2nd Bn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 1941/42

Simon,

You should by now have received all the POW cards and some other bits and pieces from me by email. Good luck going through it all.

Steve 2

 

Many thanks,

Simon

 

Many thanks.

Simon

 

King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

KING. Pte. 4683641 ARTHUR. Monday, August 19, 1940 TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY 17. A. 18.

WILSON. Pte. 4689702 EDWIN. Sunday, July 13, 1941 Age 24 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

CROSSLEY. Pte .4691299 JOSEPH. Tuesday, November 4, 1941 Age 20 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

STANDIDGE. Pte. 4695744 WILLIAM. Saturday, November 8, 1941 Age 21 RANGOON MEMORIAL

Face 16.

KILNER. Pte. 2821096 DANIEL Thursday, January 15, 1942 Age 22 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

GILL. Pte. 4690100 CLIFFORD ARTHUR. Friday, February 6, 1942 Age 23 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

CONNELL. L/Cpl. 4689704 CYRIL. Wednesday, February 11, 1942 Age 25 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

SLOW. L/Cpl. 4690571 RICHARD. Saturday, February 14, 1942 Age 21 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

KELLY. Pte. 4690424 JOHN JOSEPH. Sunday, February 15, 1942 Age 20 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

HEATH. Pte. 4692675 JOSEPH. Sunday, February 15, 1942 Age 36 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

HEPWORTH. L/Cpl. 4692828 WILLIAM HENRY. Sunday, February 15, 1942 Age 22 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

WOOD. L/Cpl. 4690556 RONALD GEORGE. Sunday, February 15, 1942 Age 28 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

SLIDE. Pte. 4688842 CYRIL. Tuesday, February 17, 1942 Age 27 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

BURDETT. Pte. 4689453 WILLIAM. Tuesday, February 17, 1942 Age 26 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

BARTLE. Pte. 4695948 HARRY. Tuesday, February 17, 1942 Age 26 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

CLARKE. Sgt. 4688782 FRANK HENRY. Tuesday, February 17, 1942 Age 28 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

KELLY. Pte. 4690554 STANLEY. Tuesday, February 17, 1942 Age 22 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

OATES. Pte. 4695806 DERRICK. Tuesday, February 17, 1942 Age 22 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

ACOMB. L/Cpl. 4689701 DOUGLAS. Tuesday, February 17, 1942 Age 31 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

STEAD. Pte. 4696199 GEORGE. Wednesday, February 18, 1942 Age 25 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

ROBINSON. Pte 4696166 GILBERT. Wednesday, February 18, 1942 Age 27 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

BIRD. Cpl. 4689163 CHARLES ALBERT. Wednesday, February 18, 1942 Age 28 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

BAILEY. Pte. 4689193 HAROLD. Wednesday, February 18, 1942 Age 22 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

COLLINS. Pte. 4690124 CYRIL. Wednesday, February 18, 1942 Age 23 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

HAUGHTON. Major. 42022 WILLIAM GEORGE. Wednesday, February 18, 1942 RANGOON MEMORIAL

Face 16.

HORNSBY. Sgt. 4689075 THOMAS ALBERT HENRY. Wednesday, February 18, 1942 Age 27 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

HOUSLEY. WO Class II. 4684604 HARRY. Wednesday, February 18, 1942 Age 37 RANGOON MEMORIAL

Face 16.

MENDUM. L/Sgt. 4686166 CHARLES. Wednesday, February 18, 1942 Age 36 RANGOON MEMORIAL

Face 16.

McDONALD. L/Cpl. 4693443 WALTER ALEXANDER. Wednesday, February 18, 1942 Age 20 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

DUKE. Pte. 4695888 HENRY. Wednesday, February 18, 1942 Age 26 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

HALL. Pte. 4696084 GEORGE WILLIAM. Thursday, February 19, 1942 Age 27 RANGOON MEMORIAL

Face 16.

HART. Cpl. 4688955 JAMES. Thursday, February 19, 1942 Age 30 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

HEALY. Pte. 7885143 ERNEST. Thursday, February 19, 1942 Age 25 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

Webb. 2nd Lt. 217683 Arthur Bernard Charles. Thursday February 19, 1942. Age 30. General List. Attached 2/K.O.Y.L.I. Rangoon Memorial.

STEAD. L/Cpl. 4689537 HERBERT. Sunday, February 22, 1942 Age 25 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

BROOKSBANK. L/Cpl. 4689414 HERBERT. Sunday, February 22, 1942 Age 27 RANGOON MEMORIAL

Face 16.

HYSLOP. Pte. 4694790 WILLIAM JOHNSTON. Sunday, February 22, 1942 Age 27 RANGOON MEMORIAL

Face 16.

TURNER. Pte. 2051343 HAROLD. Sunday, February 22, 1942 Age 22 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

ORGAN. Pte. 4690972 HAROLD C. Sunday, February 22, 1942 Age 23 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

RYLAH. Cpl. 4690522 ERNEST. Monday, February 23, 1942 Age 29 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

BURGIN. Pte. 4688018 GEORGE WILLIAM. Monday, February 23, 1942 Age 36 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

CALLADINE. Pte. 4692860 HORACE WALTER. Monday, February 23, 1942 Age 23 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

JOHNSON. Sgt. 836321 WALTER. Monday, February 23, 1942 Age 30 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

JONES. Pte. 4690150 RAYMOND. Monday, February 23, 1942 Age 24 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

KILBURN. Sgt. 4689290 ALBERT. Monday, February 23, 1942 Age 26 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

HARRIS. L/Cpl. 4689321 PERCY MONTAGUE. Monday, February 23, 1942 Age 26 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

HEWITT. Pte. 4537227 WALTER. Monday, February 23, 1942 Age 23 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

TYLER. Cpl. 4689633 WILLIAM. Monday, February 23, 1942 Age 29 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

MOULES. Pte. 4688528 ROBERT. Monday, February 23, 1942 Age 25 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

McGRORY. Pte. 3053889 JOHN FINDLAY CUNNINGHAM. Monday, February 23, 1942 Age 25 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

THOMPSON. Pte. 4695757 HARRY. Monday, February 23, 1942 Age 28 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

FROST. Pte. 4689767 KENNETH JESSOP. Monday, February 23, 1942 Age 25 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

ALLSOPP. Pte. 4689698 ROBERT. Monday, February 23, 1942 Age 26 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16

GLEDHILL. Sgt. 4687851 SYDNEY Monday, February 23, 1942 Age 30 TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY 23A. B. 17.

ROWLEY. L/Cpl. 4688659 JOHN Sunday, March 8, 1942 Age 29 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

DANFORD. Sgt. 4689119 HARRY Sunday, March 8, 1942 Age 28 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

WILSON. Pte. 4689681 THOMAS Sunday, March 8, 1942 Age 28 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16

ABLESON. 2nd Lieut 77920 JAMES WILLIAM Sunday, March 8, 1942 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

CORCORAN. Pte. 4689442 JAMES Wednesday, March 11, 1942 Age 30 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

ROBSON. L/Cpl. 4689166 EDWARD FRENCH Sunday, March 15, 1942 Age 26 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

ASKEW. Pte. 4689254 JOSEPH SIMPSON Wednesday, March 18, 1942 Age 26 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

EDWARDS. Pte. 4688455 ALAN CROSSLEY Monday, March 23, 1942 Age 27 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

JACKSON. Pte. 4689961 W. H. Friday, March 27, 1942 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

KIRKBRIGHT. Cpl. 796524 HARRY. Friday, March 27, 1942 Age 33 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.


WALTON. Pte. 4694205 THOMAS KERSHAW Friday, March 27, 1942 Age 26 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

PERROW. Pte. 4689228 CYRIL. Sunday, March 29, 1942 Age 26 TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY 23A. F. 7.

WILSON. Captain. 64620 ANTHONY ANDREW. Monday, March 30, 1942 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

PARKINSON. Pte. 4689734 STANLEY. Monday, March 30, 1942 Age 24 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

GODDARD. Pte. 4686122 EDWARD HENRY. Monday, March 30, 1942 Age 33 RANGOON MEMORIAL

Face 16.

