland road area of Liverpool, we dont know a lot about his time in Burma as he spoke little of it, We do know that photographs of him with his regiment,or part of his regiment exist as our family had these photos,but we dont know what became of these. If anyone has any information about him and his time in Burma or if anyone knows how we could obtain copies of the photos that i mentioned,It would be much appreciated, Many Thanks .
My late uncle, Frederick George Gowers known as Fred, was a Chindit. We have his orange silk map of Burma, but living relatives would more about him and what he did. Does anyone recognise the name?
My Father was a Chindit John Henry Wallis Bradburn (Kings Liverpool’s) and when I was younger we used to go to re-unions – nicest picture is of my Father shaking hands with Mountbatten in London. There is a Chindit flag in Lichfield Cathedral I think I went to a service there once.
I have an original American magazine with a picture of my Dad and others getting out of a glider in Burma.
He never spoke much about his time there (I think few did). Like others I wish he had written his story to know what they really went through in the ‘Forgotten Army’ .Thanks for this site. John Bradburn
Thanks much for sharing your story. Can I ask you for the name of the magazine and its publication date?
Hello The magazine is YANK and as the picture is of them at the side of a glider before take off is easily dated.
The picture shows my Father and 2 other soldiers getting in the gliders on the way into Burma from the airfield in India. There are 2 other photo’s 1 is Col Cochran at a blackboard doing the pre-flight briefing to the glider pilots and the other shows several gliders lined up with the tow wires clearly visible.
I will get the page scanned properly and then I can send it you.
Thanks
John W Bradburn
That would be great. Thanks!
I have just found your site telling about your dad and want to tell you that my dear husband Major Bill Towill was a Chindit in the jungles of Burma in charge of a company of 3/9 Gurkhas at the same time as your dad. It was 40 years before he would talk about the terrible time there fighting the Japanese, but eventually he wrote and published his experience there. The book is available on amazon Title ‘A CHINDITS CHRONICLE’ . If you want to get a copy for about £5 you will discover just what he went through. Very sadly he died aged 93 years a short time ago and is sadly missed. I have also just published a book in his memory. Title ‘LOVE LETTERS FROM A CHINDIT AND A LIFETIME OF MEMORIES’. under my maiden name of Pamela Justine Dowley-Wise, also available for £10. amazon. books
Hello Mrs Towill. It’s 3 years on from when you wrote your note above. My father was Steve Smele, a name I’m sure you’ll remember. He too was with the 3/9 Gurkha Regiment, and passed away in 2010. I’ve read, and reread, and then read again “A Chindits Chronicle”. Please let me convey my immense respect for all that Bill, and yourself as well, have done to keep the memories alive of all the brave men who served as Chindits.
hello yes my dad was a chindit in burma called forgoten amry IMM lookin now at his medals my dad new your husband bill he was under him war did not take my dad fffff caner did and now for frfn what dad then they dont ffno your are HEROs
The date of the publication is May 14th 1944 and it is the British Edition of YANK the US Army Weekly. The front page is headlned Landing in Burma with Cochran’s Air Commandos (this is on the back of the page I mention previously ) as I never took it out of the frame it was kept in by my Father.
Thanks
John W Bradburn
I thought “Yank” concentrated primarily on the European and the Pacific theaters of operation. I didn’t know they had a British edition.
It’s in a frame? I sincerely hope you don’t go to much trouble to scan the image for my sake.
My name is Art Weintraub and I am retired from the U.S. Army. I am in the process of gathering information on the Chindits so that I may write a book that could lead to a movie.I can be initially contacted at: 11bravo19delta@gmail.com Thank you!
Thank you for publishing these photos and narrative. My Grandfather, Frank Berkovits, served in Brigade Column as a Bren gunner in the 1st Expedition. He was captured trying to cross the Irrawaddy after the order to disperse back to India. He survived two and a half years Rangoon, including the death march when the Camp was abandoned.
He never spoke of his time as a POW but we found a short memoir after he died. Stephen Fogden, author of the Chindit Longcloth website (whose Grandfather Leslie Howney died in Rangoon), kindly published his story and helped with my research.
These images help bring thing to life – thank you.
Thank you. These posts were intended to help inform the general public about who the Chindits were and what they achieved.
Yes, Steve’s work is valuable – and of immense aid to furthering our understanding of the experiences of troops in Burma.
I am trying to gather information on my Uncle whose details are, ANDREWS, Fusilier, HARRY, 4696791. 1st Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers.
My Mum died recently and didn’t have a lot of information on him only that he was killed/lost at during a battle I think was called White City (not sure). I know he is commemorated on Rangoon Memorial. Any information would be greatly appreciate.
Email: Alan.Rose12@me.com
My Grandad John William Mycock was a Chindit from Manchester. He died this week aged 93. I have a photo he sent back to his mother dated Christmas Day 1944 in Mumbai.
I wish I had spoken to him more about the war. He was taken by ship to Singapore with the King’s Regiment. He spent his 21st birthday recovering from malaria in the jungle.
I have some photos if you would like me to send them to you.
So proud of him, he was an amazing man.
I’m truly sorry to hear about your loss.
Yes, of course, please do send any photos you would like to share.
Hello
Thanks for this outstanding site. It is most appreciated. I have been interested in the CBI theatre of war since childhood.
The participants in this “forgotten war” were very brave men and women. There is a fascinating appendix in Mike Calvert’s “Prisoners of Hope”, by Peter Fleming. Have you read it? An amazing feat of soldiery.
Thank you for your kind comments. I agree with you. The CBI theater of operations is fascinating and I personally feel that it now has an exotic quality to it because the political and social landscape in this part of the world has changed so much.
I have indeed read Fleming’s narration of the loss of Glider 15 in the appendix. I’ve owned a copy of “Prisoners of Hope” in some form or another ever since I was a wee lad. For the last couple years, I’ve had the kindle version.
I have a number of books, which you probably have: Gordon Seagrave’s “Burma Surgeon” and “Burma Surgeon Returns” and Jack Belden’s “Retreat with Stilwell.”
If by chance you don’t have them, let me know as I’d like to give them to you
BTW, when the Oxford Cambridge Expedition, London- Singapore 1954, passed through Myitkyina, they met a Nigerian who stayed on in Burma after the War. He was running a garage. Some people have amazing lives
There is a doctor, Fu Chin Lee, from Burma who now lives in my town in Australia. He met Seagrave in Namkhan when Seagrave invited him to lunch. Fu Chin Lee was about to go to London to do his medical studies. He told me he was amazed to eat the apple pie. Mrs. Seagrave cooked as he had no idea apples could be eaten that way!
Cheers
Steve
What utterly fascinating information. We human beings certainly lead remarkable lives. I wish I knew what the Nigerian’s name was, which unit he had belonged to and what became of him. Very curious.
Actually, when I moved from the US, I had sell off or give away a lot of my chindit literature. I’d be highly grateful for Seagrave’s and Belden’s books.
Okay, that’s good. If you email your postal address to: timadang@hotmail.com
I’ll post you the books.
Belden lived a full life. He died in Paris in the 80s I think. I wonder if anyone who walked out with Stilwell is still alive. If, for example, one of Seagrave’s nurses had been 18 she would now be 93. So I guess it’s possible but maybe unlikely.
As for Chindits – there may be a couple: what do you think. Or do you know?
As for survivors, I share the same surname with two remarkable men. Alec Campbell was the last survivor of the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915 and Owen Campbell was the last survivor of the 2500 Brits and Aussies who were imprisoned at Sandakan in North Borneo. Only six survived. They escaped from the death marches early in 1945 when the Japanese forced the men to march about 250 km into the mountains to a place called Ranau. The six escapees were sheltered by locals until War’s end.
I really applaud the work you’re doing. I have so much admiration for the people who took part in the War and their experiences need to be recorded and honoured.
Regards
Steve
Obituaries always appear indicating that the “last chindit veteran” has died – but I think some vets are still around. In fact, if I remember correctly, a visitor to my site indicated just a few months ago that his father, an ex-chindit, is still alive and well.
Hello
Where do you send photo’s to?
Thanks
John W Bradburn
You can email ’em to me: akhil213@yahoo.com
Does anyone know the names of the men in the picture (Men from Brigadier Lance Perowne’s 23rd Brigade prepare for a good bath after weeks of action against Japanese invaders in India), My Grandad was a Chindit in the 23rd brigade, he was Leslie Richard Parker from Bethnal Green, he served in the 1st Essex Regiment when they were shipped to India and formed part of 44 & 56 Columns in the 23rd Brigade. i have never been able to find a picture of my Grandfather but i keep hoping
Not sure if anyone has seen this is a piece I found a couple of years ago regards 23rd brigade detailing the actions they were involved in
Actions involving 23 Long Range Penetration Brigade (Chindits)
The following information is taken from the Operational reports for Burma and North East India dated 16th November 1943 to 22nd June 1944 & 23rd June 1944 to 12th November 1944. These are the reports of General Sir George J. Giffard, G.C.B., D.S.O., A.D.C., Commander-in-Chief, 11 Army Group, south East Asia Command.
