WW2 Asian Region - SOE and Special Units - A Tribute (six of eight)

Discussion in 'War Grave Photographs' started by bucklt, Nov 27, 2021.

  1. bucklt

    bucklt Bucklt

    In dealing with SOE and its associated units (Force 136, STS 101, FMS Volunteer Force, Oriental Mission, British Special Forces, Special List and RAF Special Duties ) it's near-on impossible to confirm, by viewing headstones and memorials, if a particular individual served with such a unit.

    Indeed: in all the cemeteries I've visited, to-date, in Asia, I've only ever seen 2 SOE names on one memorial (Singapore) and one SOE name on a headstone (Sri Lanka).

    And, to make matters more complicated, I've wondered, many times, about those 2 terms ''Special List'' and ''General List'', mentioned numerous times on both headstones and memorials - what's all THAT about?

    Four months ago, someone was kind enough to send me an ebook: Unearthing Churchill's Secret Army - authors Martin Mace & John Grehan - Pen & Sword 2012. I was amazed to find in Chapter 5, Section VIII (pages 403-410) a list of 57 names, and all associated with SOE and Asia. I have now managed to find 57 images, of headstones and memorials, in relation to these 57 men, and would like to share them with you. Note; Images 44 to 49 attached.

    note following points:

    The majority of images have been taken by myself, and the remaining ones have been 'credited' to source/photographer etc.

    There are numerous discrepancies between the book and the CWGC database and, in all cases, I have opted for the CWGC version.

    Given the background in which these men and women operated, I make no claim as to the accuracy of this data and, as such, feel free to add additional information if you think it's relevant to that particular individual.

    44. SEAGRIM Hugh Paul. Major. George Cross, D.S.O., M.B.E.. Born 24th March 1909 and died 14th September 1944. Parent Unit 19th Hyderabad Regiment, Indian Army. SOE, Force 136, Op. Harlington. Rangoon War Cemetery, Myanmar-Burma

    45. Lim Bo Seng (Guy). Major/Colonel/Major General. Born 27th April 1909 and died 29th June 1944. Parent Unit various. Force 136, SOE, Grave MacRitchie Reservoir Park, Singapore

    46. SHEARN Ronald Charles. Captain. Born 9th July 1924 and died 4th May 1945. Parent Unit General List. SOE (F Section), Force 136, Op. Heavy. note; aka Rene Sarront. Face 19, Rangoon Memorial, Myanmar-Burma

    47. SMYLLIE Thomas Marshall. Lieutenant. Born 20th March 1908 and died 21st March 1943. Parent Unit General List. Oriental Mission, SOE, Stay Behind Party. Column 113, Singapore Memorial, Singapore.

    48. STEWART Clair Mack (Clare Mackie). Corporal. Born unknown and died 7th July 1945. Parent Unit Australian Infantry. Z Special Unit, Op. Rimau. Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore

    49. STOTT Donald John. Major. D.S.O. and bar (Greece). Born 23rd October 1915 and died 20th March 1945. Parent Unit New Zealand Artillery. SOE, SRD, Op. Robin. Panel 31, Labuan Memorial, Borneo



    LEST WE FORGET



    Tony Buckley :poppy: www.asiawargraves.com
    44. SEAGRIM H.P., Rangoon War Cemetery, Myanmar-Burma © asiawargraves.com .jpg 45. LIM BO SENG,  MacRitchie Reservoir Park, Singapore © rememberingsingapore.org  .jpg 46. SHEARN R.C., Face 19, Rangoon Memorial, Myanmar-Burma © asiawargraves.com  .jpg 47. SMYLLIE T.M., Column 113, Singapore Memorial, Singapore © asiawargraves.com  .jpg 48. STEWART C.M., Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore © asiawargraves.com   .jpg 49. STOTT D.J., Panel 31, Labuan Memorial, Borneo © asiawargraves.com  .jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2021
    Deacs, timuk, CL1 and 3 others like this.
  2. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Hugh Seagrim's courageous life has been discussed a few times on the forum and these threads can be picked up by using the search function. There is also a condensed narrative of his life and work in Burma here:

    Major Hugh Seagrim
     
    Deacs, timuk, 4jonboy and 2 others like this.
  3. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    I'm wondering whether this refers to the RNVR Special Branch. This was for officers commissioned into the RN to fulfil non-seagoing roles for which only minimal RN training was given but where it was desirable that they were officers rather than civilians. As well as purely admin type jobs it contained those in scientific, intelligence etc roles. Ian Fleming in Naval Intelligence being a classic example. Where you have seen "Special List", did it refer to RN Officers?

    Tim
     
  4. bucklt

    bucklt Bucklt

    With the word 'special' hovering in my mind - because of all the units that used it - I added 'Special List' to these series of posts, but now, because of your comments, I have updated them to include 'General List' also i.e. Special List and General List. Your response has made me realise that these were 2 DISTINCT units, in their own right, and this is further confirmed by the CWGC database, when it informs us that 665 men died whilst serving with The General List (177 in WW1 and 488 in WW2) and 101 men died whilst serving with The Special List (97 in WW1 and 4 in WW2). All names listed are of officer rank. You could be correct in asserting that those listed with The Special List were already associated with Intelligence and Science and, I'm beginning to think, Political/Diplomatic issues of the day. Also: those men who died whilst serving with The Special List appear to be 'older' than those who served with The General List. Which raises a number of questions: Who controlled these 2 units? What factors determined if a man served with one, rather than the other? Why/how/when/where were they actually formed? Cannot find any data about them via Google etc. Can anyone tell us more about them? TIA.
     
  5. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    I think, but am not absolutely sure, that the difference between RNVR General and Special Lists is that those in the Special Branch were in non-seagoing posts whereas those in the General List were liable for seagoing service. A look at Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) Officers 1939-1945  --  A shows those marked (Sp.Br) seem to have all served in shore establishments and many have a notation such as *Special Branch Officer who is employed on staff etc duties ashore, *Special Branch Officer for scientific duties, *Special Branch Officer for meteorological duties, etc

    Tim
     

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