FRANCE. Pte. 4690113 PERCY BIRKETT. Monday, April 6, 1942 Age 24 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

SWAIN. Pte. 4689707 THOMAS WILLIE. Tuesday, April 7, 1942 Age 25 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

ACKROYD. L/Cpl. 4689109 CHARLES. Wednesday, April 8, 1942 Age 27 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

RUDSTON. Pte. 4691001 ALBERT. Friday, April 10, 1942 Age 21 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

FRANCE. L/Cpl. 4688744 CHARLES. Sunday, April 12, 1942 Age 28 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

BREWER. Pte. 4690271 GERALD. Monday, April 13, 1942 Age 23 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

SHAW. Pte. 4536326 HAROLD. Tuesday, April 14, 1942 Age 28 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

BAILLIE. Pte. 4695992 GORDON. Tuesday, April 14, 1942 Age 22 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

GREENWOOD. L/Cpl. 4689720 GEORGE. Tuesday, April 14, 1942 Age 27 RANGOON MEMORIAL

Face 16.

WATSON. Pte. 4690518 JAMES. Tuesday, April 14, 1942 Age 24 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

WINSTANLEY. L/Cpl. 4690747 ERNEST. Tuesday, April 14, 1942 Age 22 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

MOORCOCK. Pte. 7886780 KENNETH LEONARD. Tuesday, April 14, 1942 Age 24 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

MASSEY. Cpl. 4688372 JOHN WILLIAM WILFRED. Tuesday, April 14, 1942 Age 29 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

POLLARD. Pte. 4690213 SYDNEY. Tuesday, April 14, 1942 Age 23 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

WHINCUP. Pte. 4696225 ALBERT ERNEST. Wednesday, April 15, 1942 Age 28 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

FLEETWOOD. Pte. 4696065 HARRY. Wednesday, April 15, 1942 Age 28 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

LEE. Pte. 4696124 GEORGE WILLIAM. Wednesday, April 15, 1942 Age 26 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

HOLMES. Pte. 4690959 ALBERT. Wednesday, April 15, 1942 Age 22 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

SPINDLEY. Sgt. 4684329 FRANK. Thursday, April 16, 1942 Age 38 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

MORHAMER. Sgt. 4688954 FRANZ FREDERICK. Friday, April 17, 1942 Age 32 TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY 17. A. 15.

PHILLIPS. Lieut. 104934 MELVILLE. Sunday, April 19, 1942 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

BAILEY. Pte. 4695991 ERIC. Wednesday, April 22, 1942 Age 25 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

RAMSDEN. Pte. 4689708 BENJAMIN. Sunday, April 26, 1942 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

COCKSHOTT. Pte. 4689306 CLIFFORD. Sunday, April 26, 1942 Age 26 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

BROUGHTON, Cpl 4688657 Geoffrey 28/04/1943 Aged 28 4.D.15 Gauhati War Cemetery

BELL. Pte. 4690131 GEORGE. Saturday, May 2, 1942 Age 27 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

CROSS. Pte. 4692592 THOMAS. Saturday, May 2, 1942 Age 23 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

MARTIN. Major. 73664 DAVID ERIC. Thursday, May 7, 1942 Age 24 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

MILLEA. Pte. 4695796 THOMAS. Thursday, May 7, 1942 Age 22 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

POWELL. Pte. 4689410 WILSON. Thursday, May 7, 1942 Age 28 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

PARKIN. Pte. 4690111 GEORGE EDWARD. Thursday, May 7, 1942 Age 23 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY 4. D.3

HUBY. Pte. 4692789 RONALD. Friday, May 8, 1942 Age 23 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

GROVE. Pte. 4695857 Wilfred. Friday May 8, 1942 Aged 26 4.C.14 Gauhati War Cemetery India

FISH. Pte. 4689081 GEORGE NORMAN HARROP. Sunday, May 10, 1942 Age 26 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

WRIGHT. Pte. 4690654 GOULDING. Monday, May 11, 1942 Age 23 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

COVELL. L/Cpl. 4689761 ALFRED. Thursday, May 14, 1942 Age 28 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

APPLETON. Pte. 4689057 JOHN ROBERT. Friday, May 15, 1942 Age 27 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

BUCKLEY. Pte. 4691029 KENNETH. Friday, May 15, 1942 Age 19 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

CRABTREE. Pte .4696033 FRED. Friday, May 15, 1942 Age 27 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

BOYLE. Pte. 4690351 DANIEL. Sunday, May 17, 1942 Age 23 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

CRITCHER. Pte. 6202162 WILLIAM JAMES. Sunday, May 17, 1942 Age 25 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

WILSON. Cpl. 4535768 STANLEY VERDUN. Sunday, May 17, 1942 Age 26 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

COX. Pte. 100547 WILLIAM STANLEY. Monday, May 18, 1942 Age 27 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

ILES. Pte. 4696277 GEOFFREY. Wednesday, May 20, 1942 Age 22 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

ABBOTT. Pte. 4689650 JOHN WILLIAM.20/05/1942 Aged 25 7.F.16 Imphal War Cemetery

NOLAN. L/Cpl. 4536150 JAMES. 23/05/1942 Aged 27 7.E.19 Imphal War Cemetery

MICKLEFIELD. Pte. 4690428 JACK. Monday, May 25, 1942 Age 23 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

BELLAMY. Pte. 4689768 CLIFFORD HENRY. Died 26/05/1942 Aged 25 3.E.5 Gauhati War Cemetery

NEWSOME. Sgt. 4688976 HARRY. Wednesday, May 27, 1942 Age 29 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

TIDSWELL. Pte. 4689082 RALPH. Sunday, May 31, 1942 Age 28 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

BOYCOTT. Pte. 4690110 DAVID THOMAS. Friday, June 5, 1942 Age 24 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

PLOWMAN. Pte. 4689607 TOM. Saturday, June 6, 1942 Age 29 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

WHITEBROOK. Sgt. 4688896 HENRY CONROY. 06/06/1942 Aged 29 1.H.6 Gauhati War Cemetery India

COOMBS. CQMS. 4685975 GEORGE. Sunday, June 7, 1942 Age 30 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

SMYTHE. L/Cpl. 4690474 JOHN JAMES. Wednesday, June 10, 1942 Age 23 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

TRAVIS. Pte. 4688615 HARRY. Thursday, June 18, 1942 Age 26 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

BALCOMBE. L/Cpl. 4689564 CYRIL. Friday, June 19, 1942 Age 21 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

HISCOX. Pte. 4689187 JACK. Sunday, June 21, 1942 Age 23 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

MIDDLETON. Pte. 4691204 Fred. 23/06/1942 Aged 22 7.C. 10 Imphal War Cemetery

NORCLIFFE. W O Class II. 4685346 STANLEY. Wednesday, July 1, 1942 Age 36 RANGOON MEMORIAL

Face 16.

SHAW. Pte. 4689636 THOMAS JAMES. 20/07/1942 Aged 26 3.D. 17 Kohima War Cemetery

FREEGARD. Pte. 4689190 CLAUDE HARRY. Saturday, July 25, 1942 Age 22 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY 5. F. 4.

WALKER. Pte. 4691691 WALTER. Saturday, August 15, 1942 Age 21 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY Sp. Mem. 9. D. 6.

TRYDELL. Pte. 4690511 WILLIAM JAMES. Tuesday, August 25, 1942 Age 20 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY

5. B. 9.

TROOPS. Pte. 4690103 ROY. 07/09/1942 Aged 24 3.C.3 Gauhati War Cemetery India

REDMILE. Pte. 4690158 WILLIAM. Thursday, September 10, 1942 Age 30 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY 6. A. 5.

GIBLIN. Pte. 4694057 ERNEST. Saturday, September 12, 1942 Age 27 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY 5. B. 1.

