Hello My mum has recently been transcribing my late grandads (William Cowell) diary pages\stories He managed to write down a bit about his time in the Army I have tried to look for 16th Battalion of the 82nd Division. But not found anything yet ! Thought you would like to read his brief story...……… John Melling To be excused from going to war, I had to face The War Agricultural Committee, but for some unknown reason declined, thus three months after my eighteenth birthday I was conscripted into the army, on the eighteenth of April 1944. In some ways I was naïve of the outer world, and being only 5ft 4 1/4 inches, and weighing only eight stone four pounds, I did not think of myself as fit. I was amazed when the doctors at my army medical asked me was I an athlete, or a boxer and said I was very fit. I was sent to join the Green Howards regiment at Gallowgate Camp near Richmond Yorkshire. I liked the army life, was used to living away from home, enjoyed the food, was taught discipline and many things which even today play a part in my everyday life. After six weeks I was asked what I would like to do in the army. I said join the Veterinary Corps. They laughed and posted me as a rifleman, in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps, at the KOYLE Barracks at Strensal, Nr York. I made several friends there, became a marksman with rifle,machine gun, etc, for which I was paid 6p per week. I qualified as a radio driver operator, for which I received another 6p per week. We moved to Darlington, to do exercises on the moors prior to going to fight in France. (HE NEVER ENDED UP GOING TO FRANCE) I got vaccine fever, just when my company was going abroad. I was in hospital, and when I came out all the people I knew had gone. I started life anew, in a different company and along with seven other men was promoted to full corporal, and sent to join the Royal West African Frontier in Assam. It was a long voyage to India, which I enjoyed. Aboard ship our quarters were cramped and crowded, but I spent most of my time on deck. When we reached Bombay I was quite excited. I could smell India, it was my first time abroad, and everything and everybody was different. Jeans and trainers had not yet made an appearance here, and all native dress was traditional except for the Anglo Indians. E were sent to a transit camp called Kalyan, and were taught how to live and behave, in India. I thought the army in general behaved rather harshly towards the lower caste Indians, and decided this would not be my way. Our next move was to Calcutta by train to me an aye opening journey. We went the long way across the plains of India. The train had wooden seats like park benches, and there was no glass in the windows but the temperature was high, so it didn't bother us. The engine was fired by wood so we had to make many steps to load up with wood. When we got to Calcutta we were taken to a camp called Barrackpore Bridge, beside a river, a holding camp. We went into the city often, rode the trams, which in itself was a feat of endurance. They were packed inside and out, on the roof, everywhere. Saw the race course by Chewringi, and in all had a good time. We left Calcutta by train, and after a couple of days went up the Brama Putra by ferry, but to be honest it looked and felt more like a pirate ship. Then by tram to Comilla in Assam, and by wagon from there to the West Africans Camp. The 16th Battalion of the 82nd division. We were split up and assigned to companies, given a 'boy' servant and left to our own devises for a couple of days. The camp was primitive straw huts, known as Bashes, rope and wood beds, known as chargoys, and imitation goatskin type bags to hold drinking water. I soon settled in. we were sent on a course to learn the Housa language, which was like a trade language used in West Africa. I stayed with the West Africans till the end of the war with Japan. I was offered a war substantiated rank of Colour Sgt if I would go to the Gold Coast with the West Africans, but I declined as it was known as the white mans grave. Thus I was sent back to the British Army with the rank of private. I was sent all over the place, Bengal, Calcutta, Singapore and Malaya, eventually ending up making a camp for the 2 nd Buffs, who were coming back from Sumatra. I ended up with them in Singapore, and was eventually released from the army on B reserves to do work of national importance.( farm labourer)
I think your best bet would be to obtain his official service records from the MOD - the link is - Request records of deceased service personnel Reading this basic detail 82nd (West Africa) Division - Wikipedia I cannot see a 16th Bn so something may be a little array there, sevice records will help answer your questions TD
'Arakan Assignment. The Story of the 82nd West African Division'. | The National Archives Reference: Stockwell 5/3/12 Title: 'Arakan Assignment. The Story of the 82nd West African Division'. Description: Unofficial history printed for P.R. Services West Africa. Date: [1946] Held by: King's College London: Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, not available at The National Archives Language: English TD
'16th' may be a misread of 10th Bn. The Nigeria Regiment but the only way to be sure is his service record.
The Burma Operations for the West Africa Frontier Force are included in the following book available online The History of the Royal West African Frontier Force by Colonel A. Haywood and Brigadier F.A.S.Clarke. 1964. lib.militaryarchive.co.uk, now archived at Archive.org. Originally required Flash turned on, this requirement may still apply - if you see a Flash icon, click it. Transcribed version. Cheers Maureen
Thanks as always Maureen. This is a very timely link, as I am currently in conversation with three Chindit families all of whom have an interest in the 12th Nigerian's of 3rd West African Brigade (Chindit 2). Steve
Hello Thank for the replies, Yes it looks like my Grandad may have got a little confused. I have found his records at my mums house When I get chance I will upload some of the pages for you to look at I will have a look at the above links as well Something that did make me wonder was, he was doing training in 1944 to go to France, aka D-DAY etc and ended up in hospital instead !! Missing out on D-DAY and therefore fate intervened , otherwise I would not be here today. Cheers John
The following is a review of a book Tales from the King's African Rifles by John Nunneley London Askari Books 1998 http://web.artsci.wustl.edu/tparsons/tparsons/book_reviews_2/tales_of_the_kar.pdf Review by Timothy Parsons African Affairs, Vol. 98, No. 393 (Oct., 1999), pp. 599-600 John Nunneley was an officer in the 3/6 KAR during the Ethiopian and Burma Campaigns. "Although the book has its share of harrowing war stories, Nunneley is also a keen observer of military life. Social historians will be particularly interested in his recollections of day-to-day life in the KAR, which include discipline, camaraderie, clothing, rations, accommodation and even the debate over sanctioned military prostitution". "Finally, the most striking and thought-provoking sections of the book deal with Nunneley's experiences in the jungles of Burma. Where Moyse-Bartlett's official history makes little mention of African perspectives on the fighting, Nunneley provides an unvarnished first-hand account of his battalion's encounters with the Japanese". Cheers Maureen
There is reference in the following link to a Journal called Journal of the Royal West African Frontier Force Issue 2 published in January 2012 included an article ‘White City, Major-General Orde Wingate’s Special Chindit Force, Burma 1944′ . "The Chindits, who were trained to infiltrate behind Japanese lines, included many West African servicemen". Royal West African Frontier Force – Cambridge University Library Special Collections A second part appeared in issue 3 BRITISH COLONIAL AFRICA RESEARCH - RWADD JOURNAL Note this is only a reference to the article, not the actual article. Issues 2-3 appear to be available IWM. Cheers Maureen
Thanks as always Maureen. I will pass these details on to my recent family enquiries with RWAFF connections. They will be thrilled by the existence of the Journals. Steve
Been a couple of years since I was last on here Busy working and also so researching on my website I was today at Mum and Dads when they asked me to look at a little box on the table Inside was a France and Germany Star! and a ribbon This confirms part of his story "above" about him missing out due to vaccine fever And there were a few other men it happened to! Missing D Day and then being posted elsewhere I then asked ... well where's the Burma Star!? My Grandad, who died back in 2013, I was told.. was mad at the time as he had not received his Burma Star as well! He had not particularly wanted to get his Medals in the first place So I think we may end up applying again ...