Help me trace a chindit

Hey everyone. Im trying to find out more information about my great grandad. Herbert Clifford Thornton. He served in 45th reconnaissance regiment RAC 16Bde with the chindits on their second expedition. He was MIA 18th april 1944. He left for war when my grandad was five. We know very little about him. I would to know more. I have his war diaries but they are very vauge. I think he left them at his base. If anyone cod help me with info about his unit. Maybe somone knows someone whos relative was i the same unit? I have nor does my grandad any photos of this man. Its a real shame i cant put a face or charecter to my great grandad. Get back to me
Cheers Kev

 

Welcome aboard I'm sure our chindit researchers will be along bamboo43 (Steve) and Hebridean chindit (Kenny) I'm sure they will help

 

Hi Kev,

Have you read Bernard Fergusson's 'Wild Green Earth'? This book is all about 16th Infantry Brigade and their time in 1944.

There are probably War Diaries for 45 Recce in 1944 held at the National Archives, they formed Columns 45 and 54 and fought within the Brigade as Infantry troops.

I have a quote from a traces map of the Brigade's movements during the operation, it says:

"Severe action at the Henu Chaung on 18/19th April. 45 and 54 Columns under command of 77th Brigade (Mike Calvert) units dispersed. Estimated 300 enemy casualties. Column 54 casualties-20 killed, 36 wounded. Column 45-7 killed, 24 wounded and 18 missing."

It would seem that the columns were in the vicinity of the 'White City' stronghold under the temporary command of Brigadier Mike Calvert.

I will keep looking for you. There was a post today about 'White city' where there are some contemporary photos and some useful maps of the area.

Calvert also wrote a book about his Brigade, it is called 'Prisoner's of Hope'.

Steve

 

Thankyou bamboo43. My grandad mentioned something about that book. Ive seen a copy on ebay im going to buy. He also mentioned a commander called whingate or wingit. To be honest i know nothing about the chindits. Appart that they fought a gorilla war agaisnt the japanese, and they were not well recieved when captured. Someone else told me they were sas. Is this accurate?

 

Thankyou bamboo43. My grandad mentioned something about that book. Ive seen a copy on ebay im going to buy. He also mentioned a commander called whingate or wingit. To be honest i know nothing about the chindits. Appart that they fought a gorilla war agaisnt the japanese, and they were not well recieved when captured. Someone else told me they were sas. Is this accurate?

Hi Kev,

Yes, fairly accurate. I have collated a website tracing the men of the first expedition in 1943 which included my Grandfather. The idea of the Chindits was thought up by O.C. Wingate.

 

Sorry steve! (Bamboo43) he was a tropper and his number was 7944006.
Cheers
Kev

 

Hi steve perhaps he was one of the 18 missing. I was told by somone that chindits where never kia but alway mia
Cheers kev

 

Sorry steve! (Bamboo43) he was a tropper and his number was 7944006.
Cheers
Kev

Service number is for RAC so fits in with info you have given.

 

Hello Kev and welcome to the forum. Another book that could be interesting to you is Chinnery's "March or Die". There you can find several accounts of members of 45th Recce about their experience on the day when your Great Grandad is MIA. Good luck with your research.

Cheers
Enes

 

Hey everyone. Im trying to find out more information about my great grandad. Herbert Clifford Thornton. He served in 45th reconnaissance regiment RAC 16Bde with the chindits on their second expedition. He was MIA 18th april 1944. He left for war when my grandad was five. We know very little about him. I would to know more. I have his war diaries but they are very vauge. I think he left them at his base. If anyone cod help me with info about his unit. Maybe somone knows someone whos relative was i the same unit? I have nor does my grandad any photos of this man. Its a real shame i cant put a face or charecter to my great grandad. Get back to me
Cheers Kev
Your Great Grandad is listed on the forums ROH for 45th reconnaissance.Trooper HERBERT CLIFFORD THORNTON
7944006
Who died age 33 on 18 April 1944
Husband of Marie Louise Thornton, of Worcester.
RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 1.http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/recce/18025-45th-regt-reconnaissance-corps-roll-honour.html#post179749