CRYER. Pte. 4696265 LESLIE. Wednesday, September 30, 1942 Age 27 RANGOON MEMORIAL FACE 16

SYKES. Pte. 4695752 HAROLD. Friday, October 9, 1942 Age 28 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY 5. B. 6.

DIXON. Pte. 4690971 ERIC PATTISON. Tuesday, October 13, 1942 Age 26 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY 5. C. 2.

JEWSON. Sgt. 4684826 HAROLD. 21/10/1942 Aged 38 3.C.5 Gauhati War Cemetery India

SPEIGHT. Pte. 4690985 WALTER. Tuesday, November 10, 1942 Age 23 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY Sp. Mem. Joint grave 9. D. 2.

TOWELL. Pte. 4696252 THOMAS STANLEY. Tuesday, December 29, 1942 Age 26 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY 6. A. 8.

SPENCER. Pte. 4695740 ALBERT. Thursday, January 7, 1943 Age 27 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY 6. H. 9.

SHEARD. Pte. 4696184 NORMAN ARTHUR. Monday, January 11, 1943 Age 28 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY 6. D. 7.

SHELDON. L/Cpl. 4695784 LEONARD. Monday, February 1, 1943 Age 28 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY

Sp. Mem. 9. C. 10.

ROBERTS. Pte. 4696165 SYDNEY. Friday, February 19, 1943 Age 26 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY

Sp. Mem. Joint grave 9. C. 7.

LAUGHTON. Pte. 4690651 ERNEST VICTOR. Monday, March 1, 1943 Age 23 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY 6. J. 8.

GIBLIN. Pte. 4696074 JAMES HARTLBY. 09/03/1943 Aged 23 1.F.13 Gauhati War Cemetery India

HIRST. Sg.t 4689084 JACK. Sunday, May 16, 1943 Age 29 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

HUGHES. Pte. 4689697 ROBERT. Thursday, August 5, 1943 Age 26 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

MILLS. Pte. 4689571 NORMAN. Wednesday, August 18, 1943 Age 29 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

HASELGRAVE. L/Cpl. 4690657 JAMES. Saturday, September 18, 1943 Age 25 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY 6. D. 8.

HAYKIN. Pte. 4696097 ALFRED. Friday, September 24, 1943 Age 29 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

LINDSEY. Pte. 4690219 GILBERT. Wednesday, October 6, 1943 Age 27 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY

5. B. 2.

REID. Pte. 4689810 DONALD. Wednesday, February 9, 1944 Age 33 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY 5. G. 1.

ASHMORE. Captain. 121466 WILLIAM FREDERICK CALDWELL. Sunday, February 20, 1944 Age 23 TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY 5. F. 14.

POTTER. Sgt. 4690711 ALBERT WILLIAM. Wednesday, March 22, 1944 Age 26 TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY 6. B. 3.

SMITH. L/Cpl. 4698266 DENNIS. Monday, April 3, 1944 Age 22 TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY 14. B. 8.

DADDY. Pte. 4690581 ROBERT EDWARD. Thursday, June 8, 1944 Age 22 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY

6. J. 3.

FOSTER. Pte. 4689051 RICHARD. Monday, June 19, 1944 Age 28 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY 5. E. 4.

LEIVERS. Pte. 4688791 CYRIL. Saturday, June 24, 1944 Age 33 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY 5. F. 2.

JOWITT. Pte. 4692717 SAMUEL VERNON. Monday, June 26, 1944 Age 25 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY

6. E. 10.

OLDCORN. Sgt. 4610506 CHARLES EDWARD. Monday, June 26, 1944 Age 35 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY 6. H. 6.

REVILL. Sgt. 4685112 FRANK. Wednesday, July 26, 1944 Age 35 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY 5. B. 10.

ROBINSON. Pte. 4689420 GEORGE EDWAR.D Saturday, September 30, 1944 Age 27 RANGOON WAR CEMETERY 5. H. 2.

AYRES. Lieut. 314134 HAROLD BOWYER. Saturday, January 27, 1945 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 16.

COLEMAN. Lieut. 330530 PETER JAMES. Wednesday, August 8, 1945 RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 5.

