What REME units were at Imphal/Kohima

Discussion in 'Burma & India' started by philllip jones, Feb 24, 2012.

  1. philllip jones

    philllip jones Junior Member

    Hi Is anyone able to tell me what REME Units were present at Imphal /Kohima , and what were there duties .

    I very much suspect my Grandfather was here serving with the REME he enlisted in 38 into the ROAC , but ended up in the REME was the ROAC , joined with the REME ? , he was a Motor Mech , he served for 4 and half yrs overseas and came home On Python , previous service included Dunkirk 1940 , his no 1 Tunic (in which he was married 1941), SHOWS the 2 INFANTRY Div Badge , among his things is a letter FROM THE Commander of the 4th Inf Brigade thanking them for there efforts at Dunkirk dated 15/6/40,

    was the 2 Inf Div attached to the 4th Inf Brigade ? AND WOULD HE HAVE GONE TO BURMA WITH THE 2 iNF dIV ?

    His tunic also shows the a crossed Pincer and hammer badge ? a trade ?

    he came home form burma July 45

    I have applied for his service records BUT I AM TRYING to find out what part he would have played in Imphal /Kohima ?

    HOPE someone can help

    thanks Phill
     
  2. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

    Craftsman badge click here
    will look at other info as soon as I have made/eaten evening meal - unless someone beats me to it :)
     
  3. philllip jones

    philllip jones Junior Member

    Craftsman badge click here
    will look at other info as soon as I have made/eaten evening meal - unless someone beats me to it :)
    Thank you , yes That's the Badge mine is in Brass ,

    phill
     
  4. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

    Righto: firstly REME was formed on 1st October 1942, mainly from personell of RAOC, so it was quite common for RAOC personell to be moved to this new Corps.
    Secondly, 4th Infantry Brigade was part of 2nd Infantry Division.
    Third, I can't find any mention of RAOC units attached to either of these units in 1940/41.

    Any chance of posting the letter you mentioned on here? It may have a RAOC unit mentioned?

    Would he have gone to Burma with 2Inf Div? Not necessarily and probably unlikely. when you have his service records, which will show what RAOC/REME units he was with and when we can probably help more .

    Obviously if he came home from Burma he was there, but with which units its hard to say at the moment.

    Any other questions, feel free to ask.
     
  5. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

  6. philllip jones

    philllip jones Junior Member

    Righto: firstly REME was formed on 1st October 1942, mainly from personell of RAOC, so it was quite common for RAOC personell to be moved to this new Corps.
    Secondly, 4th Infantry Brigade was part of 2nd Infantry Division.
    Third, I can't find any mention of RAOC units attached to either of these units in 1940/41.

    Any chance of posting the letter you mentioned on here? It may have a RAOC unit mentioned?

    Would he have gone to Burma with 2Inf Div? Not necessarily and probably unlikely. when you have his service records, which will show what RAOC/REME units he was with and when we can probably help more .

    Obviously if he came home from Burma he was there, but with which units its hard to say at the moment.

    Any other questions, feel free to ask.
    many thanks for this this has answered some of my questions , i am awating a copy of the letter mentioned above from another family member as we speak when i get it i will try and post it , it has been rumoured that my Grandfather was a DISPATCH RIDER when at Dunkirk ? He was in fact wounded here slightly , I have just obtained his PAY BOOK which has given some more dates , and he was a MOTOR Mech when he enlisted , i am as you say at a dead end until i get his SERVICE RECORDS then hopefully i will learn more thanks again

    bw phill jones
     
  7. Timmo81

    Timmo81 Member

    Many of the REME units stationed around Imphal (and in Burma generally) were part of the Indian Army, (IEME). My grandfather was a W/O1 with 96th Mobile Workshop company stationed on the Manipur Road which ran Northwest from the Imphal to Dimapur.

    Maybe have a look into the Indian Army? A clue might be in any mention of rank - there was an ancient rule that no British personnel could be commanded by Indians so all soldiers employed in a technical trade were automatically granted the rank of at least Sergeant (Sgt). IEME retained the terminology for WO equivalent of 'Conductor' or 'Sub-Conductor'.

    My grandfather also held the rank of 'Havildar' on transferring to IEME. Any mention of these ranks may indicate involvement in the Indian Army.
     
  8. gusto

    gusto New Member

    Hi I'm not sure of the history, but my grandfather told me he served in a REME unit which was attached to the Durham Light Infantry, Crossed Keys he always called them. He certainly served in Burma, and I'm pretty sure he said 2Div.
    I know this is a while ago now, but hopefully you see this
     
  9. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member


    If you know which unit he served in (getting his MOD records is always the best place to start and vital if he was in one of the large Corps) then once you know the unit and when he served in it get the War Diary for that unit.
    Probably the easiest way to find a list of the REME units in the campaign is to get a hold of the War Diary for the 33 Corps at Kohima or the 4 Corps at Imphal. They will probably have Location Statements in them that list the REME units (and RAOC etc). As is said above many of them are Indian Army units rather than British Army
     
  10. John Sowerby

    John Sowerby New Member

    I just came across this thread as I'm starting to look into my Grandfather's war records.

    I know he was part of REME in India and Burma, after spending sometime stationed in Northern Ireland. He was a Sgt for a while, but ended up as a WO1, (I have his rank badge on the leather strap).

    I know he was at Imphal, based on what he told my Mother after the war, and also had something to do with the Chindits at one point, again based on stuff he told my Mum. I also know that he was attached to the 9th battalion York and Lancaster Regt, in April 1942, as I have his ID Card for Mechanical Transport Drivers, signed by a Captain Shephard, and stamped 9th Bn.

    What I don't know is anything else. He never spoke much about his war, never even claimed his Burma Star. (My Grandmum got it after he died).

    I have his service number, and I have a Freedom of Info request in with the National Archives, as his records are currently closed, and will be until 2026.

    Can any one point me in useful directions or share anything they might have? I'm slightly stymied as I can't just pop down to Kew as I'm living in the US....

    Cheers!
     
  11. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    Hi John

    The advice given in #9 above also applies in your case.

    REME were in fairly small units either as Workshops attached to a larger formation such as a Division or as Light Aid Detachments of a dozen men with a smaller formation. Some kept separate War Diaries but others didn't (or they did and were not retained). But it is all fairly academic until you know which unit(s) he was with.

    There is a Kew file which has some overviews of REME which may be of interest. I will PM (Private Message) you.
     

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