Photos of Royal Engineers 864 Mechanical Equipment Company in India/Burma

Discussion in 'Burma & India' started by RE864CoyPaul, Apr 7, 2017.

  1. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

  2. lionboxer

    lionboxer Member

    Well done RCG!! That looks like our man. What a result. I wonder if the family can be contacted?

    Lionboxer
     
  3. RE864CoyPaul

    RE864CoyPaul Active Member

    Brilliant RCG! I'm assuming they have a contact email or something, on their website, so we can contact them initially that way. Will be great if it is them!

    Love the photos Lionboxer, I'll add "possible family trip to kanglatongbi in 2019' to my list of things to talk to my dad about lol (currently on my way to woolacombe bay with my girlfriend and our kids, but back home late Saturday and at my parents on Easter Sunday).
    Can't remember the blog of the last i reached out too, but I'll dig it out and post it here in a sec. .
     
  4. RE864CoyPaul

    RE864CoyPaul Active Member

  5. RE864CoyPaul

    RE864CoyPaul Active Member

    When we met up Lionboxer, you'll definitely have to tell me all about your kanglatongbi trip, it sounds (and looks) like it was an amazing experience!
     
  6. lionboxer

    lionboxer Member

    RCG I went to Thorns this morning and met Tom Pastons son in law to confirm your research. He was quite surprised at what I was able to tell him and spoke of Tom fondly. We will be arranging a proper meeting in the future. Thanks for your input as another piece of the jigsaw fits into place.

    Paul, the visit to Imphal etc was absolutely incredible. You'll see the photos when you come over.

    Lionboxer
     
    RCG likes this.
  7. lionboxer

    lionboxer Member

    Just a heads-up to say that Captain Revells first names have been found to be Matthew Cork. He was promoted to Lieutenant in June 1940. Sadly he died back in the seventies.

    Lionboxer
     
  8. RE864CoyPaul

    RE864CoyPaul Active Member

    Thanks for updating lionboxer! (Chris!)
     
  9. JBar

    JBar Member

    Chris,

    My uncle William Ernest (Miff) Bowman was in 36 Section 864 Mech Equip Coy RE in India and Burma. Have you come across that name? I would be very interested in reading John Welsh's memoirs to see if it helps my understanding of where my uncle was at that time.

    Joan Baron
     
  10. lionboxer

    lionboxer Member

    Joan, at the moment Paul (above) has Jacks papers but I can’t recall seeing your uncles name I’m afraid. Maybe Paul might pickup on this post if not I will contact him.
    Do you have a photo of Miff?
    Lionboxer
     
  11. JBar

    JBar Member

    The second photo shows only half his embarkation company. I have the whole but haven't stitched it together yet. I have a load more when he was working as an excavator for the Burrakura Coal Co Ernie2.JPG StitchSCAN 864 C0y.JPG Ernie10.JPG
     
  12. lionboxer

    lionboxer Member

    That’s great stuff Joan. I’m pretty sure it’s Jack Welsh sitting in front of the officer. Has his hair parted in the middle.
    Lionboxer
     
  13. lionboxer

    lionboxer Member

    Jack on the left taken at the open cast coal mine in Bihar after being flown out of Imphal
     

    Attached Files:

  14. JBar

    JBar Member

    SCAN1213.JPG SCAN1214.JPG SCAN1215.JPG These are 3 unstitched files to the left of the other photo. I can't find the next photo in the middle. Will see if I have it backed up anywhere.

    Do you have any other info on 864 ME Coy.
     
  15. lionboxer

    lionboxer Member

    Joan, strange to think that on that photo there are eight men who died in the fighting at Kanglatongbi on the 7th April 1944. This is where my interest with 864 Coy lays as I have researched and written a book about this battle where they were part of a defensive “box”, Lion Box, that held the Japanese at bay while the largest Ordnance Depot on the Imphal Plain was evacuated.
    I have photos of two of those killed, Reg Corbyn and John Rawson (joined the Coy later). I can pick out Bert Kadwill and Captain Revell. Maybe Paul or his father Chris can add further details. I will give them a heads-up about this.
    If you put in a search on the forum search engine looking for Kanglatongbi and Lion Box you should come across some of my other postings on here about this battle. Incidentally this is why I nearly always sign my postings with my avatar name so I can look them up if needs be!

    Chris aka Lionboxer
     
  16. JBar

    JBar Member


    Chris,
    SCAN1212.JPG I will try to get the missing part of the embarkation photo (it had a date of 1941 on the back - see photo here). My uncle died in 2015 but my auntie (his sister) has his documents and photos. Unfortunately it may take a while to get the original to scan as she lives at the other end of the country. She has loads of photos of different people - I don't know if any will be of interest to you.
    Will also check out your postings later in the day. Thank you. Joan
     
  17. lionboxer

    lionboxer Member

    I’m always interested to see anything about those units involved. There maybe something that I can use in my new book that I’m working on. I’ve gleaned so much further information since my original publication that it needs recording.
    Lionboxer
     
  18. JBar

    JBar Member

    Bihar is 150 miles north of where my uncle was working at one point in Sijua.
     
  19. JBar

    JBar Member

    Just bought and read your book. Very interesting and is a good start to learning more about 36 Section 864 ME Coy. I am visiting National Archives tomorrow but won't be able to look at the war diaries this time. I am also researching my father's records in N Africa and Italy and have booked my full quota for tomorrow. But next time will definitely be 864.
     
  20. JBar

    JBar Member

    Finally got the missing piece. Full photo of 864 Coy Embarkation in 1941
     

    Attached Files:

    Rothy and bamboo43 like this.

Share This Page