Hi all. The basis of this request I placed in General threads, users introductions. I hope by placing my request here I shall get the information I'm seeking, Which is the RE's unit my father-in-law belonged too. I have attached copies of his Army records from 1930 to 1945 below. He was 799686 Joesph H Ellis, Driver, Royal Engineers. You will notice the period from 20/Sept, 1942 to3 May, 1945 is blank, no reason given. During this period he was in all operations led by Gen Wingate known as LRPG, Chindits. "Longcloth" - "Thursday" - "Kohima". I'm not sure about Imphail. I just need to know what his unit(s) were, & hopefully work from there. It was suggested to me that records bought from APC, Kentergern House were incomplete & to request from them the full records. This I have done having sent 6 E-Mail requests for full records. So far I have not recieved one reply. I will be very grateful if someone could help me on this, Yours in frustration, wedgetail
Wedgetail Can you rescan/upload what records you have so we can try and help you Hi Oldman The above records are the ones he posted in user intros. I don't think he has any others to post. Lesley
Hi, 4jonboy and Oldman. Thank you for your replies. Of course you are dead right. I have no other information on Joe except for some verbal tales. Of course that is not hard evidence. I have tried checking on all RE units invold in Wingates expeditions, hoping to find any that were at all the Chindit events. The closest I can get is the 12th Field Company R E. I was hoping that if I had his parent unit, I could then look for its War Diaries The only photo of him is one with wife & daughters on his return from Dunkirk in a new uniform, no badges etc. He came back on the P.S Gracie Fields. Regards & thanks wedgetail
Wedgetail Your options are as follows all took part in the 1944 ops, including a change for 864 Middle East Coy to 864 Mechanical Equipment Coy. I also agree that maybe there is a page missing from your service records received. 864th Mech Equipt Coy RE Served under GREF in SEAC 1944-45. Disbanded Sep 1945+. 2nd Field Coy RE Regular; 3 Sep 1939: Mersa Matruh; mobilized with 7th Infantry Division, transferred to 6th Infantry Division 3 Nov 1939; relieved 13 Jun 1940. Came under Command Troops, Egypt 30 Jun 1940 and then XIII Corps 31 Jan 1941. Assigned 6th Division 19 Feb to 30Apr 1941. Returned to 6th [later 70th] Infantry Division 29 Jun 1941 to 21 Feb 1942. Served with 16th Infantry Brigade on Ceylon and India (26 Feb 1942 to 1 Mar 1943) and then with 14th Infantry Brigade in the Arakan from 7 May 1943. Assigned 70th Infantry Division 27 Jun to 24 Oct 1943. Assigned to Special Force from Oct 1943 and moved to Jhansi; reorganized into eight commando platoons 7 Nov 1943 for LRP role. (Platoons moved into Burma with 16th Infantry Brigade 20 Jan 1944 and returned to India between 12 and 28 May 1944.) Redesignated 2 Jul 1944 as 2nd Field Coy (Special); reconstituted 9 Aug 1944 in Bangalore. (Four platoons allotted to infantry battalions.) Relieved from Special Force 15 Jan 1945, redesignated 2nd Field Coy RE, and reorganized as a normal field company. Assigned 36th Infantry Division 22 Jun 1945 in Poona. Disbanded Sep 1945+. 12th Field Coy RE Regular; 3 Sep 1939: Palestine; mobilized with 8th Infantry Division; relieved 8Feb 1940. Assigned 6th Infantry Division 20 May to 7 Jun 1940. With XIII Corps Dec 1940. Assigned 6th Infantry Division 5 Mar to 6 Apr 1941. Supported 22nd Guards Brigade 15-17 May 1941 in Operation BATTLEAXE (less section under 4th Armoured Brigade). Returned to 6th [later 70th] Infantry Division 10 Jul 1941 to 29 Apr 1943. Served with 23rd Infantry Brigade in the Arakan 30 Apr to 14 Jun 1943, moving at the end to Bangalore. Reassigned to 70th InfantryDivision 15 Jun to 24 Oct 1943. Assigned to Special Force from Oct 1943 and moved to Jhansi. Reorganized 27 Oct 1945 into commando platoons for LRP role. (Platoons moved into Burma 1 Apr 1944 with 23rd Infantry Brigade; returned to India 31 Jul 1944.) Moved to Jhansi 2 Dec 1944and relieved from Special Force ca. Jan 1945. Assigned 25 Mar 1945 to 44th Indian Airborne Division, at Rawalpindi. Converted May 1945 as 12th Para Sqn RE. 54th Field Coy RE Regular; 3 Sep 1939: The Delta, Egypt (serving as Fortress Coy?). Mobilized 3 Sep 1939 in Egypt. At El Daba (under Command Troops, Delta from 30 Sep 1939). (Alerted for movement to Rumania Oct 1939 but did not go.) Sailed to Kilia in Dardanelles May 1940, but back in Egypt Jun 1940. Under XIII Corps Jan 1941. Assigned 6th Infantry Division 6 Mar to 7 Apr 1941. Returned to 6th [later 70th] Infantry Division 11 Aug 1941 to 24 Oct 1943. Moved to Jhansi Sep 1943 and assigned to Special Force Oct 1943 [reorganized 10 Sep 1943 into commando platoons for LRP role]. (Platoons moved into Burma Mar 1944 with 14th Infantry Brigade; all back in Bangalore, India Sep 1944.) Presumably relieved from Special Force ca. Jan 1945 when it was officially dissolved. Moved to Calcutta 14 Apr 1945 and Rangoon 14 May 1945; embarked for India 2 Jun 1945. Arrived in Poona and assigned 36th Infantry Division 22 Jun 1945. Disbanded ca. 1946.
I am very gratefull to you 'Oldman'. You have opened a few doors for me to explore what's inside. Regards wedgetail.
Hi All. It greives me to inform you that I have to give up on my search for my father-in Law 799686 Driver J,H, Ellis. Formerly of Wingates Chindits. The reason is that the pressure I am putting my self under is detremental to my health. At 78, I am hoping to make it to 80. I am now house bound & can only move with help. I work on half a heart, Have Diabetes, Emphasymia, swollen legs, oesteo arthritis, one of 3 bypasses is blocked. Medicos refuse to opperate due to effect of anaesthetic on my heart. Rib cage muscles are mostly all ruptured. There you are, If I where a dog I would be put down. Should never have started smoking ! It's a pity as I was begining to enjoy searching on this site. So if you don't mind I would like to remain a member, Albeit, not taking an active part. I shall still log in on ocassion. My deepest thanks to all those who have given much advice on were to search for Wifes father. You must admit it is a bit difficult to nip into the N.A. or I.W.M. from Western Australia. BTW, my avatar is of the blazer badge for RAF, Air-Sea- Rescue & Marine Craft Section. Regards & many thanks ....... wedgetail
wedgetail Sorry to hear about your health, don't give up on your research there are plenty of good Chindit websites for you to explore . Carry on calling in to the forum and add your thoughts whenever you will be most welcome
