Hi I am still working through my Grandads war records - Percy Twigg, 178th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. His records contain the following information: 12/12/45 Embarked at Port Batavia(Jakarta) Gp 25 (A Release) Can anybody tell me why he was in Jakata - after finishing in Burma the regiment were flown back to India. What did they do in Jakata? Does anyone know anything about Gp 25 or A release. Thanks again for your help. I am learning so much!
I would suspect he was in Jakarta due to this. Indonesian National Revolution - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
178 Fd Regt were transferred to 23 Indian Division around June 1945. Their next task was Operation Zipper - the invasion of Malaya. Fortunately their D-Day was after the Japanese surrender. The division then went to pacify the Dutch East Indies (nowadays Indonesia) where it sustained nearly as many casualties as it had against the Japanese. The Fighting Cock is 23 Ind Div's history. About a third of the book covers the period when 178 Fd Regt were under their command, but there's not a great deal of detail specifically on them.
Hi Kate I have a letter sent by my farther in law, to his cousin, from Batavia. This was after the Japanese surrender. They were part of 23rd Indian Div. There is a discription of conditions in Java and the surrounding islands, also his dislike of the transfer from 36th Div. to 23rd (Ind)Div. The letter is written on very thin paper of Japanese origin.
Hi kate, You should find medalic recognition for him by way of the General service medal 1918-1962 (GSM) with the bar South East Asia 1945-46. It was only handed out for the problems in Indonesia at theat time. Regards Simon
Hi Thanks wigjohn for the letter extract and Assam for the medal info. I have my Grandads war medals sroed away safe - I must look them out. He had three and I know one was the Burma Star but not sure about the other two. Wigjohn - I would love to hear more about the conditions in Java. I have a telegram that my Grandad sent to his cousin - it is mostly about some family matter back home but he does mention "I think I must be getting used to this country now" - this was written after he had been hospitalised 3 times for Malaria. He also mentions that due to the lack of beer he only needs to have a couple of drinks before "it takes hold"!
Hi Kate I keep forgetting to put my name on the posts! It is John. I have found this article in a small fragment of the newspaper produced by 23 Ind.Div. The newspaper is called 'The Fighting Cock' after the symbol used on the header of the paper. Enoch (my FIL) used to call it 'the crippled chicken'! regards John
Hi Kate Been looking through photos from Enoch's ww2 album. Most of them are from his Time in Iceland. I also have a copy of these 2 books. The one on the left was issued to the troops who were stationed on Iceland in 1941-2. The second book was issued to troops stationed on Java. Enoch said they had to be armed to the teeth, even when off duty visiting the local town, in Java. John
HI Kate This is from a book produced after the end of WW2, about the 36Div actions in Burma. It lists all the units that were part of the Division. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger version. I dont know how to post larger versions, perhaps someone with the knowledge can help an old man? John
Forgot to ask, you have probably posted this info before, do you know what battery of 178 field regiment your grandfather was in? John
Hi John My Grandad father did not serve in Iceland. He enlisted in August 1941 as a gunner and was posted to 3rd Reserve medium regiment,RA and employed as a driver. He transferred to 178th when the Regiment was formed in Jan 1942. I don't know which battery he was in but am trying to find out. My Dad has only recently obtained my Grandad's war records and there are lots of duplicate sheets and the whole thing is jumbled up (perhaps his file was dropped during the copying?) so he is trying to decipher it and sending me info as and when he has found out. I do know he got an excellent report on demob and it was mentioned that he had driven 11 different types of vehicle. Did you see the photos I posted on another thread - just entitled photos? You are very lucky to have so many records - my Grandmother obviously hated the whole war experience and didn't keep anything to remind her of my Grandad being away. My Grandad never spoke about his time either. Kate
John, I (and no doubt some others) would be interested to hear more about the 36 Div book - I wasn't aware one existed. Can I ask what its title is? The Java handbook looks quite unusual as well. The thumbnails are fine, by the way, especially as they are such detailed scans. Posting the full size pictures might cause more problems than it solves. Apologies for butting in! Andrew
And, for Kate, this is the GSM Simon (Assam) referred to: From Northeastmedals, the qualifying service was: S. E Asia 1945-46 Officers (including women officers) and other ranks and auxiliaries of the British, Dominion and Colonial and Indian Forces; VAD officers and members; specially approved categories of uniformed civilians; allied nationals commissioned or enlisted into the British Forces who were on the posted strength of a unit and served in: a) Java or Sumatra, between 3rd September, 1945 and 30th November, 1946, both dates inclusive. b) French Indo-China between 3rd September, 1945 and 28th January, 1946, both dates inclusive. A time limit of one week was required for official visits and inspections etc., to qualify for the award.
