Cocos Keeling Islands

What theatre of war did the Cocos Keeling Islands come under and what colour would the medal ribbon. My father commanded an Indian Unit, 8th Punjab, there.

 

Older forum thread here that may be of interest.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Indian Ocean so South East Asia Theatre, maybe?

I wouldn't bet on it though!

Interesting film from IWM Collections here: (no sound, but well worth a watch to get a wartime feel for the place, and the description text on the IWM page carries a lot of detail too).

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060028994

Any 8th Punjab amongst the reels?

Cap badge watch on full alert!

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

EDIT: 14:43hrs 04/08/25;

Just finished watching the second reel. Brilliant film footage. The diversity and views of the kit and equipment being used are excellent.

 

The Cocos Islands fell within the SEAC area of responsibility. There is a history of the Islands from their original discovery in 1609, through their colonisation in the 19th century before getting to their importance in WW2, firstly as a communications hub linking Australia to India and then in 1945 as an air base to support planned Allied operations in Malaya planned and then the Dutch East Indies.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Operation-...70971&sprefix=operation+pharos,aps,172&sr=8-1

Fascinating story of an almost unknown chapter of WW2.