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

Discussion in 'Burma & India' started by High Wood, Mar 28, 2016.

  1. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Thanks Simon. Yes, I cannot match any image I have of Fred Thompson with the Dehra Dun group photo. When I spoke with Fred he told me that he had not volunteered to move over to the Parachute Battalion, something that did not go down well with his superiors and some of his former comrades. He felt he done his bit on Operation Longcloth.
     
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2017
  2. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    In that respect he is like the man who started this whole 1st King's obsession for me, Pte Patrick McQuade who, after Operation Thursday, opted for the Royal Engineers rather than the Parachute Battalion. I know now that he was wounded during Thursday, probably at Blackpool, and that this may have influenced his decision.
     
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2017
  3. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    I am not sure how much this will add to the conversation, if anything at all, but I have run the names in the group photo, post #85 by Bamboo43, through the casualty lists to see what comes up.

    The only search criteria entered was ‘last name’ and ‘King’s Regiment*’ (where * is a wildcard). I only recorded the 1st or 13th Battalions or where the entry was just King’s Regiment.

    Here are the results:

    1st Bn King’s Regiment
    14317793 Bartlett Pte B
    14288231 Bartlett Pte JP
    3773159 Booth Pte J
    3386974 Booth Pte S
    3777090 Roe Pte D
    3771196 Kirby L/Cpl SE
    3775112 Aspinall Pte WJ
    3774636 Kelly Pte M
    3776044 Kelly Pte P
    5837558 Sibley Pte WJ
    3718856 Bird Pte T
    3776295 Smith W/Cpl E
    3771262 Smith W/Cpl JJ
    3388112 Smith Pte JT
    1432511 Dempsey Pte JP
    3776407 Twigg Pte FC
    14335550 Griffin Pte JP
    3782479 Mathers Pte EJ
    4038058 Evans Pte EG
    3771972 Rowan Pte JJ
    852930 Williams A/Sgt FJ
    3772702 Williams Pte G
    5116711 Williams Pte GG
    3774919 Williams U/L/Cpl S
    14342439 Williams W/Sgt T
    3775384 Clarke W/Cpl S
    186979 Hurst W/Lt RA
    3608672 Thompson Pte D
    14325577 Thompson Pte DWT
    3767861 Thompson W/Sgt J
    3601037 Thompson W/Cpl W
    3771467 Hill Pte EH
    14371286 Jones Pte D
    3780747 Jones Pte JH
    3775021 Jones Pte WG

    13th Bn King’s Regiment
    3453481 Collier Pte J
    3445372 Holt Pte E
    4199398 Newton Pte R
    3780145 Newton Pte JJ
    3781551 Smith Pte S (at sea)
    3777677 Smith WS/Cpl SD
    3779455 Smith Pte W
    5335617 Knight Pte PE
    3712133 Williams Pte EJ
    4197586 Williams Pte EW
    4197554 Williams Pte IS
    3865864 Williams Pte J
    3959534 Williams L/Cpl TE
    3779346 Clarke Pte D
    4124640 Clarke Pte JA
    3781682 Clarke L/Cpl R
    3771589 Thompson Pte J
    3659349 Thompson Pte H
    5124158 Thompson L/Cpl N
    3772261 Cooke Pte J
    6203526 Hill A/Sgt J
    3778575 Hill U/A/Sgt JF
    5619756 Hill Pte LF
    4192665 Jones Pte AR
    3779326 Jones W/Cpl GH
    5119069 Jones L/Cpl T
    3775907 Jones Cpl DH
    4202749 Jones Pte E
    3780496 Jones Pte RG
    4194244 Jones Pte WG

    King’s Regiment
    3783823 Booth Pte S
    3519925 Booth L/Cpl W, att AMPC
    3777388 Morris Pte E
    3771033 Morris Pte WS
    149800 Aspinall A/Cpt HR, att 1 Bn Inniskilling Fus
    3766816 Smith Pte J, att AMPC
    14218503 Evans Pte C, (Border Regt)
    14410620 Williams Pte MG
    148867 Williams T/Cpt RE, att 77 Ind Inf Bde
    3771992 Thompson Pte A, (SS Bn)
    186037 Jones W/Lt FW
    3781556 Jones Pte WG, (2 Commando)

    Hopefully of some use to someone!
     
  4. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    Tony,

    thank you for posting these names from the casualty lists. Once again I am in your debt. Some of these men will have been killed in action or died of wounds so can be ruled out from being in the photograph, I will go through these lists and let you know.

    Simon.
     
  5. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Yes, I realised as I hit the 'reply' button that it would have been useful if I had made a note of casualty dates and if they had died!!!
     
  6. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Thanks for the listing Tony, always exciting to cross-reference names against my Chindit 1 database.
     
  7. pnewton84

    pnewton84 Member

    We're fairly certain the Newton on the group shot is my Grandad :) so if any one does get a better quality version (I've tried asking the site before but with no luck) please could you let me know?
     
