1st Bn The King's Regiment, (Liverpool), Chindits.

David,

Thank you for posting and for the information and photograph of Thomas Hughes. I think High Wood has already told you what probably happened to Thomas in Burma, but it would be great to learn more about is life before the war, work, family etc.

Steve

 

I may have missed this but have his records been obtained yet...?
1KLR is not my speciality but they do cross my path...

Another thing that non-regulars will not be aware of is that the date of death does not always tie-up with the facts... when someone is listed as KIA (killed in action) sometimes this date is arability chosen by Command, which is why you often find a large grouping of deaths on the same date... just a clerical action; nothing more; nothing less... a date has to go on record and the death may have occurred at an earlier point in time...
There is no 1KLR War diary to cover this period and I did not find his name in their MIA files after a quick scan through...

But... in this case, there is an entry in the 77 Brigade War diary for 15th July, entry number 11622, 1445 hrs... "Casualties 14th July, Killed... Cpl Hughes T. (82 Coln)"
The (77) entry records two other deaths for this date, both with their numbers, but Cpl Hughes' does not...
Field promotions were quite common but ultimate records do not always show this, but the date ties up with this... he may have died as a Corporal, but not on official records...

I will post the pages for this date up ASAP but have yet to reload Photoshop onto my new laptop (serious work hiatus took place... thank goodness for regular backups...) and my original image is too large to post here...
Kenny

 

Well spotted Ken. Didn't think to trawl the HQ Diary for mention of Thomas.

 

This is the message.

 

Firstly many thanks for all the info. The depth of knowledge and helpfulness here is amazing!
Thomas Hughes was born in Liverpool 17/12/1915. 4th child of 7. 2 sisters and 4 brothers.
Don't know his occupation before the war.
His younger brother Frank Hughes 850427 born 1918 was in 2 SAS and participated in operations Tombola and Trueform and was the awarded the DCM for Trueform.
I have no other war information on his other brothers other than they survived.
I will try and update when I receive his records.
Dave

 

Thanks for the update Dave. I see from past auction records that Frank's medals were sold in 1997, I wonder where they are today?

 

I took me ten years to find them as the auction house will tell you nothing! They are now part of the Ashcroft collection and they were kind enough to let us view them, and take photos in London.
We only found out about the auction after the event as Frank died in Australia and his medals were sold by his 2nd wife.
Dave

 

From the published casualty list. Thomas Hughes rank is shown as Pte.

 

It is a shame when medals, especially such special ones like Frank's are lost to the family. I'm glad you got to view them in the end at the Ashcroft collection.

 

Shame is that they are not on display but in storage. They only display VC's at this time. They tell me that future plans are to enlarge the display to include other medals.

 

Can anybody help with this chap?

Private Robert John Wilkins
5730266

Listed as killed in action (FMP) along with Private's Furness, Hancock and Watson all of the 1st Bn, King's Regiment on the 22/03/1944.

Thanks in advance.

 

I don't have much about him but he was one of a number killed or wounded that day. If I remember rightly they were out on patrol near Broadway but I will have to check my notes.

22/03/1944 6099463 Queen's Royal Regt Pte Furness Frederick, John KiA
22/03/1944 14505830 General Service Corps Pte Hancock Lawrence KiA
22/03/1944 3657120 S Lancashire Regt Pte Watson Thomas, Randolph KiA
22/03/1944 2040395 Royal Engineers Pte White Henry, Wilson KiA
22/03/1944 5730266 Dorsetshire Regt Pte Wilkins Robert, John KiA
22/03/1944 3778142 The King's Regt Pte Derbyshire Ronald T? Reported Missing 22/03/1944
22/03/1944 14394913 General Service Corps Pte Lewis S Wounded 22/03/1944
22/03/1944 3771077 The King's Regt W/Cpl Hutcheson G Wounded 22/03/1944
22/03/1944 3778153 The King's Regt Pte Lawson W Wounded 22/03/1944
22/03/1944 3606650 Border Regt Pte Wilkinson T Wounded 22/03/1944
22/03/1944 3777707 The King's Regt L/Cpl Williamson W S Wounded 22/03/1944

 

Thanks, High Wood.
It's a starting point, I don't have a great deal of knowledge of the fighting in the Far East.

 

I have sourced from fellow forum member Bucklt a photograph of Thomas' grave at Taukkyan War Cemetery:

 

Hi, that's absolutely awesome! Thanks very much.

Dave

 

No worries Dave, glad to do it.

 

Harold Swindley (Died 2015) was indeed gravely injured in a glider crash just short of a Broadway. The address of next of kin is garbled. It should read 56 Roslyn Road, Stockport Cheshire. Whilst listed as Signals, he was as I understand it East Lancs Regiment (and of course a Chindit)

 

Hi, Bamboo, I have just signed up for this. This is absolutly breathtaking. I am researching 3773805 1st Bn Kings L/pool James Forden Died on 28th March 44. he is on the CWGC along with 8 other Kingsmen who died on the 28th. Have you got the record of action/death for the 28th on one of your docs. I have looked WO file but have drawn a black. regards Andy J P.S My neighbor is his Fordens Uncle and has some of his artifacts the were sent home.

 

Hi, I am researching james Forden. here is his CWGC record of where he is buried at Taukkyan. Looking at it, he was one of 9 Kings who died on the same day. I am trying to find the battle report for his death. I see that Bamboo has put Kneals report up. Andy J

 

Hi Andy,

Welcome aboard. Yes, the report on Sgt. Kneale and Pte. Duff is already up on here. I would say for sure that James died with them that day under the command of Captain James Coultard. The King's were out searching for Japanese patrols that were trying to breach the perimeter of the Broadway stronghold and after some Gurkhas had been killed and then dismembered by the enemy: