Remembering Today Casualty Details | CWGC WATSON, VICTOR WILLIAM Rank: Corporal Service No: 5677506 Date of Death: 23/03/1944 Age: 28 Regiment/Service: Reconnaissance Corps, R.A.C., 45th Regt. Grave Reference: 14. B. 2. Cemetery: TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of James and Emily Watson; husband of Florence Irene Watson, of Northfleet, Kent. Served with the Chindits.
Thank you Paul I see the Headstone states 25/3/44. I have mailed CWGC for confirmation. regards Clive
Hi Clive, In answer to your message, I have been assisting another member recently with a similar casualty from 45 Recce. Here is the response I gave, edited accordingly: I do not have too much detail or knowledge about the 1944 campaign, but do have a little information about 45 Recce and their whereabouts in late March 1944. They were part of 16th Brigade commanded by Bernard Fergusson and were the only brigade to march in to Burma that year. Their objective was to capture the town of Indaw which also had the only all weather airstrip in that part of Burma. Between 26-29th March the columns numbered 45 and 54 (45 Recce) were moving between the villages of Auktaw and Thetkegyin in their approach toward Indaw. All kinds of ambushes and contacts occurred during this time, including sadly, some 'friendly fire' against the columns from their partners 2nd Leicesters. 45 column was severely depleted and many men lost in this period. It is difficult to say what happened to Corporal Watson, but the fact that he has a grave at Taukkyan, suggests to me that he died somewhere under full Chindit control. Perhaps he returned to the stronghold called Aberdeen and died from his wounds there? If he had perished anywhere under Japanese control he almost certainly have no known grave and appear on the Rangoon Memorial. Books of interest to you, would be 'To be a Chindit' by Phil Sharpe and 'Wild Green Earth' by Bernard Fergusson. Also 'War in the Wilderness', by Tony Redding. Hope this info will be of help.