143 special services unit 2nd battalion

Wonder if anyone had any info on the 143 Special Services unit 2nd battalion in and around Kohima in April 1944

 

It was 143 Special Services Company, and there was no second battalion to it.

It is my understanding that it was raised from the units of 2 British Infantry Division during the period in which the division was training for amphibious operations. Those operations never took place. When elements of the division were rushed to the Arakan in 1943, and the entire division to Kohima in 1944, the company was retained as a pathfinder/recce/special services (i.e. commando) company.

I have not come across any reference to its existence during the 1944-45 campaign, so I guess that it had been disbanded by then.

 

Thanks for the info My wife s father was a corporal with the 143 Special Services having been transferred from the Durham Light Infantry We know he trained in India and that he was wounded on 15 TH April 1944 in the Arkan but not sure if it was Kohima or during one of the many actions that took place near Kohima we think it may have been while on patrol ;taking control of one of the hill post held by the Japanese near Kohima He was shipped home via India after being wounded and medically discharged in 1945

 

My grandfather Alan Stephenson served in 143 SS at Kohima and ended up in Singapore at the end of the war, having marched down through Burma and Malaya. So 143 Special Services Company was in existence and involved in the relief of Kohima. There's a good account of their actions at this web address CSM Scarratt Kohima
In a nutshell 143SS went in behind the Japanese lines with Naga tribesmen and took and held GPT Ridge. According to my granda they were mainly with the Norfolks under Robert Scott. Hope this helps piece things together a bit.
I have one photo of the 4th platoon which I've attached. The title is what was written on the back but I only got hold of it after he died so can't give you any more information I'm afraid.

 

They are listed as divisional infantry alongside the Manchester Regiment and the Reconnaissance Regiment. My grandad's cap badge shows he was recce but had volunteered for special service.

 

I've added notes to this discussion which expands on information about 143 SS but if your wife's father was injured on 15th it seems to be before the record of operations that I found starts. It's highly likely they were carrying out reconnaissance before the account says they got involved though. Hope the information I've provided is of help. He's maybe even pictured in the photo of 4th platoon in which case it would be great to put a name to one of the faces

 

I've added notes to this thread. They weren't disbanded but are very difficult to track down information about. My grandad was at Kohima with them.

 

Made an error on the date he was wounded it was actually on 5th May 44 and we believe it was during action at Mt Palsbadze

 

Made an error regarding the date he was wounded It was actually 5th May 44 and we believe it was during action taking place at Mt Palebadze

 

An observation from Len Whittaker, by letter, in the May 1984 edition of The Military Historical Society Bulletin on 143 Special Service Company.

Kind Regards, always,

Jim.

 

143 SS Coy was commanded during First and Second Arakan by Alastair MacGeorge of the Royal Scots. Here's his MC award from 4 May 1944 if you haven't seen it:

 

Can't add anything more about Kohima, but regarding the letter on Jim's post, 143 SS Coy had definitely been established by January 1943, with 6 Officers and 146 ORs. It features in a planning document from that month for 6 Brigade Group's expected amphibious assault against Akyab:



When First Arakan ground to a halt and the amphibious assault was called off, 143 SS Coy deployed to the Mayu Peninsula overland with 6 Brigade Group. Mentions of it in any of the formation's war diaries are rare, but it was certainly put into the line at Donbaik to bolster under-strength infantry battalions after the big brigade attack failed on 18 March 1943 with heavy casualties. Here it briefly formed a temporary grouping called 'PIPKAY Force' which successively came under command of the Berkshires and the Royal Scots as they held the front against a possible Japanese counter-attack. PIPKAY consisted of 143 SS Coy plus all available personnel from the brigade's carrier platoons, fighting dismounted.

The only commando-style operation for 143 SS Coy that I've found evidence for during First Arakan is a raid on Maungdaw on the night 16/17 May 1943. This was an attempt to recover folding boat equipment that had been left behind at the jetty when the town was abandoned to the Japanese a few days earlier.

