3/2 Gurkhas in the Arakan.

Discussion in 'British Indian Army' started by bamboo43, Jan 21, 2011.

  1. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Binro,

    That's very quick and great work you have done there, congratulations.:)

    Am I correct in thinking that the Chindit info would be on earlier reels?

    Sound Forge. I need to edit some conversations I have of another Gurkha officer Denis Gudgeon. I recorded some of our chats whilst we were both in Burma in 2008. There is a lot of background noise and I need to bring our voices up above this and cut out some of the chaff too.
    I have very little IT knowledge or skill in this area.
     
  2. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    I spent today listening to Neill's account of the actions on 8 - 12 September 1944 at the IWM. They are well worth the effort and a fascinating insight into what was, initialy, a failed action. The second attack on the 12th met with almost no resistance as the Japanese had pulled out. The detail begins mid way through Vol 3 and continues throughout Vol 4. The only catch is that there is limited volume control on the IWMs system and the recordings (made in 1994) were origionaly analogue and have been heavily compressed when diggitised. However, copies are available and a bit of 'tweaking' in software like Sound Forge should improve things. I'm going to work my way through the lot now I know that my particular interest, Maj. J.E.Stephenson was in fact known to his comrades as 'Steve Stephenson'! I'll purchase volumes where there is material of relevance once I've identified them.

    'Joseph' was in fact known to his family by his second name 'Eric' and prior to WW2 was a Professional Footballer twice capped for England. He joined up in 1939 and became a PT instructor. By April 1942 he was a S.Sgt and attended a short course at Sandhurst receiving a Commission. He was then posted to Asia and the Gurkhas.

    I was slightly nervous when I sat down to listen to the recordings as the synopsis made strange references to regimental honour, colour of corpses etc, however it turned out to be a very moving and enlightening experience as the speaker was, even after the passage of 50 years, distressed at the death of his friend. Really, recordings 3 and 4 need to be listened too in their entirety to get the full picture but I’ll attempt to summarise as best I can.
    To set the scene I quote from the citation which won a MM for Naik Parbir
    Naik Parbir was commanding a section of C Coy which scaled the cliffs and reached the crest of the Mayu Range North of Pt.1433. At 0430 hrs on 8 Sep. At 0500 hrs he led his section into the Assault under heavy fire with the greatest dash. He drove enemy from forward positions and finally seized a small hill 80 yards North of Pt.1433. He established his section on this hill and returned the enemy's fire with such effect that no counter attack was launched. He was later joined by portions of the two other sections of his platoon, which had now lost its Commander and 2nd i/c. He assumed command of the platoon, and organised it for all round defence. Although under constant fire from various enemy bunkers close at hand, he encourage his tired men and inspired them with his determination to hold his precarious position at all costs. This he did for ten hours until relieved by a Platoon of D Coy. This position, from which the enemy made determined efforts to dislodge our troops, was held throughout and without doubt made the enemy realise that his remaining positions on the feature were untenable and finally decide to withdraw.


    This junior N.C.O. influenced the battle in away scarcely to be expected of one so young and displayed outstanding gallantry and powers of leadership under the most adverse conditions.
    It is presumed that Steve, realising that his Company could not advance further and being unable to communicate by radio, left with one platoon and set out to link up with B Coy who were attacking Point Tiger. Later in the day reports filtered back that he’d been killed.
    The attacks on 1433 and Tiger being largely unsuccessful, the forces were withdrawn. They attacked again 4 days later, this time in greater strength, only to find that the majority of the Japanese forces had been withdrawn. In fact, Point Tiger had no defenders at all. At this point Neill set out to find his friend and discovered a trail of bodies up the hillside and “two arms lengths away from the gun slit of a Japanese Bunker”, Steve’s body. He had taken a MG burst to the stomach. He recognised Steve instantly from the tell-tale yellow pencil sticking out of his left breast pocket.
    The body by this time was badly bloated and when he attempted to remove Steve’s ring to send to his widow it ‘disappeared in a mess of flesh and he could not continue’.
    One badly wounded Gurkha survivor was found who had been hiding for 4 days, he was sent off to hospital without de-briefing.
    Neill goes on to say “from his knowledge of Steve & the way the Japanese fought, Steve’s actions that day were the stuff of which VCs were made” However, he points out that the only witnesses as to how Steve managed to get so close to the bunker are also dead.
    The dead from B & C Coys were buried on Point Tiger, a copper plate was made up by the Engineers back at base and fixed to Steve’s marker, written by the Battalion Commander, it read:

    Maj J.E. Stephenson 2GR
    KIA 8/9/44
    Our Steve died as he would have wished, leading Gurkhas he loved and served so well. Forever England.

    Neill goes on to say “Why did he do what he did on Point Tiger, attack a bunker single-handed? He did it because he knew who he was and what he was . . . . . he WAS 2 Gurkha!”

    Binro, thank you very much for all this info about Stephenson and the fighting for the Tiger feature.
     
  3. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Binro,

    That's very quick and great work you have done there, congratulations.:)

    Am I correct in thinking that the Chindit info would be on earlier reels?

