28th (Jungle) Field Regiment & 5th Indian Division

Is anybody out there able to supply badges and insignia of the British / Indian armies? A couple of weeks ago Dad gave me his army medals for safe keeping. I'd like to complete the collection by adding badges and insignia he wore at the time.

Believe it or not, he'll be 96 next month, September 2014 and is still able to recall (a few) memories of his time in Burma between 1942 & 1944. He was wounded in the leg, 12 June 1944 at Milestone 106 on the road between Imphal and Kohima. With glee in his voice, he said "that was my ticket out of there".

He was with the 28th Field Regiment which, shortly after arriving in India, became the 28th (Jungle) Field Regiment. The unit was attached to the 5th Indian Division. Dad didn't keep his badges or insignia and it's these I'd like to obtain and mount with his other medals.

5th Indian Division's insignia was the 'Ball of Fire', a red disc on a black background.
The Royal Artillery badge, 1942, is the other I'd like.

Cheers, Kevin

 

5 Ind Div badges come up quite frequently on ebay.

 

The regiment has quite a few war diaries at the National Archives:

WO 169/1451 28 Field Regiment 1941 Aug.- Nov.WO 169/200428 Field Regiment Sig. Section1941 July- Dec.
WO 169/2623 28 Field Regiment 1940 July- 1941 July
WO 169/2681 28 Field Regiment 1940 July - Oct., Dec.- 1941 Feb., Apr.- June
WO 169/4581 28 Field Regiment 1942 Jan.- Apr., June- Dec.
WO 169/5520 28 Field Regiment Signals Section 1942 Jan.- Apr., June- Nov.
WO 169/9479 28 Field Regiment 1943 Jan.- Mar.
WO 172/2296 Field Regiments: Field Regiment 28 1943 May - Dec.
WO 172/4645 Field Regiments: 28 Regiment 1944 Jan.- Dec.
WO 172/5436 Artillery Signals Sections: Sigs Section att. 28 Field Regiment R.A. 1944 June - Dec.
WO 172/7412 Field Regiments: 28 Regiment 1945 Jan.- Dec.
WO 172/10092 28 Field Regiment 1946 Jan.- Nov.
WO 172/10657 28 Field Regiment Signal Section 1946 Jan.- June

Cheers
Andy

 

Charge, I note that you mention your father being wounded on 12th June at m/s 106 Imphal-Dimapur road. I think he could be mistaken. There were no British troops forward at m/s106 at that time, (except possibly a handful of deep penetration recce scouts). They only reached m/s 109 on the 22nd June when the siege was raised. Without looking at the diary for 28 Fld Regt I can't say for sure but I think they were involved in the action around m/s 116 on 12th June supporting the West Yorks.
I also gladly note he is still with us. Please ask him all the circumstances for we have a very rare opportunity to "cross examine an eyewitness"!!!
Lionboxer

 

Further to the above, I have just checked through my records and found that 28 Fld Regt were in the Kanglatongbi area and on 12th June the 1st Battery moved to "Turn table" which is in fact m/s 115. Which battery was your father in?
Lionboxer

 

Thanks Lionboxer, you could be right about the m/s number. Although I've heard stories of Burma from time to time for many years I've never made note of details. It wasn't until my Mother died in 2008 that I started researching our family history which includes Dad's army service. Unfortunately, his memory had been fading for a few years now so some details may not be correct. I must admit, the number of the milestone has changed over the years.

I spoke with him the other day by phone, he lives in UK and I live in Australia, and quizzed him about the name or title of the battery he was with, as I have on previous occasions without success, and without hesitation he said it had a letter. No idea which letter.

Most of his time was spent in Arakan and once that region was under control he and his unit were flown north, with 5th Indian Division.

Before you suggest I look at his army record, I've tried, he wont agree. He says I can look at it when he's gone. What a bummer!

Kevin

 

'Tis indeed a bummer!! A unique chance to share with him his war for I'm sure he wouldn't have known the wider picture of what was going on around him unlike we do now. Like hundreds of other people I wish I had quizzed my father while he was alive.
Lionboxer

 

I would still suggest you write down everything you know or he has told you in a timeline and show him it. It may be that he will open up or add recollections, however small. It seems like he had a 'full' war!

 

As it happens Skoyen89, I created a timeline over a year ago and gave Dad a copy, he was most impressed. He said that I knew more about what was going on than he did and he learned a lot. The timeline covers the movements of 28th (J) Field Regt and 5th Indian Division and, without knowing the title of Dad's battery, I can't be sure as to where he was at any given time. I'd love to know how involved he was in the Battle of the Admin Box. He was there but I just can't place him officially with his unit. Very annoying.

Yes, he ha a very 'Full' war. He says his unit was "in touch with the enemy" for the two years he was there. Now that's unlikely to be completely accurate as I know he was doing other things as well, especially in the early months. However, it was a pretty impressive tour of duty.

 

It was a "hands on war" for the 28th. Just wish we knew what battery.

 

Some photos of 1st Battery and 28th (J) Field Regiment RA

http://www.thegarrison.org.uk/history/1btyGallery.php

 

Get to Kew and look through the war diaries for a nominal roll, that would be your best bet.

 

Dad was in the British army Drew5233, I wasn't aware of British Nominal Rolls, Australian yes but not British!?

 

I copied the War Diary of the 28th (Jungle) Field Regiment RA in Kew this week but the diary pages for April - which was the bit I was interested in - appears missing. Does anyone know how I could find out what happened to them on 18th April? Would the Royal Artillery Museum have a (different) copy of the War Diary?

 

I don't suppose it would be possible to send a copy of the war diary to me would it please?. My Dad was also in the 28th Jungle Field Regt RA in Burma as a gunner/signaller. Not many realise that the regiment was designated as a Jungle Field regiment but on a trip to Kew, my Dad and I found the records where it had been named. It was also part of the 19th Indian Division at one time.
Kindest regards
Paul

 

About 20 years ago, I created a website for the Burma Star veterans and it grew to over 1500 (unmanageable) pages. The Burma Star Association took it over after a few years and although it has been cut down, there is still a wealth of information, including for the 28th Jungle Field Regt RA Burma Star Association - Stories

 

HI Paul Yes, happy to. If you start a conversation with me we can sort out the mechanics. I'd be interested if you had any interesting stuff on 1st Northamptonshire Regiment or 20th Indian Division on your original 1500 pages.

 

I have been trying to copy the relevant pages onto my current website but the Burma Star site was written using a very old Microsoft program and which my Mac isn't compatible with. I have therefore taken screenshots of the information I have and put the Northants Regt and 20th Ind Div on my Dropbox Dropbox - Burma - Simplify your life.
It was a big site and difficult to see now but if you have any particular battles etc., I will happily see what I have. Kindest regards Paul

 

Did you get those files Skoyen as I could do with getting rid of them from my Dropbox for some more space?

 

Hello this is all amazing information thank you My father and I are currently just starting to look into my granddad’s war. We know practically nothing about what he did other than he fought in Burma we have just found he was in the 5th Indian 28th jungle field regiment from his Burma association membership but other than that i am struggling to find out where and when he was active I believe he may have been a prisoner of war but not entirely sure does anyone have any idea where I would have to go to find out more about where he was etc do they have a regimental hq that holds records ?I have his service number etc but can find much on ancestory.co.uk?