"Blackpool" and the 111th Indian Infantry Brigade

Yeah, the Gurkhas are particularly difficult to differentiate, but at least we know which columns they're in

 

On the theme of Gurkhas, I'd be very grateful for any trace of William Theodore Roy, a Anglo-Indian Gurkha Officer, possibly with 3/4 Gurkhas (thought not confirmed).

 

I'm just working through some Gurkha manifests at the moment, they're actually quite clearly written, so I'll keep an eye out for him.

 

Much appreciated John!

 

Hi, I'm about 80% of the way through all the manifests, and I think I've finished all the Gurkha pages, and have had no luck finding William Theodore Roy, sorry.

I'll keep looking though, as I finish off the last 1200 names.

Regards.
John.

 

Hi, is this the man you are asking for?

William Theodore Roy (emeritus professor at the University of Waikato)

https://notices.nzherald.co.nz/nz/obituaries/nzherald-nz/name/w-t-roy-obituary?id=41632364
Professor William Theodore Roy IDSM: 11 January 1923-19 December 2013.

If it is, according to his obituary, he served with 3/3rd Gurkha Rifles. But I couldn't find him on the Indian Army List and if he received IDSM, than he, at least for some time, served in the Indian Army but not as an British or Indian Commissioned Officer. He might served with some other unit during the war and than received commission and served in the 3rd Gurkha Rifles after independence. But this is just guessing, I might be wrong here.

 

No worries John, thanks for keeping him in mind.

Hi sol,
That indeed is the man, thanks for taking a look. My suspicion is 3/3rd Gurkha Rifles was a post-war posting, this is mostly based on his recollections indicating he changed units at least a couple of times during the war (post Sittang bridge; jungle warfare trainer; and Chindit 2) and was involved in the Independence conflict as an Anglican Anglo-Indian Officer who spoke both Hindi and Urdu.The IDSM is quite possibly post war too. My understanding is that he attended La Martinière College in Lucknow and was commissioned around 1941 and served with the 'Gurkhas' throughout the war.
As mentioned above, what I know is based on my recollections of his recollections in conversations that are at least 12 years old...I tried to record some details at the time but we all know how that goes... I appreciate the assistance!

 

I remember us discussing this years back (and yes, very late to this new info-fest) on route to a BS Reunion and then thinking the idea to be the equivalent of riding into the event horizon, ankle stuck in the stirrups, having been unseated and being dragged along into the vortex of doom...
Yep, the bit when we thought the circa 1,000 Longcloth names V. the circa 10,000 Thursday names... I think I asked if you thought I was nuts and we both had a laugh about it... though my memory might be sketchyish... lol...
Yes, I still love your unwavering dedication to this cause and my desperately bashing my head against the wall and that bunch of unfinished manuscripts... (and we still have no face-palm emoji here)

 

Good to hear from you HC.....hope all is well.

 

The usual chaos, me Ol' China...
230 Sqn and 33 Sqn presently have no helicopters and both Sqn's newsletter editors (curiously 33's is also a Stewart so we've been honorary cuzzies for some years now) are presently juggling news...
And being hopeful that the Squadron Standards will be "rested" at Cranwell, and not being hung in St Clement Danes...
Looking forward to hitting retirement age and all the chaos that will bring...
Still bouncing round the Highlands and Islands...
The writing is presently subject to a significant carrot/stick ultimatum...
If that doesn't get me motivated...
Hopefully life has been treating you decently...!

 

Not bad at the moment mate. Obviously, sad times with losing two of our remaining veterans over the last couple of weeks, but still plenty going on Chindit wise. We are still awaiting the final plans for VJ Day in August, slightly out of the Society's hands at present, but hopeful nonetheless.

 

Can anyone inform me please about his military police phase , provost and unit A special force . Was it during the chindits phase and operation thursday or after thanks.

 

View attachment 408634

 

Could you copy it over as a bigger image please as I can't get the details at that resolution...

 

Hi sorry yes had real issues uploading image as a readable doc. His file is available at the National archive's selected smaller units files . If you read his whole file he does go off the rails after Dunkirk and But I have printed it off and taken a photo and attached , fingers crossed.

 

Hi - sharing this poem that I found amongst my husband's grandfather's personal effects. I'm very new to researching our family history. My husband's grandfather was a rifleman with the 1st Cameronians from May 1943 to Oct 1946 (see profile pic). He had been in many other regiments prior to that as he was known for his skill with horses, and sent to Burma to manage mules. I am not sure if he would be called a "Chindit" but the poem mentions Chindits, and "Blackpool". Thought you might be interested. Not sure who the original author is, or if there are any relatives here of the other names mentioned. I would be grateful if you could tell me the author, if you know, and to share any insight that might help us learn more. I haven't yet got through all the information available just on this forum! We are very intrigued and keen to teach our son about his relatives so that we may remember them. Thanks for reading!

The 1st Battalion Cameronians
Scottish Rifles
Chindits

On the 18th day of April
In the year of 44
When a famous Scottish regiment
Were marching to the foe
It was early in the morning
As the Cams were standing to
That they fought and beat the Japanese
On the road to Pinlebu

So bring on your Imperial Army
And we shall show you how it’s done
With the boys of the Cameronians
Of the famous 111
Do remember Mr Churchill and your
Staff at GHQ
Don’t forget those good old Chindits
Who fought so brave and true

Let us think of men like Sheppard
Jimmy Jameson and Capt. Leck
When the fight was good and heavy
They were always at their best
Let us not forget those heroes
In the peace that has to come
You can always drop a letter to the
Boys who fought and won

Not forgetting the fight at Blackpool
Where the Cams proved they were best
With men like Sgt. Donald with the
DCM on his chest
We were led by Col. Brennan
Major Hirst and Boden too
We fought our way through the jungle
And we got our wounded through

Not forgetting mad Mike Calvert
The hero of Mogaung
He led his famous Chindits
That force as mighty strong
He fought and beat the Japanese
And he got there for to stay
And he left the road wide open
To Rangoon and Mandalay

So don’t forget those good old Chindits
Who fought so mighty well
For their home in dear old Blighty
And their folks they love so well
Don’t forget those boys who won’t return
To their homes and back to you
For they fought and they died like Chindits
On the road to Pinlebu