23 LRP Brigade formed part of the 3rd Indian Division (a cover name for Major-General Wingate’s “Special Force” consisting of six Long Range Penetration Brigades; 14, 16 & 23 British Infantry Brigades; 77 & 111 Indian Infantry Brigades & 3 (West African) Infantry Brigade, It contained Ghurkha but no Indian Units this shall be referred to hereafter as “Special Force”)
*(the 23rd Brigade was formed into 2 Columns 44 & 56, they were formed up of man from the 1st Battalion the Essex Regiment)
At the beginning of March C.I.C. General Giffard had promised General Slim that he would investigate whether the projected moves of 14 & 23 LRP Brigades could be accelerated.
By the 12th April the 23rd LRP Brigade had been brought forward to Dimapur along with the balance of 33 Corps to which it had been assigned at this time.
By the 20th of April 23 LRPB were “Clearing the country north-east and east of Kohima and moving southwards by the jungle tracks on Jessami.
22nd June – 23 LRP Brigade operating further east, wide on the left flank of 7 Indian Division, caused further interference with the enemy’s communications by cutting the Kharasom – Ukhrul track and other tracks to the southward.
General Giffard provides details of what was expected of Wingate’s “Special Force”
“I have already mentioned Special Force. This Force consisted of six Long-Range Penetration Brigades, which were specially selected, trained, organised and equipped by the late Major-General Wingate to give them the maximum mobility in jungle fighting. The plan was to concentrate this force within a circle of forty miles radius from Indaw, with the objectives of:-
(a) Assisting the advance of the Chinese-American forces on Myitkyina by drawing off and harassing the Japanese forces opposing them, and by preventing reinforcements reaching them.
(b) Creating a situation which would enable the Chinese forces to advance from Yunnan.
(c) Causing confusion, damage and loss to the enemy forces in Burma.
I also hoped that General Wingate’s operations might interfere with the Japanese advance against Imphal.”
The 77 & 111 L.R.P. Brigades took part in this action, meanwhile 23 L.R.P. Brigade had been sent into Burma but was employed by the Army commander in the Naga Hills & Manipur area in co-operation with 33 Corps.
In Dispatches dated 23rd June to 12th November the following action is reported.
June 22nd – 23 L.R.P. Brigade was clearing the tracks leading down to Ukhrul from the north and cutting the enemy’s routes to the east.
By the end of June – 23 L.R.P. Brigade, advancing southwards, had driven the enemy back to a line eight miles south of Kharasom.
On the 3rd of July a brigade of 7 Indian Division captured Ukhrul from the west; while a column of 23 L.R.P. Brigade entered the village almost simultaneously from the east. The fall of Ukhrul was important since it was the focal point of all communications in that area; its capture removed all threats to Imphal from the north & north-east.
On the fall of Ukhrul, General Slim issued an operational Instruction, dated 5th July, directing 4 & 33 Corps to destroy the Japanese forces west of the Chindwin River. 4 Corps, with 5 & 17 Indian Divisions and one Brigade of 20 Division under command, were to clear the area west of general line Imphal-Shuganu. 33 Corps, with 2 British, 7, 20 & 23 Indian Divisions, 268 Lorried Infantry Brigade, 23 L.R.P. Brigade and 50 Indian Parachute Brigade under command were to clear the area east of this line.
At the Beginning of July, the Two Brigades of 7 Indian Division, which were advancing towards Ukhrul from the west, made good progress in spite of bad weather, which greatly handicapped not only the marching men but also the air supply on which they depended. It was said at the time that for every two feet a man climbed up the muddy tracks he slipped back one. On the 2nd July they made contact with 23 L.R.P. Brigade which was advancing from the north to attack Ukhrul and block the enemy’s escape to the East. The third Brigade 7 Indian division moved back to Kohima, which was to be its rest area.
The operations of 23 L.R.P. Brigade, which belonged to Special Force but which had not been flown into North Burma with that formation in March, deserve special mention. In their advance south from Kharasom to the Ukhrul area, they operated in eight small columns across exceptionally difficult country and inflicted severe casualties on 31 Japanese Division retreating from Kohima, four of these columns, advancing from the north co-ordinated their movements with those of 7 Indian Division on Ukhrul from the west. The other four columns moved to the east and south-east of Ukhrul to cut the enemy’s communications.
By the 11th July, all tracks leading east towards Homalin on the Chindwin had been blocked and many enemies’ destroyed. Our own casualties being negligible, in the third week in July 23 L.R.P. Brigade was concentrated at Ukhrul before being withdrawn to India.
September – Order of Battle (Moves). The last of the L.R.P. Brigades of special Force was withdrawn from Burma into India during the month
On November 12th 1944 Lieutenant-General Sir Oliver Leese replaced General Sir George J, Giffard as Commander in Chief.
At this time all Long Range Penetration Brigades were being held in India and had been assigned to his operation but were not under his command.
Lieutenant-General Leese, reviewed the troops of the L.R.P. Brigades in December of 1944 and makes the following comments in his operation report.
