Andy... Following on from what I said earlier today... This period was the run-up to setting up BLACKPOOL... Reading through the diaries at this point in time leads to suspect your friend went to ABERDEEN - closest STRONGHOLD and most logical destination... From the diaries and letters for 111th to be found at TNA (almost straight down and out the other side from your present location... ) This gives you the what and where - you can go dig out the maps... 20th April 1825 - Sitrep from 30 coln. 1815/18. Located SG326395 moving SG390305 19 Apr. Camp and dump area M.S. 49 1/2. captured diary and documents. 21st April 1040 - From 30. received 22 & 17 coln S.D. dumped. 1803 - Report from 30 coln enemy in BANMAUK closed on PINBON and NAUNGKAN when ops started on road PINBON - PINLEBU. (23rd April - Within letter - Masters to Lentaigne - written at ABERDEEN from 1900 22nd, dated 23rd) 21st April ... 30 were on their way to KANYWA. On the way as you know they found a respectable sized Jap dump - abandoned - and destroyed petrol, tyres, M.T. and the incredible 40 cheeses. (Cheeses...!!! ) 2100 - From 41 (2KORR) to 30. 30 must cover block or ambush m.s. 35 cancel riad (? raid) PINHINGA. 22nd April 0210 - From 30 to 40 (3/4GR) Congratulations to MONTEITH. 0300 - From 30. Sitrep. Rd block established. 1218 - 30 coln report no movement rd BANMAUK/MANSI at MS 36 since block put down. 1440 - 30 coln report no movement on road 21/22 contacted 41 (2KORR). No bullion and OPIUM. 1500 - 30 coln report sent to Div. 1535 - To 30. Bullion on plane that failed. opium shown as not available. 1600 - From 41. Location. Main block 384223 subsidiary 2 pls 30 coln M s 36. 1615 - From 48 (111HQ). to 41. 30. Continue present role prevent enemy movement PINBON BANMAUK. (from alternate page with further detail) To 41 repeated 30, rear bde. From 48 Col. (111HQ) Continuation my 48199. Continue present role prevent enemy movement PINBON BANMAUK.My opinion threat small if concur as result local recce move yourself with 41 immeadiately hand over to 30. On receipt code word bomber repeat bomber remaining columnn (s) consider task completed move all speed vide 974 (deletion? page issue) 189. 2359 - (general report to brigade from 48 whilst at ABERDEEN) 41 30 continue present task. 23rd April 0830 - From 30 coln. 50% DELHI L.S. Rations refers 0950 - (report to all from 111HQ at ABERDEEN) ... 41 30 continue present task till my order withdraw thence ABERDEEN using either route as subsequent order. All colnscomplete 5 days rations before leaving ABERDEEN be prepared to make last 7. Bde RV 0900 4th May ... 1650 - QQ from 30 coln. 2100 - From 40 to 30. News resume. 24th April 0855 - To 30 QK. 0920 - From 41. Block handed over to 30 moving ABERDEEN today. 1220 - To 41, 26,30 Look out for F/Lt Gillis RAF. 1645 - 30 coln recce'd up to THAYAGON 3330 no enemy. 1940 - 30coln report sent to 48. 2030 - From 48 to 30. leave block 261200. 25th April 1150 - From 30 coln. Details for spectacles. bullion and mail to be collected ABERDEEN 1210 hrs - From 30 Coln. Varying between 150 - 500 Japs MANSI B5. No enemy ALEYWA & BANMAUK. Lt plane pilot and 26 coln casualties found and evacuated. (a light-plane crash was noted 21st between 39-6NR and 26-1CAM) 1430 hrs - 30 coln require 3 days rations ABERDEEN collection 28 There are reports after this date but sure enough, they are noted as having arrived at ABERDEEN at 0945 on the 28th... Which leads me to this conclusion - not a lot happened (in the diaries) during this time period - certainly an evac is noted on that date... That will give you something to work with, from the official records... Ken
Hmm... not heard that name before, but still typing and compiling details from the pile I have already... Cheers Z...
