Hello from Shropshire! The Burma Campaign

Hello, and thank you for allowing me to join.

I am researching my grandfather's journey from when he enlisted with 11th Bt. The Green Howards on 26th July 1940, through to being killed in action during The Burma Campaign 7th April 1944. I have some documents including Service Records and I am trying to make sense of it all. I really hope and look forward to learning as much as poss - with great appreciation.

 

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Lesley

 

Welcome to the forum
More here
The Lincolnshire Regiment
Edit removed wrong info

 

Welcome to the forum. Good luck going forward with your research.

 

Hi Lesley. Thanks very much.

 

Hi CL1, and thanks for the info.

My grandfather was Lieut. John Morris (Julius Morris Pinchefsky). I'll come back in this evening with more details about him. I wonder if Vaughan-Powell, Geoffrey Rys, and my grandfather knew each other during the campaign.

Back shortly, cheers.

 

Hi bamboo43, and thanks.

 

Hello again CL1,

Since my previous reply, I have now clicked on the 'Lincs' link kindly provided.

Yes indeed, thank you very much! Lieut. J. Morris listed in the two documents with his comrades must have been my grandfather. This is very humbling to read. I wish there was more information on the battle - which battle, location etc. Many thanks for your time.

Name: John (Julius) Morris.
Rank: Lieutenant.
Service No: 4397105
Date of death: 07/04/1944.
Age: 33.
Regiment/Service: Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment), The Sherwood Foresters.
Unit: attd. 1st Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment.
Grave Reference: Coll. grave 11. K. 1-17.
Cemetery: Taukkyan War Cemetery.
Additional Information: Son of Israel & Annie Pinchefsky, Hackney, London. Married to Patricia Hannah Morris with two sons, David and Anthony. (Anthony is my father).

Cause of death: Killed in action.

 

Here is an account of the period 6-7 April 1944 from - Griffin, Maj. Gen. J.A.A. (ed.) History of the Tenth Foot 1919-1950. Aldershot: Gale and Polden, Ltd., 1953.

 

Hi - these pages are from the 1 Lincoln’s potted history - pp 40 & 41, I believe, are particularly relevant to you

 

Hi dryan67,

Thank you very much for this information. It's a truly humbling read.

 

Hi RosyRedd,

Thank you very much! Wow!

This is an amazing discovery for me and my family. So humbling and proud to read. As soon as I saw the photo of my grandfather with his comrades, I could see my father straight away. I've pasted & copied all 5 files (I hope you don't mind) and sent them to my father - he's 85 years of age now. I shall speak with him tomorrow.

I remember one Christmas back in the '70s when my brother and I were young boys. My dad received a present from his mother (my grandmother) of his dad in uniform. Father immediately broke down for a brief moment. I'll never forget it.

Thanks again.

 

Hi Paul - it is a pleasure to be able to share these few pages with you, and I hope your father also receives them well.

The attached is another page from the history - your grandfather’s name is listed here, too.

I wish you and your father all the best.

Jules

 

Hi Jules,

Thanks for this as well - really appreciated. It's sad to see those names of whom their lives were taken away so young.

I guess we can all say similar about lives turning a different corner. If my grandfather survived the war, I wouldn't exist. After my grandmother completely broke down for the loss of grandad, she sent her boys (my uncle and dad) to a London boarding school. She also moved to Bournemouth from Derby during 1946/8 to live with her older sister. The boys then moved to Bournemouth after completing their education, where my dad eventually met my mother. Consequently, my brother and I came into existence.

I remember grandmother talking about grandad. I apparently have the same temperament as him, same hands, and definitely the same rare blood group. She often commented on how she dreamt about him and just as they were about to hug each other, she would wake from the dream. I like to think that when she passed 24 years ago aged 87 years, they were finally reunited with a big hug.

I haven't yet spoken with my father today, but I know he's delighted - probably mixed emotions.

Very best,
Paul.

My grandfather - John Morris. (Julius Morris Pinchefsky)

 

That’s a lovely photo of him, Paul - he was a fine looking young man!

Yeah, this sort of research can evoke mixed emotions.

Looking back to your first post, I see you’ve a service history and plenty more to research. If you have any questions, we’ll help where we can. (Maybe start a new thread, though, so they don’t get lost in this one.)

Jules

 

Thanks, Jules - yes indeed, will do.

 

Hi Paul
I have just discovered this post, I have in my collection your grandfather’s uniform. I purchased on eBay over 15 years ago as I collect anything Sherwood Foresters, please do feel free to contact me.

 

Gary,

Paul has not logged on for many months, so I will let him know you've posted. The forum has a private message (PM) option which you get access to after x5 post; access via your avatar and 'Start a Conversation'.

 

Hi Gary,

Thanks for replying. I've thanked David for letting me know about your find. I must be honest, I feel sceptical, but very intrigued nonetheless. How can you be so sure the tunic was my grandfather's uniform?

 

Hi Paul,

I was doing some research on John Morris and according to a newspaper article published less than two weeks after he had been killed, it states that he was involved in three commando raids ? Do you have any information on that ?

Kind Regards,

Ben