Lt-Col. Roberton (4 I.W.T. Group) and Maj. Robson (2000 Flotilla) took a lone Eureka boat into Tat Chaung and approached the jetty. On board were a 4-strong party of sappers from Sirmoor Field Coy (under Lt. Barrett) escorted by a 12-strong party of volunteers from 143 SS Coy (under Lt. Kirkland). While the sappers lashed up the FBE, the 143 SS Coy sections went ashore to deal with Japanese machine gun positions and became embroiled in hand-to-hand fighting, taking several casualties. Sgt. William Robinson (143 SS Coy) was awarded a DCM for the action, but the raid failed in its purpose. The Eureka was shot up, wrecking the engine and killing Robson (2000 Flotilla) and Dunne (143 SS Coy). It was abandoned and the FBE left behind, the group escaping upriver to Teknaf in small local boats.

What makes tracking 143 SS Coy even harder is that its members were volunteers and seem to have been 'officially' on the strength of their parent battalions. MacGeorge was Royal Scots. Robinson's DCM for the Maungdaw raid was awarded to him as a member of the DLI. Dunne is listed in the CWGC as belonging to the Dorsetshire Regiment.

 

Thanks all for the info Sandra's father Thomas Ralston enlisted in the Royal Scotts then assigned to the DLI after Dunkirk He then was made a Lance Corporal joined the 143 ss and sent to India trained there before entering the action in the Arakan eventually getting wounded at Mt Paleabadzie in May 44 and shipped home

 

To add a shade more context to the above, here is an extract from historical essays on The Royal Scots:

and a sketch-map is offered on page 149 from the same:
https://www.theroyalscots.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/The-Royal-Scots-A4-Booklet2.pdf


Fusilier John Done
of 1st/8th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers is listed as a member of 143 Special Service Company with a version of the famous "Do not stand at my grave and weep" poem attributed to him at:
Soldier Poets of 2nd Division - Kohima Museum - York
and now contained in an anthology of 132 others.

 

Hi David


I have looked for a War Diary in The National Archives catalogue and there does not appear to be one for 143 Special Service Company. Hence the best route would be to look in the War Diary for 2nd Division 1943-5 to see if there is anything that will tell you more about its existence. You could also try the Brigade’s War Diaries as sometimes they are more granular.

Second you could look in books – I have skimmed through my Kohima books and the best account of their activities is in Kohima by Swinson which is good on the 2nd Division’s part and they are mentioned a number of times. He also has a detailed account on the right hook by 4 Brigade to Pulebadze.

Third, I would try to see if its Commanding Officer left any recollections, papers etc. He was Alasdair Kerr Protheroe MacGeorge of the Royal Scots. So an email to the Royal Scots Museum and then the NAM and IWM may pull up something. I can’t see anything online.

Finally I would see if the admins can put this thread on the Burma and India Forum – I find that things tend to get lost in this one which is a bit of a catch-all and very wide ranging.

Good luck!

 

My husbands grandfather Sergeant William Robinson was in the 143 Special Service Company from Durham Light Infantry. He was given a Distinguished Conduct Medal with immediate effect in 1943.

 

Hi just wondered if you had any other info on the143 Special Services other than what has already been posted here Sandra's father corporal Thomas Ralston was wounded we believe at MT Palabadze but find very little info on it Thomas past away in 1971 . without ever mentioning his time in service

 

IWM audio recordings

Reel 5 mentions the unit and their role?

Howard, John Leslie (Oral history)


Kyle

 

My grandfather William (Billy) Blackmore was killed 5th may 1944 in Kohima.
He was in the 2nd Battalion of the DLI. His war records show he was seconded to 143 special services.
After speaking with Kohima historians and the DLI, it is understood that the DLI where leaving the frontline on 5th May and Billy was part of the Special services scouting ahead ensuring the a safe route out. The war records show 2 people where killed on the 5th May at Kohima. This is all I can find out, I would be grateful if anyone has any further details.