W.A.Wilcox.76th Column.2nd Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Reg. Chindits.

Discussion in 'Burma & India' started by veronicad, Jun 19, 2015.

  1. veronicad

    veronicad Well-Known Member

    1945. Wilcox wrote a short book. Which details the time he spent with 76th Column.He being R.A.F. He tells the story of the ranks relentless struggle through jungle,sweltering heat,monsoon, and all manner of disease.No mention being made of General's etc. Only the steadfast Yorkshire man, together, with at times his humorous wit, makes this little book a must read. I live in the North East of England. Wilcox makes reference in his book to Saltburn, Yorkshire Coast,also Stokesley Show.Both these places are only a few miles from where I live. I would really like to know if he was indeed a local man?Regards, Veronica.
     
  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Hi Veronica

    What other info do you have on him, first name?, middle name?, age or date of birth? etc anything that might help

    TD
     
  3. veronicad

    veronicad Well-Known Member

    Hi TD, and thank you for your reply. Book was printed in India 1945. Making all he encounters so vivid.Not written decades later gives it that edge. No information whatsoever to his name,age etc. He spent three months with the column 1944 then left them to their fighting. My very young Grandson loved the hand drawn map with route from Naga village to village. If I knew they were perhaps a local family, I would have liked to contact them.I have a couple of photo's that may interest them. Also a few tales to tell of several of the men he mentions. Regards, Veronica.
     
  4. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Hi Veronica,

    I am hoping that one of the Chindit specialists will pick up this thread and provide more details on him, then hopefully I can find the right man and see where we go to from there.

    If you edit your first post it will allow you to add 'tags', so words like Chindit, 76th Column etc would be useful

    TD
     
  5. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Tricky Dicky and CL1 like this.
  6. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Veronica

    Firstly is it possible to post the details of the book?, title, publisher etc

    TD
     
  7. Lotus7

    Lotus7 Well-Known Member

    Hi TD

    Chindit Column 76 Hardcover – 1945
    by W. A. Wilcox (Author)


    You can find this on Amazon, and a review of the book. I am unable to find out what the W A stands for yet, although what I'm finding
    Is ,,,,, William Arthur seems to fit.

    David
     
  8. Lotus7

    Lotus7 Well-Known Member

    William Arthur Wilcox born Yorkshire 1919
    Could this be our man?

    David
     
  9. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    This could indeed be him, birth registered in Middlesborough, and Saltburn is very close by,

    Name: William A Wilcox
    Mother's Maiden Surname: Graham
    Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1919
    Registration district: Middlesbrough
    Inferred County: Yorkshire North Riding
    Volume Number: 9d
    Page Number: 896

    TD

    His book info:
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chindit-Column-76-W-Wilcox/dp/B000NX2K5M
    It may be worth a call to the publishers if they still exist
     
  10. Lotus7

    Lotus7 Well-Known Member

    Hi Veronica, hope the info helps. It looks like he was a local man you might find his family and show them the pictures you have.
    Good luck

    David
     
  11. veronicad

    veronicad Well-Known Member

    Hi David, many thanks.You must have spent quite a time looking for him. Within his story he tells of thinking back to being at Saltburn with his future wife.I don't recall that he named her. I can't re- read at the moment, as book was nicked by my Grandson. I looked through marriages.I came up with a Walter A. married Middlesbrough 1941 spouse, Marjorie Mitchell. I won't give up. Answers are there, somewhere! Have a good day. Veronica.
     
  12. Lotus7

    Lotus7 Well-Known Member

    No problem Veronica, I enjoy a challenge (when there is a lead), hope you find the answer to your quest.

    David
     
  13. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    He may well have had a sister:

    Name: Doris M Wilcox
    Mother's Maiden Surname: Graham
    Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1923
    Registration district: Middlesbrough
    Inferred County: Yorkshire North Riding
    Volume Number: 9d
    Page Number: 972

    and his parents marriage:

    Name: Arnold Wilcox
    Spouse Surname: Graham
    Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1918
    Registration district: Middlesbrough
    Inferred County: Yorkshire North Riding
    Volume Number: 9d
    Page Number: 1241


    Name: Mildred M Graham
    Spouse Surname: Wilcox
    Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1918
    Registration district: Middlesbrough
    Inferred County: Yorkshire North Riding
    Volume Number: 9d
    Page Number: 1241

    TD
     
  14. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Veronica

    The marriage you found was for a Walter - not William, although this could be a transcription error somewhere along the line

    Name: Walter A Wilcox
    Spouse Surname: Mitchell
    Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1941
    Registration district: Middlesbrough
    Inferred County: Yorkshire North Riding
    Volume Number: 9d
    Page Number: 1465


    Name: Marjorie J Mitchell
    Spouse Surname: Wilcox
    Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1941
    Registration district: Middlesbrough
    Inferred County: Yorkshire North Riding
    Volume Number: 9d
    Page Number: 1465

    TD
     
  15. Lotus7

    Lotus7 Well-Known Member

    Good find TD, without making to many assumptions could, William, have been born a year later.?

    David
     
  16. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Hi David

    Williams birth details are in post 9 (born 1919) and then possibly his sister Doris in 1924 (post 13). I can find no family trees for them as yet. The fly in the ointment is the marriage details Veronica posted and I have found (post 14) for a Walter Wilcox and not William. But I would guess a copy or at least sight of that marriage certificate would show any transcription errors, if there are any.

    As you know this type of research is never 100%

    TD
     
  17. Lotus7

    Lotus7 Well-Known Member

    Thanks TD, I'll sleep on it tonight. If I get time tomorrow I'll give it some more thought.

    David
     

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