Help me trace a chindit

Brownhound .My Uncle ( My Dads brother) Trooper Edwin Arthur Lunnon was reported MIA the same day. Maybe they were close comrades.

 

45 Recce War diaries are here

45 Recce War Diary January 1941 | WW2Talk

When on diary click on Recce Mitch Albums for the rest

Cheers
Paul

 

Great to see other family members find this thread!

 

Hi Everyone-Wondering if anyone has heard from Hill at all recently?

 

Hi Ethan,

No, it looks as though Claire has not been on the forum for a couple of years I'm afraid. If you have need to contact her you could send her a private message via the forum, which will go to the email address she registered with.

Steve

 

Cheers Steve, I did this a while back but no joy, I was really hoping to see her photos of 45 recce guys in the field! Hopefully she will log back in at some point

 

Hi All
I am knew to this forum. So if I’ve missed detail I am sorry. I am the Grandson of Lt-Col Trotter (see above). I was talking to Dad about it the other day VE et al.
He remembers moving from Co. Durham to Rode near Frome where my Grandfather was asked to establish the 45th Recce Regiment in preparation for overseas in 1943. He had served as a regular in the famous 11th Hussars (PAO) during the 1920s and 30s. Leaving in 1936 and rejoining in 1939. As the commanding officer he was thrilled to have to take his regiment aboard. Landing in India and moving across to Burma via Bangalore (see photo) in time (we think) for the first battle of Arakan. The Regiment then joined 45 and 54 Column of the Chindits. To my Grandfather’s eternal disappointment the 45th was taken off him as he now was 43 and Orde Wingate only wanted his COs to be 38. He was sent as a GSO1 in 70th Div and survived the war.
If anyone can add more to the history of 45 Recce Regiment I would really appreciate it. I just wonder if official war records were maintained. I have read 11H records and the distinguished war they had in North Africa. The point of the 8th Army spear. It time my father joined 11H and left as Royal Hussars and then I joined RH later.

 

Hello James,

Good to see your post today. I have the 45 Recce War diaries for both 1943 and 44 which were both posted up by forum member Recce_Mitch.

The 1943 diary records that on the 25th October your grandfather was replaced by newly promoted Lt-Col. Dick Cumberlege. I'm guessing you already know, but in the end 45 Recce had a terrible time in Burma and suffered greatly, so perhaps for you and your family, it might have been a blessing in disguise for your grandfather to miss out.

Steve

 

Thank you for your reply. I know little of the journey the 45th made with the Chindits but the Chindits themselves are legends that carry many tough heroic stories but equally left many a soldier shattered. I now must find out more. Thanks for the help

 

If you have any questions re: the war diaries, just let me know. A very good overview read about the Chindits is War in the Wilderness, by Tony Redding. It will cover all aspects of Operation Thursday and touch on the actions undertaken by 45 Recce.

Bernard Fergusson's book, Wild Green Earth tells the story of 16th Brigade, which was the Chindit Brigade that included the two Recce columns. Fergusson's books are always worth reading.

James, do you have a photograph of your grandfather that you would be willing to share on the forum? It would be wonderful to see an image of him.

Best wishes

Steve

 

Steve

I spoke to Dad and he does have a picture of his father dressed in his 45th Recce Regiment uniform. Sadly the photo is currently in a house of a 90 year old isolation

I will get to it soon

James

 

Thanks James,

Look forward to seeing it in time.

 

Hi everyone. I’m amazed this thread is still active. Apologies for my absence. My wife and I have started our own family so everything has been on the back burner. I’m overwhelmed by people’s responses and only stumbled back across this by chance. Now I’ve got a little more time I’m going to get my great grandads dairies out again and look at them in earnest. Thank you all for your help. I know as time goes on finding an image of him will become harder. But I guess that’s life. Hopefully I will be able to show my girls exactly who there incredibly brave great, great grandad was

 

Sounds like congratulations are in order Kev. Good to hear from you again.

 

Thanks. It has certainly been life changing. I haven’t been able to have a lie in for over four years, and I have reached levels of tiredness which I didn’t know exist. I hope everyone on here is safe and well considering what’s going on

 

My first little bundle of joy has just bought her first house and the other one gained a First in her Maths degree this summer, so very proud of them. My only advice is enjoy it all, because it passes by very quickly.

 

Your not wrong there. I love the time I get with my girls after work. I bet yours are great . I hope mine go to university and great high paying jobs so they can look after when I’m buggered

 

Just opened up my great grandads dairies randomly.
November 1943 Sunday 7
“All quiet this morning for we start work Monday. Have a walk around and write home to my Louise. Send new address. What will Louise think. Bottle of beer from Lt Col JB Norton” ( not too sure about the last name)
Think I need a magnifying glass. His writing is tiny

 

Hi All,

This is my grandad, 3863043 Trooper Alfred Berry. He served with 45 Reconnaissance Regt and, like a few others' relatives on here, was reported MIA on 18th April 1944. From what I have read in the war diary and various other resources on the internet, the regt was involved in a number of brutal skirmishes with the enemy in the months leading up to 18th April.
I don't know much else about his time in the regt and would be interested if anyone in this thread has any photos of the regt whilst training in the UK or India.

 

I think most of the info on the action at Henu Chaung (White City perimeter) on 18th April 1944 is part of this thread already. Thank you for posting Alfred's photo and MIA details. I notice his Army number is part of the allocation originally for the Loyal Regiment. All I can add for you is an image of his inscription upon Face 1 of the Rangoon Memorial. This image was originally provided by forum member bucklt: