Hi. I am new to this forum, trying to make sense of the records i just received from Glasgow, and link it to what i know. My father Israel Medalie was a chindit and a private. He was posted to Commando Unit (Commando DAC 2nd Ech Mingaladon) in May 1941. In July 1942 transferred to the Kings Regt 13th Bn, 2nd Ech, India, posted XList(1). In July 1943 he was transferred to the Gloucestershire Regt with a note in the first column saying GHO/2nd Ech/(2)XList/50/44 (I think that is a 2 in brackets). When he was released in 1946 he was released to class XB with a class A release. After that it says 'B' TOS 3-5-46. He was discharged medically unfit for further service. He was one of the chindits that crossed the Irrawaddy? with c/o Mike Calvert - he couldn't swim. He also did the long walk to India (in a dress???), and I was told that he was with a man named Corporal Sargent when this man cut off a Japanese soldier's head???. There is mention of him in Calvert's book Prisoners of Hope. I have searched the internet high and low and I am about out of inspiration. I don't live in the UK, so it's impossible for me to go to any of the places listed for further information. If anyone can clarify any of this, or perhaps knew of my father (unlikely I know, he would have been 94 this year), or have anything that can direct me to anything, I would greatly appreciate any help. Thank you
Hi DanMed, I have read all the books about Mike Calvert and your father is mentioned on page 95 of 'Fighting Mad'. He does swim the Chindwin River with Calvert and wear a sari to disguise his identity, but this is during the retreat from Burma in 1942. They were all personnel from the Bush Warfare School in Maymyo, Burma in 1941. Calvert spells his name incorrectly Medally. I have always suspected that he might of been on the Chindit Operation in 1943, and now your entry from his service records 'In July 1942 transferred to the Kings Regt 13th Bn, 2nd Ech, India, posted XList(1), goes a long way to confirm this. This was the first Chindit Operation which entered Burma in mid-February 1943. I have a website which covers this operation in a fair amount of detail here: http://www.chinditslongcloth1943.com It would be fantastic to hear more about Israel. Best wishes. Steve
Thanks so much for your response Steve I am reading your website, and it's really quite amazing and extremely comprehensive. I have been reading for hours, and I am only about halfway through. I was wondering how I can know what column my father was in? I am not sure if Mike Calvert was his usual C/O, or if he was just for the time they were trying to get to India. After reading http://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=282, it seems likely that he would have been in column 3 or 5. I am a little confused - your post mentions they retreated from Burma in 1942 - before Operation Longcloth in Feb 1943?. Or was this a different expedition before the chindits went? or were they still chindits? Thanks again for your input Danielle
Hi Danielle, Mike Calvert was an expert in Commando style warfare and was one of the top ranking officers present at a training school in Maymyo, (Bush Warfare School) a Burmese hill station located near Mandalay. He set out with a group of Gurkhas and British soldiers in early 1942 to disrupt the Japanese advance as they took over Burma from the retreating British Army. This group created hell with the leading Japanese troops, blowing up bridges, attacking small sections of the enemy and even hijacking a river steamer to use as a platform to fire on a Japanese position. They were successful in their own way, but eventually had to get out of Burma quickly as the Japanese over-ran the area. This according to the book 'Fighting Mad', by Calvert, is when they dressed as Indian women and swam the Chindwin to reach the safety of Assam. Although it does not say so in the book, I often wondered if all the survivors of Calvert's raiding party including Corporal Sargent and you father joined up with the newly formed Chindits in June 1942. So when I saw your entry from his service records about being attached to 13th Kings, this added more weight to my supposition. Annoyingly, I do not have my copy of 'Fighting Mad' to hand, as I lent it out to a friend of my daughter and it has not returned. Your father is not mentioned in lists or nominal rolls for the Chindit operation in 1943 (Operation Longcloth). However, this is normal for men who survive the expedition and return safely to India. It seems highly likely to me that Israel would be kept by Calvert and form part of Column 3 as an experienced and capable leading soldier. It would have been possible to trace him via the 13th Kings War diaries for 1943 and 1944, but your other entry from his service records shows him transferred to the Gloucester shortly after returning from Operation Longcloth. I hope this all makes some sense, these records can be quite confusing I know. Steve
Hi Steve Yes, It is all starting to make sense now. I have a memory of bridges being blown up, but I'm not sure if my memories are from what my dad said or from something I read/saw about the war? Any other info you have, or can direct me to, is hugely appreciated, as always. Danielle
Hi Danielle, It's always a pleasure to bump into the families of these men. They went through so much, so far away from home and then tried not to burden their loved ones on their return. If you would like, I would be honoured to place a photograph of your father into one of the Galleries on my website. Best wishes. Steve
Hi Steve I found a photo of my father from around 1948. However, I am not sure if its clear enough. I am attaching it. Please let me know if it's not clear enough, and I will search for something else. Still working on a brief history Thanks Danielle
Hi Danielle, Thanks for posting the photograph, its fine for my purposes. It looks like it might have been a passport photo at some point. Look forward to hearing and seeing more.
I should have placed this link up on the forum long ago. Here is the finished story of Jack Medalie and his time in Burma during WW2: Pte. Israel 'Jack' Medalie