    Sound Forge. I need to edit some conversations I have of another Gurkha officer Denis Gudgeon. I recorded some of our chats whilst we were both in Burma in 2008. There is a lot of background noise and I need to bring our voices up above this and cut out some of the chaff too.
    I have very little IT knowledge or skill in this area.

    Steve, there are two records in the IWM made by Neill. In the first is recorder his service with Chindits (catalog number 13299) while in the second one his service with the battalion in Arakan (already mentioned catalog number 14148).
     
  4. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Thanks sol,

    When I went back through my research notes I found I had all the IWM references noted down. It's just something that has been pushed further and further back as more info on the 13th KLR has poured in.

    So it is quite brilliant that this post has developed because it has opened up another 3/2 GR door for me.

    Cheers

    Steve
     
  5. Binro

    Binro Junior Member

    Sol & Bamboo,

    These recordings are over 20 mins each and as I said before the clarity (and note taking) mecessitates a lot of backwards and forwards. I'm practised at this having spent the last 30 years as A TV editor yet it took me over 3 hours to wade through 2 sections!

    I must admit I once or twice cursed the fact that I'm now on a limited income otherwise I'd have simply bought a CD of the lot (at £12-00 per section), worked them in Sound Forge and sent them off to a Transcription Agency!

    I am going back to IWM to see if I can find any further references in the earlier set of recordings. I'll keep you posted.
     
  6. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Binro you also can check if IWM have the regimental history.
     
  7. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Binro you also can check if IWM have the regimental history.

    Yes, they have.
    History of the 2nd King Edward's Own Goorkha Rifles, (The Sirmoor Rifles)
    [4 volumes]
    Vol. I: [1815-1907] 30270
    Vol. II: 1911-1921 11614
    Vol. III: 1921-1948 30270
    Vol. IV: 1948-1994 05/178

    Catalog number 30270
     
  8. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Hi Gents,

    Well done sol....again.:)

    I have listened to a couple of similar interviews, done roughly at the same time, both Rangoon Jail inmates from the 13th Kings. I found them engrossing, but as you say Binro, very tough to accurately transcribe or note.

    Steve
     
  9. Binro

    Binro Junior Member

    History of the 2nd King Edward's Own Goorkha Rifles, (The Sirmoor Rifles)[4 volumes]
    Vol. I: [1815-1907] 30270
    Vol. II: 1911-1921 11614
    Vol. III: 1921-1948 30270
    Vol. IV: 1948-1994 05/178

    IWM Catalog number 30270

    Managed to talk my way into the research room at IWM (normaly you need to give advance notice of documents you wish to read and make an appointment), and did a 'speed read' of Vol 3 sections covering the two Chindit operations. There are a number of references to J.E. Stephenson, quite a bit on the ill-fated 'Column 2' on the first expedition, references to deep penetration patrols between Chindit 1 and Chindit 2, just 4 officers took out patrols, Maj Birtwhistle, Capt. Stephenson, Lt Green & Lt Neill.
    In the record of events of 8th september there are differences compared with Neill's account, the key one being that upon reaching 'Point Tiger' with his patrol Stephenson ordered them to 'hold position' and went forward alone.

    Pages 198 through to about 245 cover it all. There are also some photographs and maps.

    Got visitors turning up tomorrow for a weeks stay so Kew will have to wait 10 days!
     
  10. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Interesting to pick out those four officers, all of whom returned to India under their own steam in 1943. Major (then Captain) 'Bertie' Birtwhistle was Southern group Adjutant in 1943 and was also given the job of collating the fate of Gurkha Riflemen on operation Longcloth.

    Lieutenant Green is somewhat of a mystery man to me. I do know he was with 142 Commando on Longcloth and probably in column 4. One of the medics on the trip describes Green as having unusual methods of dealing with soldiers minor aches and pains, by using 'Swedish style massage techniques'.

    Will have to get up to the IWM again myself. I do wonder if Winchester will have the greater amount of material on these matters? And then of course there are the potential for service records.
     
  11. Binro

    Binro Junior Member

    Interesting to pick out those four officers, all of whom returned to India under their own steam in 1943.

    Were these 4 all in the ill-fated 2 Column who were ordered to retreat to the RV point? If so it sounds like they got the 'sticky job' because they had ignored the 'training' and adapted to jungle warfare!

    I'm not sure it was Lt Green but in the stuff I zipped through yesterday there was an amusing piece about a Medical Officer who evolved a novel way of dealing with the Gurkhas. Seems a supply drop was incomplete and the tinned meat arrived in giant tins - too much for one meal so the Gurkhas were saving the opened tins, meat was going off and the Gurkhas were getting 'the trotts' and moral was low. The M.O. simply pointed out that the white officers were not sick and not complaining! Reminds me of my days at boarding school when 'matron' simply dished out 'horse pills' to all on sick call!

    I already have the 10 pages of 'Service Record' held at the British Library. This is very brief, details as follows:

    A.P.T.C 14/10/1939 to 3/4/1942, exit rank S/Sgt.