“Failing any part of the Airborne Division proper, the only other troops I could hope to be able to call upon for an airborne operation were special force. This force had suffered seriously from decease especially malaria, during its 1944 campaign. When I inspected it in December 1944, I formed the opinion that despite its splendid achievements and fine esprit-de-corps, it was no longer battle worthy and that it could not be used for the “Capital” airborne operation. Moreover I considered that there was no longer a justifiable role foe a force such as this, which, like all forces of this nature, was particularly expensive in overheads such as Headquarters and Signals. I therefore recommended its disbandment, and later on the 23rd February, was informed by India Command that the War Office had approved my recommendation”…
And so ended the 23rd Long Range Penetration Brigade, by June 1945 my Grandfather had been posted back to 1st Battalion Essex Regiment, and a year later he was back in England, he died in 1956 aged just 34, so sadly I never go to meet him…
Hi Richard,
My Grandfather, Douglas St John, was with the chindits and was assigned to Column 44. He was, from what I can find, 1 of the 8 Australian pilots chosen from volunteers to serve in this force as an airforce liaison.
I’m not sure where he ended up as the RAAF apparently lost him and didn’t know where he was during this time.
What I can find out from his record is that he flew 12 sorties for 27 hours but I don’t know what the aircraft is. The report has ‘LS’ as they type. In addition to this it has that he marched 466 miles during this time as well.
I know from my father that he marched in and didn’t fly in and he served along side alot of Gurkhas that he was very fond of. I know he also helped drag his good friend out at the end as he was in a bad way.
I have a couple of photos from prior to him leaving but nothing from the operation.
He suffered greatly from this and didn’t talk much about it. He got ceribal malaria and from accounts, swapped position with another in the column that not long later was shot that wore on him.
My aunty also said that when he got home he essentially didn’t talk to anyone for a year.
Everything I’m reading is hard stories from a hard time. If anyone has more information about him or any of the other Australians please write back here.
Lloyd
My dad is alive and well at the grand age of 93. A chindit from the Royal Engineers
My uncle Sgt F W Pratt was in the Royal Artillery attached to the kings own royal rest. He won a Military Medal at Blackpool block for manning a Vickers machine gun for 4 days whilst constantly being attacked. I believe he was in 46 column as major Heap signed his award. I can’t find any more information on what he did or if anyone knew him. He died 3 years ago.
Mark
This may be a shot in the dark here, but if your uncle was in the RA at Blackpool, then there is a good chance that he was a member of “U” Troop, 160th Field Regiment, whose 25-pounder guns were overrun by the Japanese, with the gunners fighting on as infantry – with the King’s own, and with the other battalions in the stronghold. This could possibly give you a point of reference if you seek to discover more about his military career. “U” Troop was a pretty small unit with not a large roster of men.
I have been viewing the Chindits’ photographs on your site and they are very interesting?
I am particularly interested in Photograph KY481781for three reasons. The first reason is that there appears to be different versions of the same photograph. One of the versions of the photograph is among the Collection of Chindits’ Photographs at The Imperial War Museum (IWM). In the version at IWM the image of the Nigerian Chindit seen looking into the jungle for the Japanese was edited out some time before or after the photograph entered into IWM’s Collections. The questions then are as follows: which of the two versions is the right photograph of the historical events the Photographer wanted to preserve for posterity? What is the provenance of the photograph on your site? I have also asked IWM these questions and I am awaiting their reply.
The second reason is the way you describe the soldier who was watching the jungle for Japanese in your Photo Essay. Why did you describe the soldier as ‘Black West African’? Why couldn’t you describe him as a Nigerian Chindit, given that it is a historical fact that the 3rd Spider Brigade of the 81st West African Division was a Nigerian Brigade?
The third reason is that I am sceptical about the identification of the unit from which the stretcher party came. If, indeed, the stretcher party were from the 2nd Queen’s Royal Regiment (2QRR) then party would be Chindits of the 111th Indian Infantry Brigade to the West of the Irrawaddy. The presence of the Nigerian Chindit would tend to support the fact that the stretcher party were soldiers of the 111th Brigade. The Nigerian Chindit would have been a soldier of the 6th Battalion Nigeria Regiment which had been sent from Mokso to help extract the remnants of the 111th Brigade following the evacuation of Blackpool Stronghold on the 25th of May 1944.
My scepticism comes from examining the topography on the photograph. The jungle appears dry, suggesting that the photograph was taken during the dry season rather than during the monsoon when Blackpool was evacuated. If as the topography appears to suggest the photograph was taken during the dry season the stretcher party could not be Chindits from the 111th Brigade because during the dry season the Columns of the Brigade which were operating to the West of the Irrawaddy were still at Blackpool. Similarly the Nigerian Chindit seen in the photograph could not have been from the 6th Battalion Nigeria Regiment because during the dry season the Regiment was at Aberdeen. Aberdeen, like Blackpool, was not evacuated until the nights between the 5th and 6th of May 1944.
