Major Anthony John SUDLOW, TD, Gurkha Rifles

Discussion in 'Burma & India' started by Skoyen89, May 22, 2023.

  1. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    Sorting out my study at the moment and came across some old copies of 'Medal News'. Anthony (Tony) Sudlow wrote a page for them in the 80s and 90s and found a few with references and recollections from the Burma Campaign. He served in 1/10 Gurkha Rifles (part of 17 Division) in both the 1942 Retreat and in the 1944 battles in Imphal.

    Does anyone know of further writing or recollections of his?
    .


    A biography by his family from the Spink's catalogue from 2020:

    Tony Sudlow was born in the Midlands in March 1922. Upon obtaining his school certificate the Second World War had begun, and Tony attempted to join the RAF as a pilot, but his poor eyesight led to him enlisting in the Army, initially in the KSLI. Having been commissioned, he undertook Commando training before transferring to the British Indian Army. Tony joined 1/10th Gurkha Rifles; he was shipped out to Burma from Greenock in 1940.

    He was first involved in fighting a retreating battle, eventually being driven back into Manipur, India, where the tide turned as the Japanese became over-stretched and under-supplied. He fought in the battles of both Imphal and Kohima. His close friend and fellow Company Commander James Logan "Terry" Adair was killed by a sniper as they patrolled together talking; Terry is buried in Imphal cemetery. Tony killed the sniper, whose target was literally a 50/50 choice.

    Like so many of his fellow soldiers, Tony suffered from both dysentery and malaria whilst on active duty. After the Japanese surrendered he flew home in a Dakota in 1945, but was soon sent to Germany on intelligence duties involving war crimes investigation until mid-1946. He retained a fervent devotion to the Gurkha soldiers he had led and continued to serve in the TA (5th Royal Leicesters) until 1958, when he retired from all military duties to pursue a career in management in the produce industry in Lincolnshire.

    Tony retired in 1977, by which time he had established himself as a medal collector specialising in the London Regiments, but his fond personal allegiance to the British Indian Army led to his collecting in that area too. He had a keen eye for the unusual, hence he acquired a myriad of oddments outside his main spheres of interest - including several awards to African soldiers. Sappers, Medics, Gunners and Drivers all played their part; Tony was keen to know their stories.

    He had many dealings with Spink, and wrote a regular feature for Medals International entitled "Medallic Meanderings". His research was thorough and painstaking, centering, as was then necessary, on written enquires, phone calls and libraries. He wrote prolifically, including some unpublished books and some fine poetry. He died in 1997 after a long illness. He is survived by his wife Ann - now aged 100 - and a son and daughter. It is his family's shared wish that the items of his collection will bring to others the same pleasure as it brought to him.
     
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  2. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    There is a 2008 link according to Google:
    The link is to an online magazine alas access is limited by the publisher, so the content cannot be seen:
    Link: Nettleham News - 2008-03 - Autumn 2008 - Issue 103

    Looked a bit more and the phrase "The cream of the nation's youth" appears a few times and not in a book. I do wonder if his son died when in RAF service, a simple search failed.

    His Service Number, when commissioned into the Royal Leicestershire Regiment, is 203731. From: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35282/supplement/5510/data.pdf
     
  3. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Could I ask what the "TD" stands for?
     
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  4. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

  5. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    Thanks David. I didn't unearth them in my Google Search. Found two LG entries fof Commission in 1941 and moving to a TA Commission in 1948 but not his TD in the LG.
     
  6. Staffsyeoman

    Staffsyeoman Member

    He was a key figure in the early days of the magazine Medal News as well. Wrote extensively there.
     
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  7. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    Hi Phil

    Do you have any old copies where he referenced his Burma days? Not a lot written about 1/10 Gurkha Rifles in the battle of Imphal but have found a couple of anecdotes in his writings fro Medal News in the few copies I have.

    Although he was in the Burma Star Association for twenty or so years (and a Branch Chairman) I can't find any articles, letters or comments he wrote for it.
     
  8. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    His only mention in the regiment official history is that he was company officer of B Coy, 1/10th Gurkha Rifles during attack on the Basha Hill in the Chin Hills (same one on which Gaje Ghale from 2/5th Royal Gurkha Rifles won VC), in August 1943.

    Interestingly, he is not on the list of officers who went with battalion to Burma in 1942. Maybe he was there in other capacity or joined later.
     
    Last edited: May 24, 2023

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