The Chindit Society

Discussion in 'Burma & India' started by bamboo43, Mar 21, 2016.

  1. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    That is very sad news, Peter's passing really is the end of an era with regards to the 1st King's and Operation Thursday.
     
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  2. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Certainly is HW. We do still have Sid Machin with us, aged 98.
     
  3. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    It is with much sadness that I inform you of the death of Captain Richard (Dick) Hilder who passed away on the 18th September aged 101. He joined the Life Guards as a Trooper in 1940 and was then commissioned into the Armoured Corps in 1942. As a Captain in the 26th Hussars, he was attached to 14th Brigade HQ on Operation Thursday.

    Dick Hilder copy.jpg
     
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  4. Father Peter Clegg

    Father Peter Clegg Padre Peter D. Clegg

    Wonderful age for another wonderfully brave man.
    May he Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory.
     
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  5. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Thank you for those kind words as always.

    On a more uplifting note, I have just uploaded the latest edition of the Chindit Society newsletter this morning, written in late August to cover the VJ Day commemorations at the National Memorial Arboretum.

    New Resource - Autumn 2022 Edition Chindit Column
     
  6. Wobbler

    Wobbler Well-Known Member

    So very sorry Steve.

    Sleep well Richard :poppy:.
     
  7. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Thanks Martin. Basically now, we are down to three or four working Chindits. We do have others on the books so to speak, but we don't hear from them or their families very much.
     
  8. Father Peter Clegg

    Father Peter Clegg Padre Peter D. Clegg

    Yes!
    But their heroic endeavours, under the Monsoons and the Blazing Heat, is a testament of their complete dedication to The Crown.
    Age shall not weary them…
     
  9. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    An obituary for Peter Heppell features in today's Daily Telegraph.
     
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  10. Father Peter Clegg

    Father Peter Clegg Padre Peter D. Clegg

    Have read it.
    Well written and full of thanks for his unconditional strength of character and perseverance in the most of difficult times.
    My Father was in 77 Brigade.
    Well Done.
     
  11. brithm

    brithm Senior Member

    From an Dominic Winters auction back in May (2022)
    upload_2022-10-15_0-24-13.jpeg

     
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  12. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Thanks for posting the details for the auction brithm. This is the second collection of photographs I've come across relating mostly to the 1st Expedition in 1943. Thankfully, the Society were able to purchase the first set that came on to the market for our archives, although there seem to be about 30 more images with this lot.

    The photographs we have were from a collection previously owned by a veteran from Chindit 2 (Operation Thursday) and have some excellent images as yet unseen in books etc.
     
  13. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    An obituary for Richard Hilder featured in the Telegraph 12th October 2022:

    Telegraph obit 12:10:22 copy.jpg
     
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  14. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    I have the sad duty to report the death of Chindit Frederick Wakeling, who passed away aged 100, on the 18th October. Fred was with the 2nd Battalion Yorks & Lancs and served with 14th Brigade in Burma. His original unit was 12 Sherwood Foresters.

    Wakeling Frederick 14 Brigade copy.jpg
     
  15. Father Peter Clegg

    Father Peter Clegg Padre Peter D. Clegg

    If only we had these very brave men to lead us, once again, from, seemingly, the mess we are in!
     
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  16. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    I would certainly second that sentiment.
     
  17. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    Those photos are great, Steve. Were there any relating to Thursday at all, and where could I view them?
     
  18. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Hi zahonado, great hear from you again. The collection that forum member brithm added above were sold at auction a while back. The ones we have are all from Operation Longcloth I'm afraid and have not been scanned as yet for general viewing.
     
  19. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    The Chindit Society recently put together a tribute to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in the form of an eight-page photographic journal depicting the Royal Family and their many connections with Chindit soldiers over the years:
     

    Attached Files:

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  20. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    Thanks Steve, no problem. glad to see you are all still on the case. I have been following up other research on family stuff, and planning another trip to India.. Burma out of the question now. So glad I did it when I did. I will never forget visiting White city and Mogaung.
     
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