I've started a new thread as I could not find an existing one that this could be easily added to - it would get lost in the noise of the Indian National Archives Recent Updates thread and be unfair to Steve to clutter-up his Chindit Website thread! However, if the Mods think this thread should be moved/combined them please go ahead! I recently read an interesting file, titled "Guerilla Warfare", on the Indian Nat Archives site (NAIDLF02351682) and thought I'd post a few bits from it here as they relate to the arrival of Major Wingate who, at 21 March 1942, was "being sent out to organise Guerilla warfare in China or Burma" and that no proposals to create new commando forces would be considered until Wingate's recommendations had been analysed. Even then, he was noted as having "definite views on guerilla warfare". As folks will know, Wingate soon realised that he had arrived in Burma too late to make a difference and so spent his time speaking to the men on the ground. His letter (attached below) of 3 April notes that he had "visited Corps HQ two days ago in the hope of being able to go straight into action but found they could spare no troops". Of particular interest is the paper on Long Range Penetration warfare prepared by Wingate on 25 March where he stresses the difference between guerilla actions and Long Range Penetration and suggests ways forward. He also mentions the various contingents led by Brocklehurst, Milman, Musgrave and Calvert! "Nothing venture, nothing win" is pure Wingate! ;-) This will be attached below. Also attached below is the note of the meeting held in Delhi on 24 April to discuss guerilla operations in Burma where the differences between guerilla warfare and Long Range Penetration seem to be now taken for granted by all and the grey lines with clandestine ops by SOE and the military slowly being drawn. Finally, the minute dated 28 April gives Wingate the "green-light" and notes that "LRPG is a clumsy expression. I think if we go for them, we must find a new name" I searched long and hard to see if these early Chindit-related papers had been put-up here before but if I have missed them then apologies for re-posting. Many Thanks, Col
Lastly, here are copies of the meetings between Army HQ, SOE and Wingate, and the note confirming Wingate's authority to create the force ultimately now known as The Chindits!
You are very welcome Steve. I thought these an interesting read and felt they should be preserved here given that the Nat Archives of India site can often have a mind of its own!
Definitely finding some interesting material whilst blundering around in the undergrowth of the Abhilekh Patal website and there are a few uploaded on LRP/Chindit subjects. Obviously the flight manifests are a prize. However as it is not a core area of interest for me I am not really clear what is already known (for instance duplicated at Kew) and what is new. Like the 'Grab It Whilst You Can' approach. Spent a few hours this evening looking at one that was the notes/war diary for the RAF Component of Special Force in 1944.
Like you, I am unsure as to what is also held in Kew but I do enjoy the immediacy of the Abhilekh Patal website and the wonderful rabbit holes one can fall into! ;-) Did the file you mentioned here deal with the airborne element (supply drops and bombing runs) or the RAF folk embedded into Special Force?
If you don't mind me asking SK89, what was the file reference/identifier for the diary you mention above. I'm looking to at least record relevant files for future reference. Thanks to the members that have already assisted me greatly in this way and more.
Steve, Here's one that you might not have immediately recognised from its title of "India Command AHQ Bagal" (ref: NAIDLF01013664). The file seems to contain the reports on operations conducted by 221 and 224 Group between Jan-Mar 1943 and Apr-Jun 1943, including "Air support and air supply of the 77th Brigade". The file does not appear to have been weeded very well as there is much duplication and many pages are missing or out of sequence. However, it's full of much interesting detail, such as lists of targets, sorties, bombs dropped and enemy planes destroyed etc., including the amount of propaganda leaflets dropped (2m in one month!) and even cheeky messages dropped over Japanese airfields. There are sporadic references to 77 Brigade and a few examples of the level of detail of such references are attached for info. Regards, Col
Here's another file concerning Longcloth - "Longcloth Lessons" (ref: NAIDLF01012800). It's a 22 page, undated and unsigned, report detailing the Lessons Learned from Operation Longcloth by IV Corps. An interesting read!
The file in the National Archives of India portal titled 'Operations Internal Long Range Penetration Groups' (ref: NAIDLF02353888) is worth noting here. It contains various reports from April and May 1942 in which Wingate presses the case for Long Range Penetration Groups and later makes a point-by-point rebuttal of a report that had been written dismissing his ideas. An example of the file's contents are attached for information. Regards, Col
Thanks Col. I've seen something similar at TNA, but not as frank as these pages. Wavell had to put a great deal of pressure on India Command to get things moving by June 1942, just a few weeks after the above exchange.
The file that I found was concerned with the RAF personnel embedded with Special Force. It seems to have been the ORB for the RAF Rear Element. NAIDLF01013695. I have copied it all which is good as I am having trouble tonight opening some files using a search for the Identifying Number!!
Steve A couple of pages of my notes of Chindit related 'possibles' to follow up. Some clearly are Chindit related whilst others are less clear but are worth pulling up. Hope you can read my handwriting!!
Thanks for this Skoyen89 - much appreciated! As you know, some of the indexing is a bit "hit-and-miss" and there seems no alternative but to click into anything that appears relevant in order to find out for certain! Regards, Col
Yes, I too was struck by the frankness of some of the papers! Talking of frank exchanges, I recently came across some of Calvert's, now legendary, blunt messages to HQ during Longcloth. The file is titled "Rear 77th" (ref: NAIDLF00859299) and contains original transcripts of wireless exchanges to/from Broadway between Mar-May 1944. As you'd expect, the messages (often both the encoded and decoded versions are present) cover reports of contacts with the enemy, intel on enemy positions for future bombing targets, supply drops, evac of wounded, fly-ins of replacements etc. There's also this exchange between Calvert and Lentaigne...
The first document looks similar to the TNA file for 77 Brigade Head Quarters. As you say a succession of wireless messages and sitreps. The other exchange is rather priceless.....but not surprising as Calvert became almost mutinous around the time of the Mogaung battles, wanting to protect what was left of his brigade under the demanding pressures to carry on, mostly from Joe Stilwell. I would imagine when the cipher clerk told him Joe was on the line...he wondered which one it was this time!!