  8. I've been watching Chindits films on You Tube all day, gaining lots of information that is new to me and also seeing the names I read in Mike Calvert's book come to life. Very interesting if anyone is interested.

    I've also noticed that columns 81 and 82 from the 1st Kings Liverpool were moved from the 77th Indian Brigade to the 111th Brigade in May 44 so that might be where I've been struggling to trace my Dad's movements. Andy is going to get me the war diaries for the Kings for Nov Dec 44, the only ones available sadly but should I be looking specifically for 111th brigade as well?

    This move has confused me no end!

    Thanks,
    Lynne
     
  9. Hebridean Chindit

    Hebridean Chindit Lost in review... Patron

    Hi Lynne, if you PM me an email address I can send you the details of their involvement with the 111th with reference to the specific diaries... 5 pages of details in a Word doc format... that will save you a lot of time and hassle as the 111th diaries a B O X E S of stuff... o_O
     
    Tricky Dicky and Rich Payne like this.
  10. Thank you so much for this offer! I have really struggled to find where these columns went so hopefully this will help clarify a few things.

    Lynne
     
  11. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Hi Lynne,

    I found the attached Word document in my files which might be of use to you. It is a very general guideline for the 1st King's pathway in 1944. It does not cover specific events or individual casualties, but it might pin point certain dates and movements by the King's columns.

    Good to see Hebridean Chindit offering up his excellent knowledge of 111 Brigade and the 'Blackpool' stronghold in particular.
     

    Attached Files:

  12. This morning I have found an account of the 81 and 82 columns in more details than I've previously read. If anyone would like to take a look the link is My Grandad, the Chindit
     
  13. Thanks Bamboo I'll have a read right away. I've just posted a link to another account I've found this morning. With the help of this forum I am finding information I am building up an amazing and heart rending picture of my Dad's time in Burma. I am so grateful to you all for your help, I can't thank you enough.

    Lynne
     
  14. Looking at my Dad's records, he returned from the Concessional Area in August 44. From your notes and the ones I've found online, I can see he either ended up at the battle of Mogaung having been separated from the rest of column 82 or fought at protect Blackpool and eventually evacuated to Kamaing. I'm attaching his record for this period just for information.
     

    Attached Files:

  15. I've just realised it is your account I referred to in my post earlier today! What a wonderful resource that has been to me so thank you for taking the time to write it. With the help I'm receiving from the people on here, I now have a much fuller account of my Dad's time.

    Thank you again,
    Best wishes,
    Lynne
     
  16. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    Steve,

    some rough figures taken from my database to add to your King's pathway, (rough in the sense that the database is far from complete but these are taken from CWGC and 1944 official casualty lists).

    The glider landings of the night of 5th-6th March 1944 resulted in 35 recorded deaths and 39 soldiers taken PoW in the following days as a result of gliders crash landing short of Broadway. I have a figure of 7 wounded but the actual figure must be higher.

    For the 28th March engagement near Broadway I have 15 dead and 20 wounded.

    For Namsun, 19th May 1944, I have 6 dead and 1 wounded.

    For 20th May 1944 I have 18 dead but I cannot say if these are from Namsun or Blackpool or are a combination of both.

    For 21st May 1944, 6 dead including the battalion Medical Officer Captain Robert Alastair Boys Kinloch. M.C., R.A.M.C. who was awarded his Military Cross for attending to the wounded and dying from the crashed gliders at Broadway on the night of the 5th March 1944.

    For 23rd-25th May which covers the final days of the Blackpool Block, I have a total of 55 casualties which include 41 KiA or DoW and 14 wounded.

    The lack of any War Diary for this period is hampering my research but as the diaries are officially missing this will remain a problem.

    The last 1/King's KiA casualty occurred on the 20th August 1944.

    These figures are likely to change as my database grows.

    If anyone wants information about any individual soldier please feel free to contact me.

    Simon.
     
    Last edited: Jan 29, 2017
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  17. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    I should also have mentioned that two men of the 1/King's Regiment were captured on the 25th May 1944 and survived to be imprisoned in Rangoon Gaol which was very unusual at this stage of the campaign.
     
  18. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Hi Lynne,

    I think you are correct, it is makes total sense that he ended up in one of those two places.
     
  19. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Thanks Simon,

    I drew up that pathway a number of years back for another 1 KLR family who made contact via my website. I will place your input alongside.

    Steve
     
  20. Hi Steve

    From Paul Newton's site about his Grandad My Grandad, the Chindit I've worked out my Dad was in Column 81 as I know for certain he went in in a glider. I've spent the whole day pulling everything together into a big document. I hope one day someone in my family will want to read what Matt did.

    I can't say thank you enough to everyone who has helped me and I'm looking forward to seeing the War Diaries that Andy is getting for me very soon.

    Lynne
     

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