Hello All, I came across this BBC article that may interest you. It's about 90-year-old plus Chin and Karen soldiers that took part in WW2. Also, the BBC article refers to: Alex Bescoby – “is a co-founder of Grammar Productions” [see link to Forgotten Allies etc below]. Check out the website – it has other interesting aspects about the Burmese Royal Family and its mordancy. Sally McLean “grew up steeped in stories of Burma. Her grandfather had been headmaster of a government school there while it remained a British colony” [ probably A.E.J. McLean – Director of Public Education in 1942 – see snippit below, in which case she doesn’t know he grandfather wasn’t a mere headmaster] Duncan Gilmour - another of the H4FA team – “he’s following in the footsteps of his grandfather - Lt Col Edgar Peacock.” [See SOE Force 136 – Operation Character] Peter Mitchell – “journey through Chin State” [I don’t know anything of him] Links are: Searching for Burma's forgotten World War Two heroes Searching for the forgotten heroes of World War Two Forgotten Allies: the search for Burma's lost heroes Searching for the forgotten heroes of World War Two Snippit from Anglo Burmese Library: 1942 c l education Cheers Vivian Rodrigues Perth, Western Australia
Hi Vivian, Some great links posted there. We have had a member of H4FA on the forum a couple of times in the past months and I know that the Chindit Society and the new 77 Brigade Army Unit are looking to work closely with H4FA going forward. Steve
Hi Steve I recommend that you review the following. This is a video of Saw Berne. He was a Karen of Force 136 Operation Character under Peacock etc. It is rare, very rare indeed, to listen to the experience of a mere rifleman, relating his experience during WW2. I am of the opinion that this video is historically significant and should be preserved somehow. Cheers Vivian Rodrigues
A fascinating man, wonderful recollections. I wonder if the relations of Major's Seagrim and Nimmo have listened to this?
Just seen this on the BBC News web site - Searching for the forgotten heroes of World War Two TD Its now out into the wider public demain
From an article by Dr. Robert Lyman: From: Serving the Empire: The Karen of Burma The book was published in December 2023 and the author's bio may help - hence my bold: From: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1739440242?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_6RHE6J7C49TNY2Z2K7WS Cross-refer the thread on Operation Character: OPERATION CHARACTER, Karen Hills, Burma 1945