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

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

  1. lionboxer

    lionboxer Member

    What a fantastic photo! If only the names were on there too! Thank you so much for posting this Joan.
    Lionboxer
     
  2. JBar

    JBar Member

    Real pity no names. May be able to identify the officers from War Diary lists of officers (which I now have) and photos on the internet. That will be my next task.
     
  3. lionboxer

    lionboxer Member

    I can identify three men so far, Kadwill, Welsh and Captain Revell. There are two others I have photos of that I might be able to id.
    Lionboxer
     
  4. JBar

    JBar Member

    I think you have already put these photos on this thread. I will try to find them on my photo.
     
  5. JBar

    JBar Member

    Lionboxer- any update yet on your latest book in progress a year ago. Also, does Paul still have your copy of Burma Jack's memoirs. Would love to see a copy.
     
  6. lionboxer

    lionboxer Member

    Joan, work still in progress! Problem is I still keep finding snippets of information and just this week made contact with the family of a man who was at Lion Box. I had hoped it would have been ready for the 75th anniversary when I go to Kanglatongbi again in April. It will be finished this year!
    If you pm me your address I can send Jack Welsh’s diary.
    Lionboxer
     
  7. mike martin

    mike martin New Member

    My granfather Lance Corporal Frederick Martin was in the catering corps attached to Royal Engineers 864.
     
  8. lionboxer

    lionboxer Member

    Mike, do you have any further details about his time with 864?
    Lionboxer
     
  9. mike martin

    mike martin New Member

     

    Attached Files:

  10. mike martin

    mike martin New Member

    My Grand father was Segmia in the Imphal valley for two years. Then he moved to Kohima for 3 months.
    Then Segmia again, until it could not be defended.
    Then he was in Kanglatpopki.
    And eventually to Danbhad which was a open cut coal mine until 1945.
    Regards
    Mike
     
  11. lionboxer

    lionboxer Member

    Mike.
    The HQ and Workshop Sections were at Sengmai while the other sections were working building the roads further into Burma. In early April 1944 the HQ and Workshops moved into Lion Box at Kanglatongbi for their own protection and to help defend the important Ordnance Depot there before being flown out to India with the rest of the unit as the Seige of Imphal began to bite. There they were employed on vital war work at the open cast coal mine at Dhanbad.
    As far as I know they never were at Kohima but obviously passed through it. Maybe your grandfather was attached to another unit there as being ACC he could be posted anywhere. As a cook he was an important and very popular man to men who had nothing much else to look forward to other than the next meal, though I expect he was moaned at about the monotonous rations at times ie bully beef, soya link!! If he was at Kanglatongbi (not too sure about Kanglatpokpi you mention! Either Kanglatongbi or Kangpokpi. Two different places.) then he would also have picked up a rifle as 864 were heavily involved in the fighting, proving that all troops were expected to fight.
    I have much more detail to tell you if you message me your contact details.
    Lionboxer
     
  12. John Pell

    John Pell New Member

    Hello all 864 friends> I am new to this forum and on behalf of my wife and myself we are trying to find any information or suggestions where we can obtain information on this unit and its personnel. My late father in law, 14254434 Spr Alan Wilson was with this unit during the Burma period. Hopefully someone will be able to point us in the right direction. Hoping with anticipation, Kind regards John Pell
     
  13. lionboxer

    lionboxer Member

    Hello John if you would like to PM me your contact details I can share much more detail with you about 864.
    Lionboxer
     
  14. rugbylad_312

    rugbylad_312 Member

    Hi all, currently researching into Sapper, 2151316, Thomas Downes Wilkins who was part of 864 Mechanical Equipment Company, Royal Engineers who died 7th April 1944 and remembered on Rangoon Memorial. Came across this interesting post leading to believe Wilkins was missing from the events at Lion Box on 7th April 1944. Any information about him and the events would be brilliant.

    Olly
     
  15. lionboxer

    lionboxer Member

    Hello Olly. Sapper Wilkins was killed on 7th but his body was not recovered or not positively identified. May I ask what your interest in him is? I am currently writing a follow up book about Lion Box.
    Lionboxer
     

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