9th Border Regt

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by 78SqnHistory, Mar 10, 2012.

  1. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Indeed, my grandfather was with 1/4th Essex throughout the war.

    Would you have worked with Ian Hook then?

    I know it's a long shot, but if you've any idea where I can lay my hands on a copy of Black Cats and Bush Hats, I'd really like to hear about it.

    I'd upload the contents here if I could get one.
     
  2. Tug Wilson

    Tug Wilson New Member

    Ian Hook has now moved on, his knowledge of the Essex Regiment was and is second to none.
    DAZ asked about Nov - Dec 1943 - Nov 7th Battalion left Happy Valley, Nov 9th Dimapur, Nov 15th defence of Tiddim with 1/7 Gurkha. Nov 26th, attack Sialam Vum with 2/5 Gurkha. Nov 28th, Battalion took over Kennedy Peek (10,000 ft) and counter attack towards Sialam Vum. They then for many months did very arduous patrolling. Brigadier Cameron (48th Brig) had made it clear that he did not want a British Battalion, after intense patrolling he said, " I want to keep 9 Border and I will call them 'My White Gurkhas'". This from a Gurkha officer was and is unprecedented.
    'Black Cats and Bush Hats, Les Griffiths, this went out of print many years ago. Les was a very gentle man, also a gent. He told me a story about a seriously wounded Japanese soldier they captured.(in fact it was my father that captured him) Les said I often wonder if he survived. When I told him no he didn't survive, he became a nuisance so they threw
    him over a cliff. Poor Les cried and said "I thought we were better than that".
    GEORGE MACDONALD FRASER. I suggested George write the history of 9 Border, he wrote Quartered Safe Out Here, It was mandatory reading at Sandhurst, reason, not many books by Other Ranks. Its semi - fact, remember he was an author, this was his bread and butter. A brilliant read IF you didn't know the men of 9 Border. His absence was a little bit conspicuous at the next reunion. George's father and his uncle were my family doctors. George said that with my knowledge of the battalion history I should write it, he was a great encouragement and I am sad he and other never lived to see it published.

    The Book is called, MY DAD'S ARMY The White Gurkhas
    Published by Bookcase, ISBN 978-1-912181-30-8
    It was Runner-up in the Lakeland Book of the year 2020. If anyone wishes to purchase a signed copy from me the cost is £21 post and package.
     
    sol and Deacs like this.
  3. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

    A Significant Donation to the Border Regiment Museum at Carlisle.
    [​IMG]
    Simon Fraser, son of author and Border Regiment soldier George MacDonald Fraser, donated his father's bush hat on a recent visit to the Museum. The bush hat still has the muck and sweat of the jungle on it! George MacDonald Fraser served in the 9th Battalion, The Border Regiment, part of what became known as the Forgotten Army.


    [​IMG]
    George MacDonald Fraser was born in Carlisle in 1925 and went on to become the well-known author of the Flashman novels, and a film scriptwriter. He was educated at Carlisle Grammar School and Glasgow Academy before joining the Border Regiment in 1943.. His personal memoir Quartered Safe Out Here recounts his service during his service in the Burma campaign.

    The addition of this bush hat to the Museum collection is especially significant as this year saw the 75th anniversary of VJ Day and the end of the Second World War.

    Link to newsletter below.

    Newsletter 24/10/2020
     
    Son of LAC, sol, AB64 and 2 others like this.
  4. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

    Hi Ian

    I've sent you a PM as I would like to purchase your book.

    Regards Mike
     
  5. Tug Wilson

    Tug Wilson New Member

    Sorry owing to covid -19 not going to Post Office. Slight correction to Deacs re George Fraser, George joined the battalion at Ranchi 1945 before the advance back into Burma.
    Joining the 9th George was a little bit like a duck out of water, he saw a face he recognized, it was the orderly Sgt. George said "hello are you from Carlisle" the orderly Sgt. said " get back into line" He was from Carlisle but thought why are you speaking now, you didn't speak to me back home. The Sgt after many years regretted this.
     
  6. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    That is a really nice story and considering everything I know about Cameron, that is a really great compliment for 9th Borders

    I am really interested to get a copy of the book. If this situation with COVID get a little better and you could post a book to Bosnia and Herzegovina I would really like to order one.
     
  7. Son of LAC

    Son of LAC Active Member

    I read Quartered Safe Out Here a few years ago - I can't recommend it highly enough for MacDonald Fraser's account of his time as an infantryman fighting in Burma. He was on, I think, Desert Island Discs, decades after the war, and he talked about his continued dislike of the Japanese.

    I'd also recommend his much more humorous post-war adventures as a junior officer in the Gordon Highlanders serving in Palestine/North Africa - The Complete McAuslan.

    MacDonald Fraser did eight readings of Quartered Safe Out Here for the BBC, each about 14-15 minutes long. You can listen to the first part here.

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/bgdkfnkd7p5uytg/Quartered Safe Out Here 01.mp3?raw=1

    If the link works, and if anyone's interested, I'll see if I can add more.
     
    dryan67 and bamboo43 like this.

Share This Page