 

I have just purchased a copy of 'wild green earth' i think itll make some intersting reading

 

Hello Enes, thankyou for your book recomendation. Im a little overwhelmed by the responeses ive had. I guess its a case of knowin where to look thankyou for help. Ive just brought one book i shall get your recomendation too.
Cheers
Kev

 

Hello Enes, thankyou for your book recomendation. Im a little overwhelmed by the responeses ive had. I guess its a case of knowin where to look thankyou for help. Ive just brought one book i shall get your recomendation too.
Cheers
Kev


Be careful Kev, that's how I started and I have a library now.

For a quick run down about the formation of the Chindits, try this website:

Chindits Special Force Burma 1943-1944

 

Wdit45
Thankyou for your information.
Cheers
Kev

 

I think you gentlemen have got this one covered...

Good luck with the hunting Mr Hound...

 

Welcome to the forum

Cheers
Paul

 

Hello and welcome to the forum Kev

Lesley

 

Great minds and all that Paul.

 

Kev

Names of the men killed on 18th April 1944 from 45 Recce

45 Recce – Killed 18th Apr 1944

RANGOON MEMORIAL

Corporal
SIDNEY JOHN SMITH Face 1.
THOMAS MARTYN JOHN WALDER Face 1.

Lance Corporal
GILBERT ARTHUR ROY JARMAN Face 1.
HERBERT WILLIAM SMITH Face 1.
JAMES WILFRED FOX Face 1.

Trooper
ALFRED BERRY Face 1.
CHARLES SIDNEY THOMAS Face 1.
DAVID GLOVER Face 1.
DENNIS WILLIAM WHEELER Face 1.
DONALD VICTOR SALMON Face 1.
EDWIN ARTHUR LUNNON Face 1.
FREDERICK SIDNEY PETT Face 1.
GEORGE ERIC HUXLEY Face 1.
HERBERT CLIFFORD THORNTON Face 1.
LEONARD FRANK BRAND Face 1.
RONALD FRANCIS MOORE Face 1.
RONALD ROTHWELL GARNER Face 1.
THOMAS DAVIES Face 1.

TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY

Captain
HUGO De LAFONTAINE WILLIAMS 13. F. 10.

Lance Serjeant
WILLIAM RICHARD NANCE 14. D. 2.

Lieutenant
ANTHONY DENIS HERBERT MUSSELWHITE 13. B. 10.
FREDERICK ALBERT HOLLOWAY 13. F. 9.
ROBERT BUTLER 13. B. 6.

Major
LLEWELLYN HENNINGS 13. F. 3.

Serjeant
ALEXANDER BRADLEY 13. B. 22.
FRANK MOORE 13. C. 1.
JACK ROGERS 13. B. 12.
THOMAS WILLIAM BRIGHT 13. F. 8.

Trooper
ARTHUR THOMAS BANBURY 13. F. 11.
CLIFFORD WORRALL 6. A. 19.
HAROLD WOODHAMS 13. F. 14.
HERBERT SPENCER 13. B. 21.
JOSEPH CLIFFORD PARRY 14. B. 17.
LAURENCE JAMES WOOD 13. F. 4.
LESLIE JAMES HENRY PROBITTS 13. C. 3.
SIDNEY WILLIAM YAPP 13. B. 14.
WILLIAM JONES 13. F. 12.
WILLIAM THOMAS ASKEW 13. F. 13.

Another bad day for them and so soon after a bad time around Indaw Lake at the end of March.

Please read the extract from the report by Lieu. Col. G.K. Astell.

 

Why is so hard to find information on my great grandads unit. The 45th reconnaissance regiment? When information on other regiments in the chi dits second expidition is quiet easy to get hold of??