 

Undated photograph of an unknown group of King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry soldiers at an unknown location. I think that the presence of Wolseley Helmets would suggest pre 1942 which would suggest that the photograph was taken in Maymyo, Burma. However, in the Gerald Fitzpatrick book there is a photograph of the Mortar platoon at a similar location dated December 1944.

 

The mortar platoon photograph from Fitzpatrick's book. I am convinced that the 1944 date is wrong as they have Wolseley Helmets. Orde Wingate was well known for wearing one when everyone else was wearing slouch hats,



Note the oval window in both photographs. The window frames visible in the first photograph can just be made out through the right hand arch in this photograph.

 

Simon

I've sent you some files.

Steve 1

 

Simon - regarding the excellent group photos, I too would go for Maymyo pre-1942.

There is one photo of the officers and G.C.O.s of the 7th (Burma Police) Battalion, Burma Rifles taken in 1941. This group are positioned in front of a brick building with similar arches, but no oval window.



The 7th Burma Rifles officers and G.C.O.s were initially gather at Mandalay on 1st November 1940 and put through two month's training. An O.C.T.U. was created at Maymyo and run by the 2nd KOYLI and trained many of the officers of the A.B.R.O. It may be that the officers and G.C.O.s undertook at least some of their training at Maymyo and thus posed in front of the same or similar building.

Steve

 

Maymyo Barracks around the time of the Great War.

 

The two KOYLI photographs do look to be the same time and place, but the arches in the Burrif photo are different. The only real difference I can spot between the KOYLI groups is that the mortar platoon are wearing trousers and the unknown group have shorts and hose tops. They are not Wolseley helmets, but Solar Topees - pith helmets. Remember that 2 KOYLI were on IS duties in Delhi during 12/44, so that date is quite likely correct.

 

Yes, they are different ... but also similar. I suspect that this kind of colonial 'architecture' was common across many sites.

I love the photo/postcard of Maymyo Barracks. The 'mock Tudor' style buildings are also intriguing as I've seen several group photos - India and Burma - of men stood in front of that style of timber frame construction, with a masonry infill. Sometimes the brickwork is left bare, sometimes it's plastered over. Here is an example (yet another from High Wood's collection):

 

While you are correct that they are pith helmets and not strictly Wolseley pattern as the top is much flatter, I am surprised that they were reissued for use in India but I guess that there were plenty in the stores. More surprising is that they found a supply of the black pom poms worn by the K.O.Y.L.I. as, having been garrisoned in Burma since the mid 1930s, such specific regimental distinctions would have been stored at the regimental depot at Maymyo and must have been in short supply in India. This does of course not exclude the ordering of more to be manufactured in India

Equally, the regimental history states: On January 23rd (1942), the K.O.Y.L.I. received orders to leave Takaw and move south. P.150. Shortly before leaving Takaw the battalion had been issued with the felt hats normally worn by Gurkhas and were thus the first British unit to wear the sensible headgear which later was to become the normal wear for the 14th Army and all British troops in the east. P.151.

This is not strictly accurate as British troops wore the Australian style slouch hat and not the Gurkha pattern which is double layered.

 

There seems to have been some confusion, at least in the mind of Sgt W. Butcher, about the death of 4694057 Pte Ernest Giblin who was reported missing on the 9th March 1942. Sgt Butcher gave a statement on the 10th July 1944 about several K.O.Y.L.I. soldiers who had been reported missing during the retreat from Burma. Here is a part of his statement.

5. 4694057 Pte. Giblin. E.
This soldier is shown on the attached list as "Date not reported". This soldier died of gunshot wounds at SHLYLET on the 9th March 1943.I (know) this because this soldier died in the presence of the Commanding Officer (-----) Poole and the Medical Officer Capt. Rebouck, and was buried next day by the Shlylet.

Pte Ernest Giblin had in fact been captured by the Japanese in March 1942 and had been incarcerated in Rangoon Jail, where he died of dysentery, on the 12th April 1942.

The Hull Daily Mail reported on 3rd February 1943.

