My friends Father ASM Bolton REME, was stationed on Coco Island off Burma during WW2. What was on the Island that warranted a REME Workshop? Thanks
Coco island was probably used for para-naval ops into Burma so I am surmising that your father would have been involved in boat-engine maintainance, SOE were operating Sleeping Beauty submersible canoes as well as Welman mini submarines in the Burma area. You may find more info on the para-naval ops in Bernard Ferguson's book The Watery Maze The Chinese are now using these islands as a listening post on Naval operations.
Hi, Jedburgh22 and jeffbubble, The Cocos Islands (note the "s" added to "Coco") are also called the Keeling Islands. This atoll is Australian territory located in the southern Indian Ocean over 1400 miles from the west coast of Australia and over 1600 miles from Sri Lanka. Late in WWII it became the base of operations for roughly 2 1/2 months for two RAF Liberator squadrons: 356 (22 July - 15 Nov '45) and 99 Squadron (29 July - 15 Nov '45). Before the Japanese surrendered, there was a need for a more southerly base for Lib ops to Malaya, Singapore, and surrounds, and the Cocos fit the bill. 321 (Netherlands) Sqn RAF also had some Libs there, and 136 Sqn RAF flew Spitfires from there, as well. I'm not sure of the dates for these latter squadrons' postings there. Wikipedia has some fascinating details on the Cocos during the war: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocos_%28Keeling%29_Islands I can't vouch for accuracy of all info, but I have heard of the mutiny mentioned in this source. Wikipedia says that there were two airstrips there. That website has some good reference maps. Also, here is a very poor quality 1945 sketch map of the Liberator airstrip on West Island (where the current airfield is situated), drawn by a 99 Sqn veteran. Also a poor quality image of the same airstrip taken from a Liberator. I just rediscovered Lib veteran Jim Fail's history of Cocos Lib operations, with many photos: Cocos Island Forward Strategic Air Base As the islands are Australian territory, I doubt very much that the Chinese are using the Cocos Islands for listening posts! Regards, Matt
Hi, Jedburgh22 and jeffbubble, The Cocos Islands (note the "s" added to "Coco") are also called the Keeling Islands. This atoll is Australian territory located in the southern Indian Ocean over 1400 miles from the west coast of Australia and over 1600 miles from Sri Lanka. Regards, Matt The Coco Islands are off Burma. [FONT="]They are north of the Andaman Islands. Coco Islands - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Confusing isn't it! Cheers Geoff [/FONT]
Thanks for setting me straight, Smidge! And I call myself a geographer...shame, shame. Yes, confusing...and I guess that's why the Cocos Islands are more often referred to nowadays as the Keeling Islands. Humble apologies to Jedburgh22, as your info regarding the Chinese listening post in the Coco Islands indeed seems to be the general consensus. Cheers, Matt
The Chinese are now using these islands as a listening post on Naval operations. I have been reading a few reports done on this issue (listening post) which they are saying is a myth. I can find information on the Japanese holding the island(s) during ww2 but nothing on Britain or the allies. According to this book, the Japanese were there until wars end. They committed atrocities during their control of the islands and just before they left. Pages 102-103 Imperial Japan's World War Two, 1931 ... - Google Books
I can find information on the Japanese holding the island(s) during ww2 but nothing on Britain or the allies. According to this book, the Japanese were there until wars end. In April 1945, Royal Navy ships bombarded Japanese radar station on the Greater Coco Island, so in that time it was definitely in Japanese hands. I don't know if any of those two islands were used by SOE, but if not than your man could be based there before occupation in 1942 of immediately after the war (which I think is more probable).
Cocos (Keeling) Islands is the correct location (Have amended Title) sorry about wrong info. REME CO was Capt Keen Why were they here it appeared it was a Air Strip?
