"Blackpool" and the 111th Indian Infantry Brigade

Interesting to see a second example. It may well have been worn in India during training for Operation Thursday and possibly after returning from Burma but there is very little, if any, photographic evidence of it being worn.

 

Not sure if you missed my previous post, but Masters' book is suggesting that 77th Brigade were Chindits while 111th Brigade were Leopards. Not sure if this is correct tho. But 111th Brigade could dropped, or rarely used, their sign once 3rd Indian Division was formed and everyone become Chindits.

 

That is a very useful quote. I am not sure exactly when the Chinthe was introduced but it does appear on an Airgraph dated late 1943 that I have a copy of.

 

Thanks sol, that is really interesting. I guess 77 Brigade were the only unit on Chindit 1 and when the name Chinthe, later corrupted to Chindit was decided upon, this was carried forward into the next campaign. I know that Lentaigne was working on 111 Brigade even before the stragglers from Longcloth had even returned from Burma, so perhaps the two units did look upon themselves as separate entities at that stage.

 

There is an overlap in the dates that the two brigades were in existence . 77th: June 1942 - March 1945, and the 111th: March 1943 - March 1945. Assuming that the 77th used the Chinthe through out. The 111th very likely used their F/S from March 1943 until preparations for the second expedition brought the two Brigades together. So the rarity of the Panther F/S must be down to the very short time that it was in use and the fact that so many of its original wearers did not return from Burma. It is not a formation sign that is illustrated in Howard Cole's Formation Badges of World War Two.

 

The Chinthe formation insignia did not exist before or during Operation Longcloth, by that I mean that the men were not issued with such for wear.

 

This has always been my understanding too. The earliest drawing I have seen that included the Chinthe badge was a Lentaigne period thing advising the Chindits, then beginning to withdraw from Burma, that 'this is your badge'. No evidence of any formation signs being worn in Burma. An airgraph showing the badge in late 1943 would be very interesting.

Regarding the 111 Ind Bde badge; again no evidence of its use after the two, previously independent, brigades were thrown together to build an empire for Wingate.

I have always had doubts about the ‘black panther’ badge, but I have seen a few examples for sale over the years. The lack of official or photographic evidence means that they are very fakeable, so I would want some provenance before buying one. However, I should say that, many years ago, the first example I ever saw was not identified as such, but simply as one of a badge collection belonging to the same soldier. If I remember correctly, one of the other badges was for 'Northern Ireland District' (I think). I was quite cross when I subsequently found that 1 Cameronians had been in NI. It may have been kosher, may have been a clever fake; either way the badge looked pretty similar to the one under discussion here.

 

The Lentaigne, "This Is Your Badge" leaflet is dated 26th April 1944. I have copies of two printed airgraphs dated November 1944 and Christmas 1944 but I am sure that the Mule kicking the Japanese soldier airgraph dates to late 1943. I have an original blank printed version which has the date amongst the printer's details. I have framed it and now only one side is visible but I think that I photographed both sides before framing it.

 

My father was in Burma in 1944 with the Chindits with the KORR.
Is there anyone who can find his service records, I am willing to pay for this.
I have his basic war records, injuries, illness etc but not his specific battle records

 

You can find the basics, Colin, but not the specifics, unless he wrote them down... there is no specific page on here dedicated to the Kings, iirc... What books do you presently have on the subject...? Do you know which of the "Columns" he was with...? There was an equal split, known as 41 or 46 Column...
I have a variety of bits of material in my files from a long stalled piece of research for a book...

 

Sriorry for the delay in responding.I Have checked the records that I have and there is nothing to indicate which column he was in.
I have only the basic information that I received from my initial enquiry.
He left no written record behind when he died all of that information went with him.
Interestingly some data in his records has been redacted but that seems to be from when he was in North Africa.
Will there be anymore information available elsewhere.

 

Probably not, Colin... somewhat tough reality of this type of research...
As noted, we can help with pointers and books that will at least give you some material you may not be aware of, so let us know what material you already have...?

 

I only have my father's war records.
The books I have read are
Chindit Affair Frank Baines
War in the Wilderness Tony Redding
Burma Victory David Rooney
I am also interested in any tours to Burma visiting Imphal etc if you know of any

Colin

 

I have only just joined the group.
My father was also from Widnes and may well have been with Robert Pierce.
Did you get anymore info

 

You said that your father was in 2 Kings Own, but Pte Pierce was in 1 Kings, it seems. Different regiments, I'm afraid.
You really need to request his service records.

 

The latter 2 are useful, especially Tony Redding's book...
Frank Baine's book was posthumous and is "unusual", but has some interesting snippets...
Essentials would be...
John "Jack" Masters... The Road Past Mandalay... he commanded the 111th...
Richard Rhodes James... Chindit... he was a Cipher Officer with the 111th...
John Hedley... "Jungle Fighter"... partial and expensive these days... 111th Intelligence Off... PM if just "curious"...
There is a small title by Chaplain WH Miller... "A Chaplain with the Chindits"... may still be available from the KORR site but if not PM...
A good read is Brig Michael "Mad Mike" Calvert... Prisoners of Hope... he commanded 77 Brigade and there are crossovers between 77 and 111...
Books on the "overview" are many and varied... books on Wingate a complex and varied...
That should start you off...

 

On reflection I have read Calvert's book, and will take your advice on the other suggestions.
I am trying to find which battles my father was involved in but have precious few clues.
The few clues are that he signed for KORR in Lancaster.
He was posted to 50th HB KORR.
He was in the Royal Signals 280. He would on the few occasions, always after a few drinks recount tales of going behind enemy lines in the desert campaign, and how he received the signal that Wingate had died in a plane crash.
His medical record shows that he was, it s difficult to read but seems to say, Tos Hospital 13/08/44. So he seems to have been involved right to the end of the campaign.
XII list 13/8/44.
There is note in a Unit column noting 2/KORR 17/7-3-42 when he was in North Africa.
Not sure if there are any clues there for those with more knowledge that myself.
Any pointers would be helpful.
Are there any tours out to Burma visting the Chindit battle sites.

 

I believe that all Remembrance/Battlefield tours to Burma (Myanmar) have generally been suspended since the unrest in the country during 2021. This has also resulted in the CWGC cemeteries in Myanmar being closed to the public for the time being.

However, I believe that Sampan Travel are literally out in Burma as we write, covering some of the Burma campaign battle sites, but nothing Chindit related as far as I'm aware.

 

Hi Graeme,
I don’t know if you are still following this thread. My father was shipped to India arriving Bombay the same date. He sailed on Convoy WS.17/ WS.17A from Glasgow, on SS Largs Bay to Durban, arriving 22 April. left Durban 11 May, on SS Ile de France, arrived Bombay 20th. They disembarked 22 May and transferred to No1 GHQ Base Reinforcement Camp, Meerut 24th. He was posted to 1st Cameronians 6th June at Trimulgherry, Secunderabad. (Although I’m not sure what date they actually moved as the battalion were only just back in India from Burma I think, and not yet at their base).I only have the battalion diary for 1943 and Lt. JR McFadden is there in January, and Capt McFadden is listed in December.
Hope this helps.
Jim

 

Hi Hebridean Chindit
Regarding your post #37, my father was one of your two extra officers you listed for 1st Cameronians. Temp Major R.A. Cole-Hamilton. As mentioned above, he joined the battalion 6 June 1942 as Lieutenant, Immediately became assistant Adjutant, then Adjutant (and Captain) and he signed the war diary for most of 1942 and 1943. He didn’t go into Burma. Late in 1943, he spent some time with Brigade Headquarters, and in 1944 he was with rear HQ in Imphal and then in Sylhet.