    2 Gurkhas 4/4/1942 to 8/9/1944 initial rank Lt. final rank A/Maj

    What confuses me is that another document says 'commissioned on 1/4/1942' or could it simply be he was commissioned on the 1st but not 'posted' to 2 GR until 4/4/42?

    He spent his entire service up to 4/4/1942 in the UK as there is no allowance for 'overseas service'. His 'overseas service' commences on 5/4/1942, presumably the day the troopship left for India. Any idea what ship ??

    One other current 'niggle' I have is that a photograph surfaced of a group undergoing training at Sandhurst '1942 or 1943'. In this picture, partly obscured by a rope is a figure some in the family are convinced is Eric/Steve. I'm extremely doubtful as the face is not clear enough and my understanding has always been that NCOs undergoing 'elevation' went to specialist camps. I'd very much like to prove or discount this picture so does anybody have a clue as to where I could hunt for more on the A.P.T.C or where to find records of N.C.Os passing through Officer Training?
     
  12. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Binro,

    No all the men were in different columns:

    Birtwhistle was Adjutant of Southern section, so he would have been in the Brigade HQ for the diversion group. He could well have been escorted/protected by column 2.

    Green is reported to have been with Lieutenant Stuart-Jones when column 4 were attacked and dispersed, some returning to India, others like Jones joining up with other columns at the agreed rendezvous near the Irrawaddy.

    Neill was Guerilla platoon commander in column 8, Northern section.

    If he left for India on or around 05/04/1942, then it may be possible to narrow his convoy down by convenient dates? Try this site:

    WS Convoys

    Steve
     
  13. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Binro,

    Should of said, an awful lot of the young Gurkha Rifle officers only came onto Chindit training very late in the day. Some I have read about only had a few weeks or even days to understand and prepare for the trip.
     
  14. Binro

    Binro Junior Member

    Many thanks for all this Steve, I'm going to dig backwards in the Regimental Diary as there may be a mention of a 'fresh intake' in June/July '42. Confined to a troopship for 2 months could not have been much 'fun' particularly with the risk of U-boats for the first month.
    I've had another thought which is that if Neill was a Lt in the 1st Chindit operation he could not have been out there long either so I'll go back to his recordings and try the begining. I'll keep you guys posted!
     
  15. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Sub Captain (W/S Major, T/Lt.Col) Phillip Henry Dupernex Panton
    185 - I.A. (Regular)
    3rd Bn, 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)

    Award: Order of the British Empire

    Throughout the planning of Operation "Zipper" this officer’s zeal and efficiency was the highest and the training of his Battalion, which only returned from leave about a month before mounting, was carried out with such speed and efficiency that in spite of starting some months behind remainder of the Brigade they were level and ready for war by the time of mounting.

    A personal achievement that is entirely due to the 'drive' of this C.O.

    In the past, this Officer has had command of his Unit since December 1944 with only one break of three months when he was undergoing treatment as a result of wounds received in action on 6th March 1945 at Tamandu in the Arakan.

    Throughout these operations he led his Battalion with a spirit of boldness, tenacity and dash that has placed his name, in the last stages of the Arakan campaign, among the highest in the Division.

    This achievement is very largely due to this Officer’s personal leadership and singleness of purpose.
    LG. 06.06.1946.
     
  16. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    W/S Subedar-Major Tikajit Pun, IDSM
    678
    3rd Bn, 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)

    Award: Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

    During the period under review from 15 May to 15 Aug. Subedar-Major Tikajit Pun, IDSM has worked ceaslessly to help bring his Bn to a state of readiness for Combined Operations. The Bn had a shorter time to prepare for these Operations than other units, and it was in great part due to his drive zeal and unflagging energy that the Bn was trained and operationally ready on the correct date. This officer has never spared himself when the interests of the Bn has been at stake, and has consistently worked harder than it has been his duty to do. Before the period under review, too, in active operations at Myebon and Tamandu his Administration and drive was exemplary. The contentedness of the men of his Bn at the present moment is due to Subedar Major Tikajit Pun’s untiring efforts for their well fare comfort and good organisation. He is a fine example to his men of a selfless hardworking Gurkha Officer.
    LG. 06.06.1946.
     
  17. Binro

    Binro Junior Member

  18. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

  19. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

  20. Binro

    Binro Junior Member

    Binro,

    Should of said, an awful lot of the young Gurkha Rifle officers only came onto Chindit training very late in the day. Some I have read about only had a few weeks or even days to understand and prepare for the trip.

    LOL, you might think that but according to Neill, he received none whatsoever and in fact the key 'disperse & make your way back to India plan' he got second-hand fron an NCO. Neill also has some 'interesting' observations on Ord Wingate.

    As you have no doubt guessed, I decided to start at the begining of Neill's two volumes of oral history(Cat No 13299). The good news is that the volume is marginaly better so it's easier to follow, the bad news is that Reel 3 is corrupted and won't load. I'm told that this IS available in the reference room on the other system but for that you'll need to make an appointment. Sadly, this reel is key to the story as reel 2 ends with the start of Loincloth and reel 4 starts with Wingate issuing the command to disperse and head back to India from the banks of the Irrawaddy.
     

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