Missing in the Far East.
Pte Ernest Giblin, 27, of the K.O.Y.L.I. who is the elder son of Mrs Chapman, of 62, De Grey Street, Beverley Road, Hull has been posted as missing in the Far East. He joined the Army over two years ago and has been serving overseas nearly two years. Pte Giblin as a boy attended St Vincent's School and was later in the employ of Messrs Blundell, Spence and Co., Ltd. He has a brother who is also reported missing, and another brother who is serving with the Royal Navy.

The same newspaper reported on the 22nd June 1945.

Died on Service.
Whilst a Prisoner of War, Pte Ernest Gilburn of 62, De Grey Street, Hull has died. Pte Giblin was serving with the K.O.Y.L.I. in Burma when he was captured. He joined the Army in 1941 and went to Burma three years ago. He was one of three sons serving in the forces. One of his brothers is a cook in the Royal Navy, and the other was reported missing during the North African campaign is now known to have been killed and buried at El Alamein.

There is a very simple explanation for Sgt Butcher's confusion.

 

Sgt Butcher was not alone in his belief that Pte Ernest Giblin had died at SHYLET, (note the different spelling),and he too gave a statement.
1. 4694057. Pte. E. Giblin.
4688763. Pte. Wood confirms the above mentioned man was accidentally shot by Cpl. Butcher approx April 1943 and states:-
The shooting occurred between 1900 and 2000 hrs in a barrack room at SHYLET during a company beer issue at which he (Wood) was present. Pte Giblin was admitted to a civilian hospital (name not known) in SHYLET.

The statement later goes on to say:-
A day or two after the shooting after the shooting incident, he (Wood) was warned by the Coy Orderly Sgt to act as pall-bearer at the funeral of Pte Giblin.

So we have the strange situation where two people seem certain that a soldier taken prisoner in in 1942 had been accidentally shot in a Bengal barrack block in 1943.

A soldier had indeed been shot in a barrack block at Sylhet but he was Pte James Hartleby Giblin, also of the 2nd battalion K.O.Y.L.I., who also came from Hull, in South Yorkshire. He too had taken part in the retreat and had also been reported missing, in his case on the 18th February 1942, but had rejoined his unit.

I can only assume that the confusion grew out of a simple mis- identification by Sgt Butcher who knew of two soldiers by name only which I imagine, would be possible in a battalion of men.

Pte James Hartleby Giblin is buried in the Gauhati War Cemetery.

 

Thanks for this clarification HW.

 

Sjt Butcher was well named. He also claims to have shot a KOYLI deserter on the orders of Maj Calvert. Calvert later denied being responsible for any executions during the 1942 retreat.

 

The photograph of the Mortar Platoon in post 26 also appears in Patrick Fitzgerald's other book, Chinese save Brits in Burma (Battle of Yenangyaung). In that publication the caption states: Mortar Platoon. Delhi, 24th December 1943. On the reverse of the photograph, all those in it are named and it also states, Delhi Cantonment.

 

Simon,

Whilst assisting another member this week re: 204 Military Mission, I realised that there were several KOYLIs attached. Not sure if they qualify for your collation of the 2nd battalion, but if you have not already, take a look at post 77 on this thread:

Mission 204 - Special Service Detachment 2

I also remembered that there were also several KOYLIs present amongst the commando nominal rolls in the 142 Company War diary. This unit formed the Commando platoons on Operation Longcloth. I will send these rolls over to you by We Transfer to pick through.

Steve

 

Steve,

many thanks for the heads up. From my initial research I have he details of two 1942 Burma Campaign K.O.Y.L.I. soldiers who went on to serve as Chindits during Operation Thursday. I am sure that there will be several more to be found.

4690711 Pte.Potter. Arthur William. KiA with Chindits. 22/03/1944.

4691059 Pte. Vause. Bernard Joseph. Later served with the Chindits.


Simon

 

No worries Simon. Sometimes I forget what I have got in my files at home. I suppose it's because I come to the research very Chindit minded and file it accordingly. If I hadn't been helping out Sean on the other thread, I would not have made the connection.