Royal Welch Fusiliers, Burma. Reginald Sherriff

Hi all,my mums got my grandads army service record.He joined the fusiliers & was in India & Burma from 14-08-43 til 13-07-46.
We would love to plot where he went on a map but i cant find any info on the fusiliers in india/burma,where they went & what battles they were involved in.
Can anyone point me in the direction of how/where i can find out if he swapped battalions etc & what battles he would of been involved in please as it doesnt say on his service record.
Many thanks for reading.
Sharon

 

Hi Sharon - and welcome.

It would probably help if you could scan some of the service records and post them.

 

Sharon - that sound a tricky one as usually - such a high number of a battalion indicates a reserve or training battalion used to reinforce a lower number of Battalion
so as Paul says - try to scan a few page of his service record ans we can probably fill in the blanks - OK
Cheers

 

Thanks for that Paul & Tom.Will get his service record from my mum at the weekend & scan it on for you to look at.
As far as we can see on his papers he doesnt change battalion,which is the confusing bit.
He was definatly in the battles of Mandalay and Rangoon as he spoke of them but like i say,were not sure what battalion etc he was with and what he done before them whilst in india.
Thanks once again!
Sharon

 

Ok Sharon - we look forward to seeing the scans and trust we can help you!

 

I believe from about 1941/2 the 70th battalion was usually the "young soldiers" battalion in a Regiment, for those to young to see action, but a good chance to prepare them for when the time was right - will see if I can find any more info this evening.

Alistair

 

Thanks for that Alistair.Ive heard of the 'young soldiers battalion' but dont think thats what my grandad was in because he was in the Military police or something similar to start with.Then transfered to the welch fusiliers where he done training at belfast (& skegness i think) among other places before going to india.
Any information on it would be apprechiated tho,just in case.
Thanks
Shaz )

 

Hi,
I've had a check and the 70th was the Young Soldiers battalion, formed in September 1940 from Companies of the 11th (Home Defence) Battalion - it was disbanded July 1943. The 1st and 2nd Battalions servced in the Far East. While the 70th was for young soldiers I imagine they must have had older soldiers doing the training could your grandad have been their as an instructor?

Alistair

 

Hi Alistair,thanks for the info on the 70th.I doubt my grandad was an instructor as when i read his service record he got into a hell of alot of trouble for breaking the rules.You never know tho,stranger things have happened!
Think tomorrow when i go up my mums il sit & got through his service record with a fine tooth comb to try & find some more info.
Im also puzzled as to why he joined the welch fusiliers when he was from warwickshire,lol.
Shaz

 

I not sure if he had requested the royal welch for some reason as he transfered from the military police.
Il get his army service number tonight & post it later.

 

Hi all,been to busy today to scan the documents on,sorry!i have read through them & found some transfers.My mum got it all totaly wrong,lol.
He joind the 70th royal welch fuss,then on 2-1-42 he transfered to the south staffs reg & was posted to 30th batt.Then on 10/42 he transfered to cmdg 431 company CMP,then 14/5/43 he transfered to 18th batt welch reg.was wounded on 1/5/44 in the 3rd campaign,finaly on 7/1/45 he moved to AD 5.
This still puzzels us tho as how do we find out where the 18th batt welch reg went in burma & what he did.
I remember he told us once that he fought with the chindits (a few times) & drove lorries at one stage.
His service number is 4206831
I will try & scan his stuff on tomorrow if i get a chance.
Thanks for any help anyone can provide!
Shaz

 

Hi and welcome to the forum.

This may be a long shot but if he was originally RMP could he have stayed badged RMP but his records show him attached to the Regiments etc listed. ie put on their strength?

I know units like RMP's, REME etc get attached today but I don't know how that is documented?

This may explain why he is showing at so many different units.

Cheers
Andy

 

To be honest,i cant read half of the writing on his service/casualty card so i really dont know.im currently scanning it as i type so will post it in abit if i get a chance.His other papers will have to wait tho as havent got time this evening.

 

Heres the first 3 pages.Will do next 2 in a mo.

 

And heres the other 2.If anyone can read any of it or can understand whats going on id be really grateful!

 

Lots to look at there. It occurs to me that he might not have been able to stay in the Military Police after his spot of bother.

Section 40 of the Army Act is the great catch-all "Conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline"

There's probably a good chance that he thumped someone.

 

Lots to look at there. It occurs to me that he might not have been able to stay in the Military Police after his spot of bother.

Section 40 of the Army Act is the great catch-all "Conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline"

There's probably a good chance that he thumped someone.

Haha Good Lad