Hi, I am trying to research the Chindit action in which Gnr Victor Schofield, a member of 267 Battery, was killed on 11th april 1944 in Burma. So far i have found out that 10 members of the battery were killed on this day. Can anybody help me out with a location of the action and any other information? Thanks in advance, Rick
No specifics I'm afraid, but this is what Brig. Routledge wrote about the episode in the 'History of the Royal regiment of Artillery; Anti-Aircraft Artillery, 1914-55' In Operation 'Thursday' begun in March 1944, three, originally to have been five special brigades were to be landed deep in the jungle astride the upper Irrawaddy, to form strong 'keeps' or 'forts' from which columns could operate against enemy lines of communication. The aim was to link up with Chinese and American columns fighting their way down the Ledo road under General Stilwell. Two brigades, 77th Indian and 111th, were in fact airlifted, the third, 16th, had a long forced march across the Chindwin and into deep jungle. The forts were to be given 25-pounder and 40mm guns, 69th LAA Regiment formed 'W', 'X', 'Y' and 'Z' Troops, each of three officers and 74 men and 6 X 40mm guns. The operational plan suffered last-minute changes: eventually the two principle forts, 'Broadway' and 'Aberdeen' were sited west of the Irrawaddy. 'W' Troop flew into 'Broadway' on 6th-8th March and deployed its six guns. The airlift continued for five days before air attack began with high-level bombing and low-level strafing. The points defended were the landing-strip, the unloading bays and the dispersal area together with Brigade HQ - too many sites for six guns to defend effectively. The high-level bomber formations flew out of range of 40mm guns but five low-level attackers were destroyed and others hit before they disappeared over the jungle. Fort 'Aberdeen' was ready two weeks later: 'X', 'Y' and 'Z' Troops flew in between 24th and 26th March, 'X' troop having 10 X 0.5-inch machine guns instead of Bofors. Enemy raids began here within two days and lasted until mid-April; they were often preceded closely by decoy raids designed to draw AA fire and so to disclose the gun positions. The 40mm, on air-portable two-wheel mountings, were moved frequently to alternate positions, some of which were outside the forts perimeter. On 4th April, 'X' Troop moved right out, now armed with 40mm guns, to a blocking position set up by 77th Indian Infantry Brigade on the Irrawaddy at Henu. This new site, known as 'White City' was, in its turn, attacked in the second half of April. In a series of ground and air actions 'X' Troop claimed six Category 1 kills for 1,073 rounds fired. The Japanese made great efforts to crush 'White City' but it held out, with air supply, despite its losses. Back at 'Aberdeen', the two troops, 'Y' and 'Z' were equally involved in close fighting, claiming nine Category 1 kills. A War Diary states that 'all the equipment behaved perfectly' which is remarkable considering the unusual conditions of their actions. The Chinese/American force under General Stilwell took Myitkina airfield on 17th May but with the Japanese still entrenched around it. 'W' Troop flew in the next day, followed by 'X', and Chindit columns fought their way through to join Stilwell. The place was under constant shelling, ground and air attack for 78 days, by which time 36th Division had arrived from the north and Upper Burma was secured. The special LAA troops flew back to Assam to rejoin their regiment.