My thoughts are that the photograph was probably taken on the 18th of April 1944 and further to the South in the areas around Mwalu, Pahok, Sepein and Thayaung during the battles to relieve the Japanese pressures on White City. If this is the case the Chindits carrying their wounded comrade would have been soldiers of the 45th Reconnaissance Regiment, under Command Brigadier Calvert of the 77th Brigade, and the Nigerian Chindit would have been a soldier of the 7th Battalion Nigeria Regiment.
Hi John, I identified the men based on information found at the site: http://www.chindit.net/Main.htm
There is no reason for me to dispute the image, but I agree with you the area should have been muddy because of heavy rains, and yet is not so in the photo. But it would be a mistake to assume weather and terrain conditions based purely on one photo. It’s circumstantial.
As per your comment on my phrase “Black West African,” – I was, at the time, perhaps thinking that there were also White West Africans as some colonials would call themselves, but I see your point. The phrase is completely superfluous. I am, however, leery of categorizing the man as a Nigerian without additional details. Not all the men in the Nigeria Regiment were Nigerians. It is safer to simply identify him as a West African because the brigade was known as the 3rd West African Bde and because the Nigeria Regiment, as an administrative body, enlisted men from all over West Africa
As for the photo, I believe I got it from the IWM, six years ago. I wasn’t aware there is a version in which the west African was edited out.
Thanks much for your inputs.
P.S. I had to delete and alter my original response to your post because I was thrown off track by your mention of the 2nd QORR – which was never a Chindit unit.
Nigeria Regiment did not enlist men from other British West African Territories because Colonial Administration did not allow the transfer of West Africans from one West African Colony to another. The only exception was that Nigerians could be transferred to other territories because the smaller sizes of their population there were often not enough recruits to form complete units, so Nigerians were recruited or conscripted to fill the ranks in these territories (see WO173/5). The 3rd Brigade was formed in Zaria in 1941 and the entire rank and file were Nigerians (see also Lt Col Stuckey IWM Cat 18776; Lt Col Carfrae IWM Cat 10467, and Captain Gaines IWM Cat 29079).
No you do not identify him as a West African because West Africa is not a country. You could have been specific by saying the soldier is probably a Gambian, Ghanaian, Nigerian or Sierra Leonean.
My mistake I wanted to write 2 King’s Own Royal Regiment (2KORR). Having said that 2QRR was a Chindit of the 16th Brigade (Columns 21 and 22).
Indeed, in history it is better to work on the basis of competitive possibilities. Thus in the same way that we could not conclude that it was probably the dry season on the basis of a single photograph so it is that we could not conclude, absolutely, that the photograph was taken during the monsoon. But looking at the surrounding trees and vegetation one would conclude that they were dry when the photograph was taken and that if it had been during the monsoon the trees and vegetation would have been more profuse and verdant.
loved every bit will read more did not know about this till told my dad was one of them chindits donald burton great man
thank you love
Excellent site Akhil. My mum’s cousin 3772644 Pte.James Tomney was killed while serving in the 1st King’s Liverpool Regiment, 20/5/1944. He was from Liverpool and his name appears on the Rangoon Memorial. I have a photo of him in uniform. If you need a copy let me know.
Regards,
Bill
Thanks, Bill. Yeah, if you can kindly email me his photograph and any other pertinent biographical details, I’ll add it to contributed section.
Akhil Attached is a photograph of my father, Sgt Tom Stephens, taken at the end of 1943. He was in Walter Scott's 81 Column (1st Battalion King's [Liverpool] Regiment). He was one of the few who survived Operation Thursday intact. He went back home to Liverpool and lived there until he died in 1996, a week short of his 82nd birthday. I have his orange handkerchief map, another campaign map, his Chindit shoulder patches, his medals and other memorabilia. He also brought home a kukri, which my son now owns and cherishes. Thanks for all your great work. Those of us who grew up and lived with Chindit veterans want to know, in detail, what really happened. Your website is a great help because the Chindit survivors were, by and large, reluctant to talk about it. Cheers Robert
Thank you very much for your kind words, Robert.
My reasons today for researching and writing about the Chindits has as much to do with satisfying my own curiosity about their war as it does understanding the “Chindit experience.” That the Chindits are irrevocably linked with Burma also resonates personally for me as I had family members who served there during the war.
I don’t see the attached photograph of your father. If you would like to email it to me at: akhil213@yahoo.com, I can post it in the “Contributed” section of the site. Cheers.
