2nd KOSB in Burma 1943

Hi
I am new to the forum and i am trying to find out more about my father Private John Johnstone who served in the 2nd KOSB in Burma and was wounded on Christmas day 1943. As far as i can find out this must have been during the battle for Able,according to Hugh Gunnings book " Borderers In Battle".
Any help or info would be appreciated.
Dave Johnstone

 

Hi Dave and welcome to the forum.

If you can get to the National Archives the unit has a war diary:

WO 172/2522 2 King's Own Scottish Borderers 1943 Jan.- Dec.

Regards
Andy

 

Hi Dave,

This is also really courtesy of Andy, as the info is drawn from an Excel list he put together.

Also at Kew there are reports for the men missing in action: the file for the KOSB is under reference WO361/478.

This file may give you more idea where the battalion was in late 1943, you never know.

Steve

 

Hi Dave,

Should have said, I am researching the men who became POW's in Rangoon Jail. There are 10 or so men from the 2 KOSB who were prisoners in 1943-45.

Gives you another angle if you ever move your father's Burma story on into writing.

Good luck

Steve

 

Welcome to the forum.

Two documents held by KOSB museum that could be interesting for you, if you can visit it.

Letters concerning 2nd Bn. KOSB's participation in the Battle for Able KOSB Q3/13 1944-1995

Contents: January 1944 - 3rd and 26th November 1995. With photocopy maps of the area
Recollection of the Arakan campaign, 1943 - 1944 by Captain J.A. Kerr Hope, 2nd Battalion KOSB. KOSB T1/28 ND

Contents: Photocopy of MS, with copy Operation Order, maps (2) of the area, chronology of battles (MS, 2 pages) and letters from Capt. Kerr Hope (2)


The National Archives | Access to Archives

 

I think they were also involved in the Battle of Kohima in 1944 weren't they?

 

They were and here is a thread related to 2 KOSB in Burma, http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/burma-india/38433-recommended-books-burma-campaign.html

 

Welcome to the forum

Lesley

 

No, they're not. The battalion, together with the rest of 89th Brigade, was sent on the Imphal plain were it joined 5th Indian Division, instead of 161st which was sent to Kohima. They operated on the northern part of the box.

 

Sol, I bow to your judgement, I got Imphal and Kohima confushed and did not check the info in my own link

 

I did say 'I think' as i knew i wasn't 100% sure

 

Hi Dave
8 years or so on, how is your enquiry going?
I am currently researching my uncle Harry (Pte Henry Balmer) who served with 2KOSB in the Arakan, then Manipur where he fought in the actions at Kanglatongbi Ridge and Ukhrul.
He was wounded in this latter attack and died of these wounds on 5July 44.
Did your father return to action or were his wounds such that he was invalided out?
Cheers
Mick

 

Hi Mick, how is your research going with your uncle Harry? My Grandfather served with the KOSB 2nd and have been trying to source pictures but have had no joy. Do you have any yourself?
All the best

Paul

 

Hi Mick,
Sorry it 's taken so long to reply. My father was invalided out after being wounded. The research is slow. I have noticed most historians and authors seem to start their research just on the Imphal battles and Kohima. This does a great disservice to the soldiers who fought in the early Burma Battles. The only brief account of the Battle for Able , where I think my father was wounded is by Hugh Gunning In his book Borderers In Battle. If you know of any other accounts please let me know .
Thank you
Dave

 

Hi Mick,
Sorry it has taken so long to reply. My father was invalided out due to wounds and Malaria. My research is slow. The only account I can find of The Battle for Able , where I think he was wounded, is by Hugh Gunning in his book Borderers in Battle.
It seems to me that a lot of Historians and authors tend to skip over the early battles in the Arakan and jump to Imphal and Kohima, which I think does a great disservice to the soldiers caught up in the earlier fights. If you know of any other accounts of the KOSB first actions I would be interested.

 

Hi Steve do you know the names of the prisoners? My grandfather was kosb taken prisoner. Sgt George cormack

 

Hi Edward,

I do have the names, but I'm afraid your grandfather is not amongst them. Do you have any details of his time as a prisoner of war? The men on my list were held at Rangoon Jail, which is where most long-term POWs ended up having been captured by the Japanese in Burma.

 

Dave
This might be of interest: https://www.royalscotskosbwardiaries.co.uk/
Able gets a mention in the 2KOSB diary for January 1944.
All the best
Adam

 

I'm also trying to retrieve my grandfathers military records George Cormack service number 7387846. I believe he was either Cpl or Sgt in the KOSB Burma. First I wrote to the army personnel disclosures in Glasgow and I received word back to say his records had been moved to the national archives at Kew. Later I received word to say they would update me but we're not sure if they could be released, why is this? I then took a flight down to the archives but was told that the research team were dealing with the request and I should write to them so I did again. This week I received another message to say they were not sure if they could release them. Anyone else having this problem? Hopefully someone can shine a little light on a possible reason for this?

 

Hi, I’m new to the forum. Just starting to research my grandpa, William Dodds Brown (service #3188776), who was in 2nd KOSB in Burma (15 Platoon, Company C). This is a photo at their training in India.