Anyone know anything about British involvement in India 1944-1948

Hi, I’ve been looking into where my great grandfather served during the Second World War. We’ve got to the conclusion that he went overseas as he was the legal age, and his studio photo depicts him with an open BD collar and a GS cap. I was told by my grandmother (his daughter) he was stationed in Kancharapara, India, For the last year of the war. I was told he had some post war service, most likely until 1948. Does anyone have any information on the British involvement here for the “Indian uprising”. My great grandfather was most likely going by the name of Staff Sergeant Doar, does anyone have an account of him. The picture of him was 47th division RA, but the 47th never went overseas. Thanks for any help.

 

Hi,

Yiu really need to apply to UK MOD for a copy of his service record. Those documents will be a firm foundation on which to base your research.

Get a copy of military records of service

There were many thousands of UK personnel in “India” (modern day India & Pakistan) post war engaged in internal security duties as inter racial and religious strife was widespread in the run up to partition.

Steve

 

Just found an entry five months ago on Reddit, made five months ago, the text refers to a Jack Potter Doar, in the Royal Artillery and has the below photo.


From: https://www.reddit.com/r/ww2/comments/17mg9fq/help_me_with_my_great_grandad/ The site does not like visitors.

The opening post author has not been logged on since 23/2/24.

 

Kanchrapara - Wikipedia

See above link, there was an Airfield and Army Camp in the locality.

 

The opening post refers to:

That is an Indian and modern name for what the British called the Indian Mutiny in 1857.

The 47th (London) Infantry Division was a training formation:

It included Royal Artillery formations, which are listed on Wikipedia: 47th (London) Infantry Division - Wikipedia

Given the manpower demands in the British Army I am surprised he was posted to India, though there was an expectation the war against Japan would continue into 1945.

This website tries to make sense of the British Army deployments in India before independence in August 1947. It only has an infantry unit shown at Kanchrapara. See: British Units 1946-48 | India | Britain's Small Wars

Post 8 in this thread has an extensive official list of which units were in India and when they left. Their barrack location is usually shown. See: Which British units were left in India before and at the time of Partition?

As Kanchrapara is in West Bengal and north of Kolkata (ex-Calcutta) I note the thread above mentions the 91st Field Regt. was deployed there in the 1946 communal disorders.

If you are still trying to get more information you must request his service record. PM to opening post author.

 

That Reddit post was from me, however it yielded no results. I had lost the account, not too sure why it says mature content. I don’t think anyone else replied but I can’t check as I haven’t got an account anymore and don’t want to risk it if it has “mature content”.

 

Luca,

There were no visible replies to your Reddit post. I also looked on a genealogy site to identify him, no luck; if that is all the information you have. I assume you do not have a birth certificate for your sister and her father's name.

 

I will ask my grandmother, she has almost all birth certificates including his. If there is any information to specifically look for on it mention that and I’ll ask.

 

Hi all,
I’ve heard of something like Tracing cards or the like, which can help find some information on a soldier. As I’m relatively new to this stuff, could any of you help me or possibly find my great grandfather’s “trace card” or whatever it’s properly called. He may come up as either Jack Doar, or Jack Potter. He used the name potter, for really unknown reasons, but for help when finding the information. Look for the combination.
Thanks,

 

I know that for people in the Royal Armoured Corps, the Tank Museum may have a "tracing card" which has limited information on it. It's not a replacement for a full file.

You need to request his file from the MOD, as Tullybrone explained back in February. I can't emphasize this enough.

 

Hello,

Jack P. Doar appears to have been born Basford in the June 1926 Qtr. Mother's maiden name Fretwell.

He married Mabel Blount at Ilkeston in the December 1948 Qtr.

Regards,

Dave

 

No need to emphasise it at all. Submitted a request early December. Just however in the meantime wanted to see if there was any other way to obtain information.

 

A possible source of help and information (apologies not given before): Home - Families in British India Society

I assume Jack had a relationship in India, did he return to the UK minus the family?

 

I’ve never heard anything about a relationship before, from what I know he was in a relationship with Mabel Blount before being sent. I have looked on the provided website, and as I had thought, nothing comes up. It would be completely new information for me, as no one has ever mentioned that throughout the many stories told of him in India.