Hya, my grandad was a Chindit, I dont have any service numbers but his name was Henry Houghton, he is from Liverpool. Does anyone know anything about him or where I could find anything?
I am going to India for a month this Christmas and would love to tread where he did so long ago.
Hello, I have just come across this and it’s compelling. My father was in the RAF at Burma. There is a picture of a Chindit flamethrower on the page. It looks very much like my dad. Have you got any further details re. regiment etc. Thanks in advance
Hello Becky, I’m afraid there isn’t much information about the flamethrower operator’s unit at this time. If you could send me photos of your father, I could try to make a detailed comparison.
For Becky Lee, there is a video on Youtube featuring some RAF in Burma getting some lunch and then preparing for an attack, one of the men sits in the trench with al little monkey by his side.
I am sorry i can’t send the link somehow, but they are definitely RAF personel
For anyone interested there was a documentary made a few
years ago about an army film unit sent out to Burma/India They made films for the troops to send messages to their loved ones , this series of films (which were recently discovered) were then shown in cinemas.
Some of these can be found on Youtube and they are a wonderful piece of history.
To finish, i have nothing but admiration for that gemeration, truly the “Greatest”
Paul.
2
Hi Becky, just seen your question regarding photo of Chindit with Flamethrower, who you think might be your Father, I found a website of a Phil Armand which shows a photo of his father Joe Armand which is the photo of the Chindit with the Flamethrower, born in 1914 died in 2005, which is probably the one you thought looked like your Father. Hope that helps.
For more information regarding the Chindits go onto YouTube and put in (The Chindits in Burma 1944) and you will find a vast amount of information about what your Father would have experienced while in Burma, my Father was in Operation Thursday, which was the second expedition into Burma, they marched over 500 five hundred miles into Burma from India to fight the Japanese, and luckily he came home., both our Fathers and all the others who fought for our freedom are truly Heroes.
Good luck Tim Wellstead
Im trying to find out where my father-in-law was in india and burma 1944-46 for family history he never said anything (now deceased) his name was robert davidson royal artillery s/maj
robert watts 13/01/2018 he trained the chindits I think!
My uncle, a Welshman Edward Michael Thomas, from Caerphilly, served with the Chindits but all I have is his picture and Chindit patch…We are American and know very little of our uncle
http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhopal/army-begins-chindits-trail-expedition-from-feb-16.html
Anyone who can provide more details about the training in Central India
Philip Stibbe’s book “Road to Rangoon,” details chindit training in 1943. There are other books was well which describe the training, including John Masters “Road Past Mandalay,” works by Richard Rhodes James and Philip Sharpe’s “To be a Chindit.”
Thanks for the link. A very noble undertaking by the Indian Army. I wish them the best of luck. However, I am annoyed by the article, which falsely posits that the Chindits were comprised “mainly” of Gurkha troops (four battalions), but makes no mention of the much larger contingent of British troops (sixteen battalions), plus the three battalions of Nigerian troops.
Hi, I have had no luck with my uncle who came through Operation Longcloth and another Operation. It was mentioned he may have some how got involved with the Flying Boats Sunderlands Gert & Daisy. But still no find. He was a pretty tall, fit guy and could handle himself. No hospitalisation or wounded or Roll of Honour. He arrived back in Liverpool !945 . I never saw him again. Little boys not seen nor heard. He died in 1977 and his 22nd wife 1979. They had a son in 1965 having married in 1959. Have sent emails to all his own rellies but none have answered. Even the smallest Item might give me a new lead. he sailed on the S S Oronsay, but arrived at Bombay on the new ship the Andes. Thank You for bearing with Best Regards Ken Berry.
Hi Kenneth,
Sorry to hear that you have no leads regarding your uncle. It’s unusual that his immediate family seems unwilling to help. In my opinion, what you really need is his service number in order to access his service records. Relying on the recollections of descendants is an untenable solution considering that the war is now over 70 years in the past and because of the fact that there were over 40,000 Chindits. Nevertheless, here’s hoping that something turns up.
Hi Akhil,
Have just found some information about Edmund Kenneth Buck. Firstly it appears some of his Documentation he only gives Edmund Buck as his name. It is on My Heritage which is an American web site. Which I am having trouble finding again. The English “My Heritage” web site has his sons name as a member. Unfortunately he hasn’t answered any of my emails. His name is Francisco L J or L F Buck.. Best Regards Ken B.
While I’m glad to hear that some progress is happening, it’s curious that your uncle’s family seems unforthcoming with information. Perhaps that avenue of inquiry is a dead end – for whatever reason.
Try the National Archives, The Imperial War Museum, and The National Army Museum. Which Chindit Brigade and Regiment was your uncle?
Check out a new book on Chindits. It is titled Spidermen Nigerian Chindits and Wingate’s Operation Thursday Burma 1943 – 1944. It is a long book. It rambled a little but it is worth reading.
Many thanks for the pointer. Book seems interesting.
There is a book “The Long Walk Out” by Shaw which tells the story of a Nigerian machine gun team attached to the Chindits. My step-grandad is mentioned Sgt Ginger Roberts of the Recce Platoon. I asked him about his time in Burma and he described a few contacts. He also said the book was inaccurate in parts. I have just read “Beyond the Chindwin” and “Return to Burma” by Bernhard Fergusson which are both very good reads. Brigadier Mike Calvert also wrote a book about his service in Burma.
Looking for any information about my Grandads brother Thomas Angus
SURNAME
Angus
FORENAME
Thomas
UNIT
Royal Corps of Signals
RANK
Signalman
NUMBER
2586187
DATE OF DEATH
11th March 1944
AGE
24
GRAVESITE
Rangoon Memorial,Myanmar Face 3 A
DDITIONAL INFORMATION
born Glasgow
resided Glasgow
Would like any info on my Fathers regiment the Royal Warwickshire’s in India 1933-19445 period relating to Burma, Rangoon, Deli, north west frontier, etc. There appears to be very little information, pictorial or written on the subject matter I’m interested in my Father also joined the red caps in Calcutta as it was during the Calcutta riots. His name was Charles George Smith d.o.b. 1913 Thornbury south Gloucestershire, known as Smugger,chubby . Would be very great-full to hear from anyone looking at similar information. Have been in touch with the RWR museum in Warwick and found small details on line, a lot relating to WW1.? Is it a time related issue on information released possibly?.
Trying to find which section of the Kings Own Royal Regiment my late Father served in – also Special Forces – 1944. His name Frank Murphy; No. 3717790. I have many many letters he wrote to my late Mum from 1940-1946/7 which I am now sorting into date order, plus some photos. Am reading ‘Wild in the Wilderness’ and very keen to learn more; such heroes.
Hi Janet. The clues may be in the letters and the photographs. Kindly reach out to me at: akhil213@yahoo.com if you would like me to help analyze some of the material.
Dear Janet ,The Special Force or Chindit Order Of Battle Jan 1944 saw them split into six brigades , each with a nickname ,my father was in the Queens Reg 16 Brigade 22 Column nickname enterprise.The Kings Own Royal Reg. 2nd B.n columns 41 and 46 were 111th brigade nicknamed Profound, they were with the Cameronians and the Gurkha Rifles.Much of my research into my fathers time in Burma was found on the Burma Star Association web site and also letters he received from other Chindits he served with during there time in Burma. I received my father’s war records by contacting the Army Personnel centre Historical disclosures phone number 0141 224 2544 ,but there was no mention of his time in Burma, only there jungle training in India before the long March into Burma.Hope this might help and good luck with your search. TIM WELLSTEAD
Hi my grandad Thomas Henry Sheppard served in Burma known as Shep Sheppard. I know he was poorly and ended up in Ragoon Hospital, he was one of the lucky ones and returned home to Bristol. He sadly passed away in 1984. I believe he served in the Gloucesters regiment. If anybody has any info I would be great full .
Amazing to see the photo of my Grandad Cpl Jimmy Walker here! Watching a load of Burma and Chindits documentaries to celebrate VJ Day today!
Tomorrow*
Hi, what wonderful stories. What heroes.
My Dads name was Kenneth Hoskins ( Ken ) and was a wonderful man. Although he never spoke of his time in the war, I was told by his brothers that he was in the Chindits. He was in the Staffordshire regiment. How would I get more information and may be someone on here has photos of this regiment in Burma . Thanks in advance Sherri x
Hi, My Grandad’s name was William James Stawell (Jim) he was in the Chindits – Thursday operation . think he was in Lancashire Fusiliers. How can i find out more information?
HI JO Have a look on the Burma Star Associaton web site .The Chindit order of battle for operation Thursday consisted of six brigades each with a nickname ,it shows the 1st Bn The Lancashire Fusiliers 20 and50 Columns were 77th Brigade nickname Emphasis ,my father was in Enterprise 16th Brigade with the Queens Regiment Column 22. I WOULD THINK if you Google Lancashire Fusiliers in Burma 1944 you should hopefully find more information or try to get your grandfathers war records by contacting Army Personnel Centre phone number 01412242544 best of luck Tim Wellstead
Hi Tim, thank you so much for your info, i will certainly look up your suggestions. It is fascinating & thought provoking reading. Cannot believe this was just two generations away its incredible. I’m totally hooked now to find out as much as i can. Very proud of my grandad Jim
Hi, i’m Trying to find any information relating to Hector Gordon Lydbury (born 1922) who we believe served in the Chindits although we have only handed down family recollections. I don’t have his military number and can find no record of him but was told that he was airlifted out of Burma and at some point was a POW. He didn’t talk much about his experiences but as a child I do remember him being the most amazing piano player. I would love to know the best way to try and trace him.