Steve... is that me or you being obssessive, or possibly a rhetorical question knowing we both are... It's Ken, Andy, as was me dad and me granddad... not a lot of imagination up on the Island when it comes to names for the records... it's all about the nick-name up there...! For that matter, being from a family with the wandering spirit, I have an uncle from both sides buried in your City althoug no known family living in NZ these days (moced to the "coathanger" area), and did you ever sail on the ferry MV Suiliven, which was based there for a while - you can see her sailing on a rather rough day (which I certainly had experieice of similar during her numerous years operating between the mainland and Stornoway) if you google "Ferry From Hell"... I'll go and check the diary for that date and see waht was going on with 30 Column that day and the preceding few... Ken, Can't say I had heard of the MV Suiliven, let alone traveled on her so I googled for a video.....I am glad I wasn't on-board that day! I am surprised she was even out at all. Thank you for sharing the diary, Do you have anything from the end of March/ start of April. It would be interesting to see if we can pinpoint when he was wounded and if an evacuation is mentioned on April 5th?
Re the jungle training...might have been in Orchha, near Jhansi, where a lot of units were trained. Hi zahonado, That could be it. The name he said sounded like it started with 'O', but my memory has it being longer than Orchha...though I have been wrong before in this thread!
CLANG (er, as in dropped one) I got myself mixed up with talking 25th May when you mentioned 5th April... PM me your email and I'll send you the relevant letter from John Masters to Brigadier Lentaigne... 30 were involved in a battle, there first from the sound of it, 3rd to 4th April, reasonably detailed write up - numerous casualties - they were reported as (whole column) missing on 5th and 9 "sick" being flown out on the 6th - 2 letters, 4 pages...
Ken "A Chindit's Chronicle" by Bill Towhill has an excellent diagram of "Blackpool", showing the strip, the perimeter wire and the various positions within it. I was baffled by Masters cricket terms until I saw this (grin). You may well have seen it already. Alex
Cheers for posting that Alex, and welcome to the mix; got that one and several others, including the best of the satellite images of the true site - find Namkwin Station, look north-west and find the two rivers flowing into the one and that is "Blackpool"... There is quite an interesting one in Joe Milner's "To Blazes With Glory" too... (ta B43 ) Bill Towill's is possibly one of the best - he lives quite locally to me and I've tried to meet up with him on occasion but he has not been in the best of health - his wife has written a couple of books on life in India at the time, too - they make an interesting couple; very refreshing to find... I plan to combine all the details into as-best-as-possible a map of the area, including a diagram of the track in/out... I keep looking for others... Other than the 1950's CIA maps at the Texas site I know of no other decent ones that exist - the satellite image makes the best one for me to work with... Steve (B43) has been there and supplied me with some pictures of what he believes to be the central hill and the mountains they marched in/out over, and what I can consider to be a family "heirloom" from the site ...
Hi I am a new member to WW2Talk. my father was a Chindit in the KORR. I have got a number of books and articles and have started research. I know that the KORR were at Blackpool. I believe my father must have been in the Deep. His Army records state that he was admitted to Hospital in Digboi on the 19th May, 1944. John Masters says that the KORR came out of the Deep on the 17th May. I believe he was therefore flown out. I have been unable to find out which of the two columns of the KORR 41 and 46 my Dad was in. Can any one help in this respect, or tell me how to find out. Dad was a pioneer, and I know he flew in by glider. I have his panic map on which he has marked his route in Burma. I have a few photographs. Many thanks.
Hi JC and welcome... Not replied earlier as I've been away during the sites Adamizing... Unfortunately, unless your dad told what column he was with it is highly unlikely you will ever find out - there were 20 platoons, do you know his...? that might help in your research... According to my dad (with 90 col, 1st Cameronians) the panic maps were pretty scarce and he never got near one - he was in until airlifted out at the lake in June - keep that item safe - it would be interesting to see an image of it and please do post any pics you have... What is available...? The only confirmed pictures of "Blackpool" are on their website and that is only a handful... There are the overviews (Masters and Rhodes James) and there are some minor accounts in other works... 2nd KORR... Rev Miller was their Padre and he wrote a minor one; there is the regimental history - both available from the museum website... IWM has an audio - cat no 18457 - Roy Wheeler - about an hours listening from their website... WO172-4886 has about 25 handwritten diary pages which have some details - "Shelling and sniping by enemy all day" is the entry for the 17th... What have you got so far...? My project is to detail everything about "Blackpool" in a digital format and whittle it down to a book format...
