Kohima-1st Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders

Discussion in 'Burma & India' started by bamboo43, Oct 11, 2016.

  1. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Hi All,

    Trying to find out what this unit were involved with around the 8th May 1944 at Kohima. I'm especially looking for any relevant information about an officer casualty for that day:

    Casualty Details

    Captain Carbonell, according to his CWGC papers, was originally buried at Manipur British Military Cemetery.
    Any help would be much appreciated.

    Best wishes

    Steve

    Carbonell JAC..jpg
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I've got the regimental history at home Steve. Give me a nudge in a day or so if I forget.
     
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  3. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Hi Steve

    Info that may or not help you:

    UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945
    Name: John Carbonell
    Given Initials: J A C
    Rank: Captain
    Death Date: 8 May 1944
    Number: 115012
    Birth Place: Gloucestershire
    Residence: Hampshire
    Branch at Enlistment: Infantry
    Theatre of War: Burma
    Regiment at Death: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)
    Branch at Death: Infantry

    England, Andrews Newspaper Index Cards, 1790-1976
    Name: John Arthur Capel Carbonell
    Father's name: Lestock Carbonell
    Death Date: May 1944
    31031_A100029-01268.jpg

    Surrey, England, Regimental Rolls, 1914-1947
    Name: John Arthur Capel Carbonell
    Event Date: 13 Jan 1940
    Regiment Number: 6091787
    Regiment: Queen's Royal West Surrey
    40816_1831101883_1470-00034.jpg


    TD
     
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  4. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Just had a quick look at their history: Lt Carbonnel died of wounds sustained in the defence of Point 5120 (NE of Kohima) on 4-5 May.
    Wearing gym shoes and travelling light, the Camerons successfully infiltrated onto Pt 5120 in the wee hours of 4 May, then moved onto some subsidiary peaks where the Japanese resisted and, eventually, forced them back.
    On 21 April, he gets another mention having shot a Japanese warrant officer and captured a set of orders.
    It's not explicitly stated but A Coy features in both these incidents, so he may have been with them. Unfortunately, he is not in the photo of the battalion officers taken in March 1944.
     
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  5. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    He gets a mention here.
    Heroism in Burma - tale of a survivor

     
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  6. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Ouch - but a cracking find, Owen.
     
  7. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    According to 79th News, October 1944 edition, He was wounded 4th of May and died the following day. See attached page from 79th News.
     

    Attached Files:

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  8. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Thanks very much to all. Ask and you shall receive, as the saying goes. Captain Carbonell survived Chindit 1 and a secondment to V Force in late 1943.

    Cheers

    Steve
     
  9. idler

    idler GeneralList

    I will try to look in the Manchesters' CO's book to see if he has anything to add.
     
  10. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Thanks again for all your help with this one. Finished up his story for the website here, scroll down alphabetically to find him:

    Roll Call A-E
     
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