Gentlemen I hope you don’t mind me contacting you. I am trying to find the war grave and war records of my grandfather, John Edward BRODERICK. He lived in Ireland and believe he was in the Fusiliers, but I cannot remember which battalion. He died in Burma in 1944 I believe, and is buried there. We have his Burma Star, as my father passed away 17 years ago. Any information in helping me with the details of the grave and war records would be really appreciated. I am new to this but really interested in tracing his history as much as possible as I know very little. He died when my father was 3 years old. Thank you so much in advance Best regards Kelvin
Hi Kelvin and welcome. I guess this is your grandfather: CWGC :: Casualty Details He is buried on the Kohima War Cemetery
I'd say he was this one. CWGC :: Casualty Details Name:BRODERICK, JOHN EDWARD Initials:J E Nationality:United Kingdom Rank:Fusilier Regiment/Service:Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Unit Text:1st Bn. Age:28 Date of Death:04/03/1944 Service No:6409513 Additional information:Son of John Mountjoy Broderick and Mary Katherine Broderick, of Dublin, Irish Republic; husband of Mary Teresa Broderick, of Ranelagh, Dublin. Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference:11. B. 24. Cemetery:KOHIMA WAR CEMETERY
Kelvin, Hello and welcome to the forum. I hope that you get the information that you seek. First thing is to ask around the family and see if there is army records that may have been applied for. If not you can apply for them yourself. Regards Tom
Firstly may I thank everyone for this site, I have been trawling through for ages to try and trace my Grandfather. I have finally found his details above. He died when my father was 2 years old, and my father died 17 years ago, so I have very little information. If anyone can help me how to trace mopre records or if anyone is still alive who knew him I would be really grateful. Many Many thanks Kelvin Broderick
He died before the Battle of Kohima started and he was probably there with some other unit. But he maybe was with 1st Inniskillings during retreat from Burma or the First Arakan. Maybe you should apply for his service record.
war diary at National Archives Kew. Detecting your browser settings WO 172/4883 1 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Covering dates1944 Jan.- Dec. WO 172/2513 Detecting your browser settings 1 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Covering dates1943 Jan.- Dec.
From Burma Star website Inniskillin The 1st Inniskillings were then serving in Singapore, but shortly moved to the popular Hill Station of Wellington in Southern India, where they were located at the outbreak of World War H. When Japan entered the war, the Inniskillings formed part of the weak and ill-equipped force committed to defend Burma. Heavily involved in the dreadful retreat of 1942, they eventually reached Assam after months of fighting and marching, an exhausted remnant of a once fine battalion. It says much for their spirit that within months they had absorbed drafts of replacements, re-trained and re-equipped, and were ready and willing to play a leading part in the Arakan with 14th Indian Div. Months of hard fighting, in which the Inniskillings demonstrated their traditional offensive spirit, ended when a Japanese counter-attack left them completely isolated and with no recourse but to split up into small groups and to fight their way north through the jungle. For the second time, a much depleted battalion re-assembled in India. They took no further part in active operations in Burma, remaining in India on internal security duties until 1947, when they were one of the last British units to depart.
Bit of info on 14th Indian Division. 14thind 14th Indian Infantry Division - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia As Sol mentions, in early 44 he must have been with another unit as 14th Ind Div was back in India as a training unit.
Kelvin Have a look here: BBC - WW2 People's War - The Day I Should Have Died: 4th Queen's Own Hussars in Italy This Sgt.Broderick was my tank commander for a day. Any relation ? Ron
1st Inniskillings leave 14th Indian Division after its return from Arakan, somewhere in July 1943, and spent rest of the war on garrison duties in India, not sure where, but nowhere close to Kohima.
Welcome Kelvin, Have you applied for a copy of your grandfather's service records? If not please click on the link below and be sure to check out the related pages section for forms. Ministry of Defence | About Defence | What we do | Personnel | Service Records | Making a Request for Information held on the Personnel Records of Deceased Service Personnel Good luck