Many thanks
Alison
If you go to ‘WW2Talk’, click on ‘Theatres Of War’ and then ‘India and Burma’, you will find people wo have compiled lots of Chindit information.
My late father, John Sammons (1917-2018), was a major in the 1st Battalion, The Essex Regiment. There is a group photo of him and other officers of 44 and 56 Columns at “the conclusion of operations in Assam and Burma, July 1944” at pp96 of the “The Essex Regiment 1929-50” by T.A.Martin. The picture is Crown Copyright, presumably from the Imperial War Museum.
In a visit to the Regimental museum at Chelmsford in 2006, the curator informed him that he was only aware of one other Essex Regiment survivor at that time (although whether he was talking about the regiment specifically or the Chindits also was not clear).
Prior to his service in Burma, my father also served in North Africa (Tobruk and Syria).
Thank you for sharing your father’s story, Peter. The picture sounds interesting. I must try to track it down.
There is another interesting read about the Chindits that I haven’t seen mentioned on these pages – “Column 76” by Mike Calvert. Unfortunately, my father’s copy seems to have been lost in the cleanout after his death but I would be interested in obtaining another one.
Hi Peter, you mean W A Wilcox’s “Chindit Column 76”? I haven’t come across a copy of this book, sadly.
You could well be right about the title as I haven’t read it for about 50 years and the memory isn’t what it used to be…I do remember that Mike Calvert appeared to be the column commander and that his name came up after the War as a prominent mercenary in Southern Africa (or was it the Congo?)
The congo mercenary was Mike Hoare with the similar nickname of “Mad Mike.” Anyway, Wilcox’s book is supposed to be great. Hope to dig up a copy somewhere one of these days.
I am going nuts! BTW, the book I remember was not very thick, probably about 200 pages, but it described the rigours of daily life as a Chindit, leavened with touches of gentle humour . Thanks for the correction(s)
Peter – Here’s a website address for Abe Books in the UK that currently has six copies of ‘Column 76’ in stock:
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/book-search/title/chindit-column/author/wilcox-w-a/ Not a cheap option – all are hardback and some include substantial shipping costs that add to the cost. Abe Books (including via Amazon) have always been of good service to me.
Peter – Here is a link: https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.208924/page/n93/mode/2up – to a copy of ‘Column 76’ which can be read on-screen or downloaded as a free pdf. The photos have lost their mid-tones, but the text is readable.
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Alf Willott was an uncle of mine, but the only record we have of his WW2 service is a newspaper cutting from the Buxton Advertiser of 1944 (?) that mentions him having been in Syria, Tobruk, and Burma, and that he was due to return to Burma. There’s a photo of a Syria commanding officer’s (it doesn’t say who the CO is) driver on the King’s Own Lancaster Regiment website, and we believe the driver is Alf. It follows that he was in the 2nd Bn, and most likely served in Chindit column 41 or 46. We’d be extremely grateful for any advice or information anyone can provide.
Hi John, if you Google The Chindit Society ( The Chindits- Operatoon Thurday) you’ll see some great info on your uncles time in Burma .Column 41/46 were part of 111th brigade named (Profound) Lt.Col AW Tomy Thompson was leading 2nd battalion Kings Own Royal Regiment. My father was in16th (Enterprise) brigade Column 22, he was in the Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment, Column 22/21 and the Lancaster Reg marched into Burma from India together.
Regarding North Africa if you go onto the Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment museum website your Uncle and my Father although in different Regoments were on the same journey ie Palestine/Egypt/Syria where my Father was taken prisoner by the Vichy French, I have a letter my Father sent to my Mother from his prison camp in Beirut, hewas released and went on to Tobruk and then Ceylon for about a year, before moving into India for Jungle Training and then Marching 500 miles into Burma.
Your Uncle Alf and my Father Walter Wellstead were two off not many Soldiers who fought the Italians/Germans/Vichy French, and then the worst of them all the Japanese
Two complete Heroes, my Dad survived, he died in 1998, I hope your Uncle made it home to. (Perhaps they even
Met)
Hope this is helpful Regards Tim Wellstead .
Hello Tim. Thank you so much for replying. I regarded my post here as ‘a long shot’ as what we actually know for sure about Alf is scant to say the least. My dad told me Alf had ‘fought the Japs in Burma’, but mostly he talked about the effect it had on Alf afterwards. My cousin Maureen dug out the Buxton Advertiser clipping recently; we hadn’t been properly in touch since the early 1970s, so your help is greatly appreciated in view of so much time having passed.
All the best,
John