81st (West African) Division - 7th Nigeria Regiment - Major Ian Carmichael

Hello there...
I am new to the forum, and I apologise for asking a question at my first visit. I have just discovered that my grandfather - Major Ian Carmichael - served in 7th Nigeria Regt., at the time of Operation Thursday ('Special Force') as stated on his service record. The record shows him out in the 'Field' during the same time period of the Operation, then a time spent in the hospital afterwards (as many others were). I think he was a Captain during the Operation, and then eventually promoted to Major later in '45, still serving with 81st (W.A.) Div.

He had briefly been posted with 6th N.R. before the 7th (and prior to all that with 1st LRP whilst back in Nigeria).

Does anyone know how or if it is possible to see a 'Roll of Officers' for the 7th Nigeria Regiment during the Operation Thursday period? Just so I have the confirmation to accompany what is noted on his service record. The fact he appears to have been a Chindit is all very new to me.

Thank You,
Ian

 

Hi Ian,

According to the 7th NR war diary, your grandfather was posted from the Head Quarters, 3rd West African Brigade to No. 35 Column on the 29th March 1944. See attached along with an officers return for September 1944. I believe he was wounded in July from machine gun fire whilst leading his platoon across some open ground.

Sadly, little has been written about the West African's on Operation Thursday, but there is a book called Chindit Column by Charles Carfrae, who was the eventual commander of No. 29 Column, the other unit made up by 7NR. This may give you an overview of what your grandfather experienced.

Hope this gives you a start.

Steve

 

Hi Steve...

Many thanks for the prompt reply...and for sharing such wonderful documents. Nice to see his name along with his home regiment (The Royal Scots). The fact he had been wounded is more new information to me.

I have ordered a copy of 'Chindit Column' and I believe there is a 'War Bush' by Hamilton that gives a more wider story of the 81st (W.A.) Division....it does make one feel humble and in awe when reading about their experiences....these Chindits were very strong willed indeed.

Kind Regards,
Ian

 

Hi Ian,

I'm pleased that the war diary has given you some decent information. Sadly, the diary itself is not very informative and has no real details for the months that 7 NR were in the field in Burma. I'm glad you reminded me about the book, War Bush. There is a chapter in the book devoted to the West African columns on Operation Thursday, and I believe that is where I might have read about your grandfather being wounded. I'm at work right now, but when I get home I will take a look and see.

 

Hi Ian,

It was in the book War Bush, that I read that your grandfather had been wounded. It is on page 302 part of Chapter 13. The 7 NR were closing in on a position called Hill 60 in an attempt to clear away some of the last remaining enemy troops from the area. There seems to have been some confusion in identifying the hill in question and the tail end of 35 column were exposed to machine gun fire and several men hit, including your grandfather.

War Bush is a solid type of read, a little dry in places and has just 40 or so pages on Operation Thursday out of almost 400 all told. Still, how often does a member of ones family get a mention in a book about WW2!

Please find attached for your records the London Gazette announcement (page 288) for Ian senior's move from an Officer Cadet to 2nd Lieutenant.

 

Hi Steve...

That 'War Bush' is now top of my book wanted list...I do like a history book (happy to come out of the closet and call myself a fully committed reader of real books!)...many thanks for confirming my grandfather's part in the book. I am still stunned at now finding out so much about his service and that some of it was mentioned in print for others to read about...

The list of commission / promotions is very interesting....I knew from his records that he had been in the O.T.C. (Black Watch) whilst studying at St. Andrews, but had never seen the London Gazette confirmation to show his move to The Royal Scots...

Now I need to read a good bit more about Chindits (I visited your own site earlier, wonderful stuff)...and again many thanks for your time and for sharing this information...

Kind Regards,
Ian

 

There's also this one that promises specificity. There are a couple of reviews.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1546296174/

 

That's a good shout idler, although I have not read this book up till now.

 

Ian,

Here are a couple of West African related videos on You Tube which might give you an idea of what it was like for both the Nigerian soldiers and the men who led them. I was fortunate to meet Jack Osborne when I travelled to Burma with the British Legion pilgrimage tour in 2008. If I remember correctly, he was already in his late nineties then, but was a bright as a new penny and very good company for us all.

 

HI Steve...

Interesting videos, I can only imagine what a privilege it would have been to have spoken to Mr Osborne about his experience....vastly different to hear it from someone who was present than to simply read about it in a book. The B&W footage reminds me of the 'World At War' that we all watched years ago...thanks for posting the links. It certainly helps with visualising my grandfather in the same environment.

Kind Regards,
Ian

 

Do not waste time and money acquiring that book, it is unreadable and possibly the worst book on the Burma campaign ever published. On second thoughts it is possibly the worst book on ANY subject ever published.

 

And some contemporary film here, courtesy of IWM Collections (and well worth a watch methinks).

WEST AFRICA WAS THERE [Main Title]

Apologies in advance should it have been posted up before.

Always remember, never forget,

Jim.

 

Thanks for that link Jim. Something to include in my next Chindit Society newsletter.

 

Again Steve, looking for something else and came across this (I guess there's a good chance you've seen it already, but if not well here you are).

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

The Forgotten Army: West African Troops in Burma, 1945 - The National Archives blog

 

Thanks again Jim, much appreciated. It is always good to find things West African related, as they were certainly overlooked in most histories and subsequent writings after the war.

 

Said blog put me onto these Steve. Have you cast eyes on these before?

The gallantry of Musa Banana. They appear on looking at service numbers to be three different chaps. I'm not so sure. Maybe two different chaps, possibly.

Kind regards, keep up your good work,

Jim.

Search results: Banana Musa | The National Archives

 

Thanks once again Jim. I've not seen those particular recommendations, but have 8/9 in my files to West African troops. For the Chindit Society newsletter I try to keep a balance when focusing on brigades. So any new details about the 3rd West African Brigade are always welcome. Over the years I have been contacted by quite a few families with fathers/grandfathers who were officers in the 6, 7 and 12th Nigeria Regiments, almost all of them tend to remark how little has ever been written about these units and that the West African soldier has been poorly remembered since the war.