229724 Captain Donovan Edward Lafford RA, 136 Field Regt SEAC & 89th LAA

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My Grandad and sections of a letter he sent to my gran (if you can read it, it took me ages)

 

Here are some odd bits:


A reunion letter I found.

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Release certificate


This is a Maple leaf that my grandad sent my gran in 1942


I have a Japanese flag but I'll sortthat out for next time.

 

Hi JCLAFF

Great pics. I'm copying the 1944 & 1945 war diaries of 89 LAA the week after next for someone. Would you like a copy? Can't promise I can do from when he joined in April 1942, but if I've got time left after I finish my own stuff, then I will.

Cheers - Rob

 

Hi JCLAFF

Great pics. I'm copying the 1944 & 1945 war diaries of 89 LAA the week after next for someone. Would you like a copy? Can't promise I can do from when he joined in April 1942, but if I've got time left after I finish my own stuff, then I will.

Cheers - Rob

Yes please, that would be great. Thank You

 

Here's the japanese flag I found amongst my grandad's stuff.

I don't know if I've got it the right way round, please tell me if I haven't and I'll change it.

 

This is the only newsletter I found, think I've put this on somewhere else.

 

I'll say sorry now I think. Looking at this photo, maybe I should have straightened the jacket up before taking it.



I can't get over how heavy the fabric is and it's still in perfect condition(apart from a few creases).

I found it being stored in a leather suitcase. The suitcase is mentioned in one of my grandad's letters to my gran as being handmade whilst in India and him being impressed with the quality (not so good quality now though).

 

JCLAFF

Unfortunately I arrived an hour and a half late at Kew due to a signal failure on the tube, so have not been able to copy all of the war diaries for you. I have managed to look at most of the ones I mentioned and can list some information on things I did find out.

Firstly, I can find no reference to D E Lafford in the war dairies of 252 HAA Battery from 1939, nor 80 HAA up to when he first appears in the War Diary of 89 LAA in March of 1942.

The above makes sense in that having checked the London Gazette, DEL only graduated from being a Cadet in the Royal Artillery and got his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant on 19 March 1942. He could not have served in 80 HAA as an officer.

A Link to the LG page showing his date of commission as an officer (His name appears at the top left):-

Viewing Page 1551 of Issue 35513

DEL first appears in the war diary for 89 LAA a week after receiving his commission on 26 March 1942, having been posted in from 133 OCTU (Officer Cadet Training UNIT). He then appears on various nominal roles of 89 LAA as a 2nd Lt and a subaltern of 310 Battery, basically a number 3 in a Troop. In October 1942 he is listed as a 1st Lieutenant.and troop leader of G Troop, 310 Battery, becoming a number 2.

I could not get hold of the WD’s for 89 LAA for 1944 or 1945, as someone else had them booked out, so cannot confirm exactly what date he left 89 LAA.

I did see the page from the officers field return from 136 Field Regt, when he arrived in the Regt, but the image was too blurred to photo. The interesting thing is that he arrived at 136 Field on 20 August 1945, but to be posted immediately to 28 Field Regt. I have a copy of the war diary page with this info. A date also appears on one of the field returns indicating that he would continue to serve in the RA until 1948.

Regards - Rob

 

I've been reading my grandad's letters again. The 28th is mentioned in a letter dated 17.10.45. Funnily enough its the section I added to this site earlier on. If I've read his handwriting correctly it says:
"When I first arrived in Rangoon, I was sent to the 136 field regt at Pegu from there I went in action with them in the Sittang Bend at a place called Idaw, then I was sent up to 28 fieldd regt at Toungoo which is 170 miles north. From there we crossed the Irrawaddy. I went in action down the Mauchi road which is very dense jungle and high hills. There was one zigzag part of the road up a hill which was 3 miles long and when you had got to the top you had advanced 600yds. I was down the Mauchi Road when the surrender came through - although we were fighting for about 3wks after that. Then we pulled out and went to Pyinmana which is 90 miles north of Toungoo, from there I was sent to Movement Control where I was R.T.O. at Hmawbi which is 30 miles north of Rangoon".

