Hello, I'm trying to track down the circumstances of the death of Lt. Col A.K. Murcott in Burma in 1945. Casualty He had been C.O. of the 8th Battalion, 12th Frontier Force Regiment until 4th March 1945 when he left "...to take up another appointment…". The CWGC records his death as killed in action on 24th July 1945 in Burma. The CWGC record lists him as "Commanding" 5th/12th FFR however this battalion appears to have been in Iraq at the time. The confusion may have arisen because of Murcott's attachment to the 5th Battalion on being commissioned in 1924. The 8th Battalion war diary only lists the date he left the unit, 4th March 1945, but gives no other details. The regimental history provided the quote "...to take up another appointment…" but again no further details. He has a record at the British Library however I can't get to see this at the moment. Any help gratefully received. Thank you. Steve
Hi Steve I am trying to trace Murcott’s last two years. There certainly is confusion. He definitely served with the 5/12 FF. his memorial plaque in his home village states his association with the 5/12. We’re you able to find out any more
Personal Number: A.I.4I7 Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel (temporary) Name: Andrew Karslake MURCOTT Unit: Indian Army, 12 Frontier Force Regiment London Gazette : 1 February 1924 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32903/page/959/data.pdf The undermentioned Gentlemen Cadets, from the Royal Military College, to be 2nd Lts. 31st Jan. 1924:— UNATTACHED LIST FOR THE INDIAN ABMY. Andrew Karslake Murcott. London Gazette : 17 July 1925 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33067/page/4786/data.pdf The KING has approved the admission to the Ind. Army of the following Sec. Lieuts. from the Unattached List, with effect from the dates specified:— INDIAN ARMY. To be Second-Lieutenants to rank from the 31st January 1924. Andrew Karslake Murcott, 5th Bn., 12th F.F. Regt., 16th Apr. 1925. London Gazette : 19 October 1944 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36753/supplement/4794/data.pdf The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Burma and on the Eastern Frontier of India: — 12 F.F.R. Maj. (temp. Lt.-Col.) A. K. Murcott (I.A.4I7). London Gazette : 5 April 1945 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37015/supplement/1822/data.pdf The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Burma and on the Eastern Frontier of India: — 12 F.F.R. Lt.-Col. (temp.) A. K. Murcott (A.I.4I7).
Thanks for such a quick response and the Gazette references. Guess it’s another things we will have to put on hold. Do you have a particular interest in Murcott
Murcott is buried in a collective grave all with the same date of death, which included an RAF pilot & also a navigator. This led me to a thread on the navigator W.O. (Nav) Kenneth John CROUCH RAF of 221 Gp. Com. CROUCH, Kenneth John Warrant Officer, Navigator, 1430701, Royal Air Force, 3rd T.A.F. No 221 Group Communication Flight, Sulegon, Burma. Only son of Mrs F. Crouch, 16 Sunnyhill Grove, Keighley. Died 24 July 1945 in Expeditor aircraft, serial No KJ 552. ferrying army personell (2 Colonels, 1 Lt/Col and 2 Captains on a "Special Mission" Crashed in bad weather at Palam, Burma. He had been in the RAF for four years, and all of which he had served abroad apart for eight weeks. He did his flying training in Rhodesia, prior to which he was employed by Keighley Lifts. He was one of the first to join the Keighley air cadets other five were military and appear to be part of the Army Headquarters staff of the recently formed Twelfth Army, set up to take control of South Burma. They were: Colonel William Sholto Thessiger Douglass, OBE, aged 42, Royal Engineers Captain John Douglas Morgan, MC, 2nd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment. Captain Maurice Albert Brown, aged 30, 10th Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment, Indian Army, Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Karslake Murcott, Commanding 5th Battalion, 12th Frontier Force Regiment. Colonel Edward Knyvet Steward, Army Command and Royal Corps of Signals. The thread goes on further to say that the aircraft encountered engine trouble. Pilot attempted a forced landing but crashed in the process. Flight was possibly going to Imphal. the temporary burial place was at Kani, and that the permanent grave is in the Mandalay Cemetery. The officers & both aircrew were later re-buried in Taukkyan War Cemetery, Rangoon. Warrant Officer Kenneth John Crouch - Killed on Active Service 24th July 1945.
Thanks again. I have a silver cup The Quetta Cup, which was awarded to the best Man at Arms at Sandhurst. Murcott won it in 1924. I am trying to catalogue the history of the other 5 winners