Hi everyone , have been quiet as I have obtained everyone of dads battalions war diaries and have been busy reading them and reading them and taking notes . Have also ordered and waiting to receive 12 books that have been recommended on here. After training and what seem forever of marching making and breaking camp. Dads gaffer was Lt col G H CREE who later became a major. Here is dads journey Deolali Dimpar BANARI DECEMBER 1943 LOHARDAGA, Ranchi Area, Tori, Howrah, SANTAHAR. TISTAMAH GHAT. COMILLA. CHITTAGONG DOZAHAURI. TUMBRA TEKNAF . Christmas Day NHILA TEKNAF. JANUARY 1944 ARAKAN. A flight to Bawli Bridge GHOTA MAUNGHNAMA. HATTAPUTTAGUNNA 332418 BABARPARA 338412 HOME FARM 338404 And on 8th January they were going to cross a river I think channg when the enemy opened fire with Lmg's they found another route and crossed this river at low tide reaching BABARPARA. At 0300hrs That is as far as I have got in my re reading of these diaries and typing it up Tac HQ would that be tactical headquarters Bn HQ would that be Battalion Headquarters Now after learning all this I am no wiser so anyone out there enlighten me and I suppose I will need maps next.
Well I guess this is from his time with 2nd West Yorks. You can try to compere names of places with this: http://www.ourstory.info/library/4-ww2/Ball/fire11.html Lohardaga is place where 5th Indian Division trained for the Jungle Werfare Chittagong was entry port for units designated for Arakan. And as you mentioned Lt.Col. G.H. Cree who led 2nd West Yorks in Arakan and later at Imphal here is his photo (post war taken in 1948) http://www.pwoyorkshire.co.uk/modes/index.php?page=editacq&id=PH01916
Thanks a lot Sol I do appreciate your help and thanks for the link to photo I will add it to my index. Just linked on to ball of fire going to read that in the morning as i have been on these diaries since 8.30am yesterday morning with 4hrs sleep and back on all day today the ball of fire looks great reading . I set off to do this for myself to learn what my dad did and now as I get further into it I realise I need to know as time is getting short for those that lived the nightmare and we have to carry the memory on for them and I want to do my small bit somehow somewhere a long the line. Elsie
Hi Elsie, Elsewhere on the forum you mentioned the Yorks and Lancs. As sol says the above dates etc are for the Arakan campaign. Very tough fighting indeed. In April 1944 the 8th Battalion Yorks and Lancs. were also in the Arakan as part of the 25th Indian Infantry Division. They eventually moved down to Akyab clearing the Japanese away as they went.
Thanks bamboo yes dad was transferred to the yorks and lancs 8th battalion on 28th April 1944 and then 2nd battalion 12th January 1945 but I have not got that far yet but I am hooked I can tell you. I want to know the simple things like why do they get transferred around and to be honest I was hoping dad had a quiet time in the war so I am quiet shocked to know he did not and I have shed tears for what they went through and I know it sounds corny but the world should not be allowed to forget what they all went through during the wars . Trouble is now I am hooked I want to learn more . Elsie
Yes according to his service record and his pay book and on everything he sent home while in Burma. The reason I did not ask dad anything about Burma is because my great aunts (who he was very close to and wrote to during the war ) used to tell me little snippets and I used to think that can't be right and when he died at the young age of 56 at the funeral were men I did not know and my great aunts told me they were ghosts from the past paying their respects . At this time my sister got chatting to them and many weeks later she told me what they had talked about(and maintains to this day she has not got it wrong ) they talked of a long walk and when they finally got back to safety not only had they worn their boots out but their feet as well. They talked of a major Cree.They said that in the last months of war dad got caught in a shelling attack that blew him into a tree and was injured and that's when he got malaria which in 51 led to him having major head surgery in 51 which left him blind for a long time so his war was still going on . You know I think I am a coward because I say I wished I had asked more and yet my own son a para was in Sierra Leonne. And fought in some awful battles and again what I know is from his friends and have I asked him No I have not . And because the dairies I was getting was not his full war diaries I paid a researcher sent him all copies of info we had of dads and these war diaries I now have cover from enlistment to discharge so your question you asked if the researcher has done his work correct then yes he was. My sister went out to Burma a few years back but when I go next year I want to know and be sure that the places I go are what dad was involved in .
Just an update on previous post. Its February 1944 dad is in B coy West Yorkshire regiment HQ 5 ind div and commanding officer is still Cree they are in the eastern slopes of Mayu Range My dads Bn spent the day on3/02/44 in Admin area before moving off for posns so now I have read ball of fire (thanks sol) feb44 Will be clearer. March 44 they march , fly and arrived at Kohima
Thanks to my friend I now know today's locations of where dad was in Burma . I am up to march in the diaries and am finding it hard to take in what dad was part of And he never said a word.
Hello Our Bill, Am including a short poem re the Mayu Range. Dawn on the Mayu Range Is always new and beautiful and strange to you:because the night before You're never absolutely sure The day just past Was not your last. And so the early golden ray That brings you yet another day Evokes a silent grateful prayer It's nice to find that your still there. Cyril Grimes:Sgt, 9th Battallion, Royal Sussex Rgt. Sylvia