The earliest letter I've got that mentions the 136 is dated 2nd August 45 which confuses me a little - but it doesn't take much to confuse me!

 

My father served in the 136th Field Regiment, RA and was with them in training in Great Britain and all through their tour of duty in Burma. Although he was a gunner, he was also the Regment's Medical Orderly, assistant to Captain Denlow, RAMC and they spent most of their war service together, until the Regiment were told to cease hostilities.

JCFLAFF, I have looked at the Regiments history and it shows your grandfather joining on 29th July, 1945 but being despatched to Siam on 19th September, 1945. I am not sure if he was part of the contingent that was sent to the former French Indochina, to oversee the take over from the Japanese forces still controlling the area, prior to the return of the French in late 1945.

There is an excellent book on the 136th, RA, called "The Rose and the Arrow", detailing the units history from 1939 through to 1945 and its absorbtion into the regular army. The Rose is obvious as it is the Rose of Lancashire and the emblem of the regiment. The Arrow refers to the emblem of the 7th Indian Division, which was the formation where the Regiment served during its time in Burma. Luckily, I still have my fathers two 7th Div lapel badges along with some other items from his time in the Army.

There are quite extensive records held in the National Archives about the 136th, including a large amount of the War Returns. These documents were prepared in the field, as many of the marks show on the pages, but it also shows what an efficient unit they were, given the horrific conditions they were expected to fight and survive in.

The many interesting photos you have posted show areas in Siam. Burma was nothing like that, considering the amount of damage that was inflicted in the area, due to the fighting.

Your grandfather probably witnessed the unit's action in the Battle of Sittang Bend, where the beleagured and defeated Japanese Army were finally decimated by the Allied forces.

I hope this helps you in finding out more information about your grandfather's war history.

Handyman

 

Hi Sussex handyman, my Father served in the 136th in Burma we have a few bits from him but not much information at all. Do you know where I could find out more about his time in the war, he would never speak about it. He was a Gunner his name was Billy Mayze.

 

Hi
Those are great photos but I think they may be leading to an oversimplified timeline of your Grandfathers movements. I would very strongly reccomend you apply for his service records to make sure you have exact dates into and out of the units you mention.
Looking at 5th AA Division diary and that of 80HAA it appears that while 252Bty may have been at Dulwich / Clapham at the start of the war, they had moved down to the Southampton area in October 39 and remained there for much of 1940. I'll see if I can find any references to Tangmere.

 

26 AA Brigade Operation Order No8 of the 18th September 39 suggesting impending moves of 252 Bty from Clapham and Dulwich (see 09826)

 

Just seen your post. I am the original 'Sussexhandyman' but cant access my original account.
However to answer your questions, I'll have a look through any of my records to see if I can see his name listed.
Alternative would be to contact the RA Museum at Woolwich to see what details they hold, or contact the government to get a copy of his service record. Would help if you had relevant dates & his service number. They'll take £30 off you for that privilege.
Another option are the War Diaries & Returns for the 136th at the National Archive at Kew. There are many documents & they tell a fascinating tale about this regiment. I spent many hours reading through them, whilst doing research on other projects. If you are lucky, they might well be on line by now.
I dont think there is an association for the regiment, but if I find anything, I'll post up here.

 

Sussexhandyman in Post 35 refers to:

There was a very small Allied / British mission to Siam after the Japanese surrender and in the thread on the Indian Army division sent to Saigon, led by General Gracey, I found very limited references to the Siam mission (which are in the sources cited, not referred to. Probably Dunn's book. Sorry).

There were very few British servicemen amongst this force, the usual British elements had largely been withdrawn. One unit remained, 114 Field Regiment.

See: 20th Division 1945