I recently came across a reference to Epilogue Camp in Rangoon, circa 1945/46. Presumably it was a tented camp set up to house 14th or 12th Army soldiers who must have congregated in large numbers in Rangoon. In a recent gallery posting I uploaded several photographs of what appeared to be an army information office but which may have been the guard room for a British Military tented camp. Closer examination of the photograph shows the presence of military vehicles inside the camp. Any thoughts on Epilogue Camp and any comments on the photograph would be welcome.
Hello High Wood It seems it may be connected with the “Epilogue Programme” which was the repatriation of Indian Army units from Burma. It began in January 1946. Over the next year an average of about 7,000 Indian Army troops a month left Burma. No further details I'm afraid from my source, "Epilogue in Burma, 1945-48", McEnery J.H., Spellmount (1990) Steve
Steve, many thanks for the information. The reference that I had was taken from the Winter 1997 edition of Dekho!. An ex member of the Royal Berkshire Regiment wanted to hear from anyone who was at Epilogue Camp, Rangoon at the end of '45-46. I think therefore that those waiting repatriation via the Epilogue Programme would have been assembled in one location in Rangoon. It might have had another name but was referred to as the Epilogue Camp at this stage. I was aware of a similar programme called Python, which seems to have involved the repatriation to the U.K. of long serving soldiers from Rangoon in 1945. Simon.
That's great, it's all very interesting My understanding is that "Epilogue" was to do with sending complete units back to India for further service. And as you probably know "Python" was to do with individual British personnel back, who as you say, had served above a set period away from home. Steve
Python seemed to involve various changes to requirements for time served abroad which caused confusion and consternation to the men who were very fed up!
Indeed, there were even questions asked in Parliament when troopships were not available to bring the troops home before Christmas 1945. I have some newspaper cuttings somewhere and I will post them.
There seems to have some tensions at the No 5 FARHU camp in Rangoon due to the delay in PYTHON departures. This is a copy of a press statement approved by General Symes, commanding 12th Army, when he saw a deputation from the camp on the 26th November 1945..