Hi, many thanks for your comments Hebridean Chindit, nice to hear from you. I think a bit of text is missing, you say: "Do you know his . . . . . . that might help in your research". The panic map I have is in a very delicate state; one of my dad's sisters wore it as a headscarf after the War! Have you seen the DVD issued by Poppy Travel entitled "Chindit Operation". Also have you seen on line "Operation River" - air evacuation of Chindits by Sunderland flying boats IWM Cat No. MWY25 - filmed in June, 1944 - this film has a narrative which can be printed off. Did you know that Dr. Desmond Whyte wrote an article "A Trying Chindit" for the BMJ Vol 285 in Dec, 1982. He received the DSO. As you will know he was senior Med Off of 111th Brigade. I have printed off a transcript of his DSO citation from the internet. I am sure your research has led you to these items. I am new to the game so please bear with me, if I am stating the obvious. I have a numer of books and other articles etc. I think the photographs I have is when Dad was in India before he went into Burma, but will check them out. I am going on holiday tomorrow, when I return I will, if you wish, make a full list of what I have and will let you know. Regards JC
It was a question regarding the platoon numbering - "Do you know his...?" My dad was in 13 Platoon, 90 Column, 1st Battalion, the Scottish Rifles, or Cameronians, as they were also known... he was flown out on one of the 13 successful Sunderland flights so that's one of my choices for "specialist subjects..." :wink: There are other films held at the IWM... Doc Whyte - got that one transcribed, but there is also audio at the IWM... Don't know of the "poppy" video...? All I do here is help point people in the right direction whilst I continue ploughing an almighty furrow through the pile of material I have... Enjoy the break and see you on the other side...
It is with a heavy heart that I write this post. Sadly W.T. 'Theo' Roy passed away on December 19. 'Prof' as I knew him was an inspiration to me and I will sorely miss him. As stated above Prof served with the Gurkhas in Burma from the retreat to being wounded in 1944. His obituary states his service number was 412758 he was in 3/3 Gurkha Rifles. Rest in Peace Prof
Thanks for letting us know Andy. Perhaps you can post his obituary here at some point, it would be wonderful to read it.
Most certainly Bamboo, I should correct myself, its his death notice, not obituary sorry. "ROY, Emeritus Professor W.T. (Theo). Service No 412758, Captain 3/3 Gurkha Brigade Passed away peacefully at Waikato Hospital on 19 December 2013. Aged 90. Loved husband of Pamela (deceased) and Irene (deceased). Loved father of David, Paul and Ian. Beloved father in law of Sharon, Jenny and Jill. Loving companion of June and Grandfather to Billy, Oliver, Eleanor, Thomas, Nicholas, Fraser, and godfather of Adele. A funeral service will be held at the Waikato Cathedral Church of St Peters, 51 Victoria St, Hamilton on Monday 23rd December at 1100 hours. All welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations would be gratefully accepted for The Theo Roy Prize in Politics Scholarship. Donation Box at the service, or can be forwarded to Pellows Funeral Directors, 138 Grey Street, Hamilton 3216. Published in The New Zealand Herald on Dec. 21, 2013"
Many thanks for posting. I didn't see if anyone has recommended 'The Road Past Mandalay' by John Masters, a very decent book, the middle third of which deals with Operation Thursday from 111st Brigade's perspective. 'War in the Wilderness' by Tony Redding contains many fascinating first- hand accounts as well.
Thank you for those suggestions Ethan. I actually think I have 'The Road Past Mandalay'. However, if I do it will be at my parents house so will check with them.
