Hello All, I have just received my grandfathers service records. I was always told he was in the commandos and that he had to retreat from the Japanese and trek from Burma into China to escape but never really heard much more than that. As you can see in the attached document my Grandfather was in No 8 Commando (B Bn) and then was transferred to Special Service Detachment 1 for Mission 204 in Burma. I was wondering where could I get more information on SSD1, the Maymyo Bush Warfare School, and more specifically their trek from from Burma into China? My uncle directed me to "The Long Trek" by John Friend, but I now understand this is related to SSD2, not SSD1. Attached is part of my Grandfathers service record showing that he was in No 8 Commandos then transferred to SSD1 (when it disbanded I believe), a document he was issued when either entering or leaving China, his airline ticket from China to India, and a photo he had of SSD1. If anyone is interested I do have more photos, some of the Maymyo Bush Warfare School (I believe) and a few of my Grandfathers time in China, as well as a newspaper cutting from the Mirror in 1944 talking about SSD1's trek and further service records for my Grandfather.
Hello Carl, Welcome to the forum. Thanks dkr sharing this information, your grandfather had quite a time of it. I have copied the file WO 172/1453 which covers the Bush Warfare School and Mission 204 for April and May 1942. I'll start a private conversation with you to discuss. It would be great if you would share the photos. Rothy
Carl, Have you seen these pages?: "The Bush Warfare School Commandos" Request Rejected (ignore this text, but try the link, it seems to work) Mission 204 to China and Special Service Detachments 1 & 2 Mission 204 to China and Special Service Detachments 1 & 2 British Military Mission 204 – Bush Warfare School, Burma British Military Mission 204 - Bush Warfare School, Burma - 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion Ex Members Association Rothy
Carl, We had a long discussion about SSD2 on the forum a few years ago. There might be something for you from that thread, or at least some background details on the situation in theatre at the time. Here: Mission 204 - Special Service Detachment 2 I have a website about Chindit 1, on one of my pages there is a chapter from the book Middle East Commandos, which deals with 204 Mission and to some degree John Milman and SSD1. Scroll a short way down the page to see the book pages: The Raising of 142 Commando
Thank you very much for this. I actually bought Middle East Commandos on your recommendation and never thanked you! It has been a great help, as have the pages you have included above.
Thank you for this, I have since had some of my grandfathers photos uploaded to the commando veteran website you have included.
Middle East Commandos available for free download on the IA: The Middle East commandos : Messenger, Charles, 1941- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Hi Carl, I found of few items of interest from my files in regards SSD1, please find attached two items similar to your grandfather's, from a Signalman who served on 204 and then went on to Chindit 1. Also attached is Major Milman's OBE citation for his leadership on SSD1:
Another very general document I have in my rather random collection is communique from the War Office in regards allocation of personnel for 204 Mission:
