Hi All, Does anyone have access to the above war diary for the Royal Berkshire's time in the Arakan? I'm looking in particular for entries around the end of March at Atet Nanra Pass. Many thanks Steve
These entries are from a publication from the regimental museum in Salisbury entitled "The History and War Diary of The 1st Royal Berkshire Regiment 1940-1946". It contains sections from the original regimental history by Blight combined with transcribed log sheets from the war diary. The only mention of Atet Nanra Pass that I found in the war diary was for the April 2nd, 1943 entry. It is listed as ATCT NANDA, which appears to be a transcription error.
Thanks dryan67 for posting those, it is greatly appreciated. Backing up into March again in the history. Is there any mention at all of an award of the MM to a Pte. Griffiths of the RAMC for saving a RB Sgt. on the 28th?
Unfortunately, it is a bare bones volume that only contains a copy of the regimental history for the 1st Battalion and only the log sheets for the war diary. WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get - Shades of Computer Science from the 80's). I have posted all the material for March. In the regimental history, which I also have, there is no mention of a Pte. Griffiths in Appendix II - Honours and Awards. In the Roll of Honour there are two Grittiths listed: D.J. 14600905 (Italy 8/2/44) and R. 14577788 (Burma 21/3/45).
Thanks very much for looking. I will advise the family to go for the unit diaries which are the 6th Field Ambulance. At least they now know the Royal Berks side of things is a dead end.
Pte Frederick Griffiths, of 6 Fd Amb, was awarded an MM for the rescue of wounded from 1 R Berks at Atet Nanra 28/03/43. The award is LG 22/07/43 and PRO WO 373/30/40.
“While moving up the ATET NANRA PASS, MAYU PENINSULA on 28 March 1943, at about 10.30 hrs, with a Coy. Of 1/R.Berks, the Section under my command in company with the leading 2 platoons of the R.Berks came under fire from Japanese Machine Guns and Grenades at close range. A sergeant of the 1/R.Berks was wounded in the chest, in the open ground some distance on our left flank. Pte. Griffiths, without orders, went out alone under fire and dragged him back to another stretcher party. He displayed the utmost iniative and coolness in this fact and undoubtedly saved this NCO’s life.” In view of the above account, I have no hesitation in recommending Pte. Griffiths for the M.M. Awarded MM 22.7.43
Sorry it panned out regarding the Royal Berks. There might be something in a March appendix for the war diary.
It was always a long shot really. They were pleased to see the scans you provided and some of the other details. And as I said before, they still have the 6 Field Ambulance diaries to explore. The next part of the story is what Fred did after his time in the Arakan?