I can find information on the Japanese holding the island(s) during ww2 but nothing on Britain or the allies. According to this book, the Japanese were there until wars end. They committed atrocities during their control of the islands and just before they left. Christmas Island (now Australian Territory) in the Indian Ocean was occupied by the Japanese. From the outbreak of war in South East Asia in December 1941, Christmas Island was a target for Japanese occupation because of its rich phosphate deposits. A naval gun was installed under a British officer and four NCOs supported by Indian soldiers. The first attack was by a Japanese submarine that torpedoed a Norwegian vessel, the Eidsvold, loading phosphate in Flying Fish Cove. This was on 21 January 1942. The vessel drifted and eventually sank off West White Beach. 50 European and Asian staff and their families were evacuated to Perth. In late February and early March 1942, two aerial bombing raids and shelling from the sea led the District Officer to hoist the white flag. After the Japanese naval group sailed away the British officer raised the Union Jack once more. During the night of 10 - 11 March, a mutiny of the Indian troops, abetted by the Sikh policemen, led to the murder of the five British soldiers and the imprisonment of the remaining 21 Europeans. On 31 March a Japanese fleet of 9 vessels arrived and the Island was surrendered. A naval brigade, phosphate engineers and 700 marines came ashore and rounded up the workforce, most of whom had fled to the jungle. Sabotaged equipment was repaired and preparations were made to resume the mining and export of phosphate. Isolated acts of sabotage and the torpedoing of the Nissei Maru at the wharf on 17 November 1942 meant that only small amounts of phosphate were exported to Japan during the occupation. In November 1943, over 60% of the Island's population was evacuated to Surabayan prison camps, leaving of total population of just under 500 Chinese and Malays and 15 Japanese to survive as best they could. In October 1945 HMS Rother reoccupied Christmas Island. Sources: Public Record Office, England War Office and Colonial Office Correspondence/Straits Settlements J. Pettigrew: 'Christmas Island in World War II ' Australian Territories January 1962 Interviews conduced by J G Hunt with Island residents, 1973-77 Correspondence J G Hunt with former Island residents, 1973-79
Originally Posted by spidge I can find information on the Japanese holding the island(s) during ww2 but nothing on Britain or the allies. According to this book, the Japanese were there until wars end. They committed atrocities during their control of the islands and just before they left. Hi Spider, This quote was about the original header of the Coco Island off Burma in the Andaman Islands. The poster has with new information changed the title to the Cocos Keeling Islands. Becoming confusing however it will turn out in the end. Cheers Geoff
Cocos (Keeling) Islands were not occupied by Japanese, Christmas Island was occupied by the Japanese. Same area of Indian Ocean about 700 miles apart. Now, back to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Hi Jeff Found this on the People's War Site: I started with 356 Squadron when I was posted to Bengal, the Station was there. We were bombing Burma and Java and Sumatra, Rangoon and Mandalay. But you see the trouble was that it was a long way for the aircraft to go. Especially when we kind of cleared the Japs out of Burma the distance became very great for the bombers meaning that with their heavy load of fuel it meant the bomb load wasn’t as heavy as it might have been. So it was a problem. It was then that the authorities, war people found that there was an island, a British owned island in the Pacific which was 600 miles from Java and Sumatra thus about half way between Ceylon and Perth (Australia) and it was this coral atoll, the Cocos Keeling Islands. Beautiful little setting there, this little coral atoll. One of the islands was just long enough and just wide enough, barely half a mile wide, just long enough to take a landing strip down the center to take the Heavy Bombers, the Liberators. Is that any help? I checked the RAOC history too and although they were around the area, there is no mention of the islands. Jules. Jules.
Cocos (Keeling) Islands were not occupied by Japanese, Christmas Island was occupied by the Japanese. Same area of Indian Ocean about 700 miles apart. Now, back to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Spider, #1 - The original thread was called Coco Island - Burma #2 - The quote of mine you used related to Coco Island Burma #3 - The Cocos Keeling Islands were bombed but not invaded. #4 - I know Christmas Island was invaded however that was not the question. #5 - I know where Christmas Island is because I used to deal with them in foodstuff, chocolates, sweets and Cuban cigars. Now back to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands - with a very good website that details memoirs from guys that were actually posted there during WW2 and names some of the people who were killed enemy fire. Memoirs from John Behague - WWII Cheers Geoff
There are some pics here of the air strip. Pity can't find anything REME specific. Cocos Island Forward Strategic Air Base Jules.
Could be worth an email to Fred. I served in the RAF from early 1941 to 1946 but the most significant period was in April to August 1944 when I was sent to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean. I was in charge of 6 other members of 357WU a secret wireless unit of "Y" Service, listening to Japanese communication. We were put there to listen and determine Japanese aircraft activity in Sumatra and Java. I now live in Canada and would really like to try to contact anyone who was there with me or anyone who spent time on these wonderful islands. Fred Roles
Some google info: I served in the RAF from early 1941 to 1946 but the most significant period was in April to August 1944 when I ws sent to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean. I was in charge of 6 other members of 357WU a secret wireless unit of "Y" Service, listening to japanese communication. We were put there to listen and determine Japanese aircraft activity in Sumatra and Java. I now live in Canada and would really like to try to contact anyone who was there with me or anyone who spent time on these wonderful islands. Fred Roles
The following Indian Army and Ceylonese units served in the Cocos Keeling Islands in WWII: 13th Indian Coast Battery Raised 1942. On 7 December 1942 it sailed for Ceylon for a month’s training enroute to the Cocos Islands. 26/14th Punjab Regiment (Garrison) The battalion went on active status (dropped Garrison) on 1 January 1945, but it was not renumbered as was the normal practice. It moved to the Cocos Islands in March 1945 and left for Calcutta on 1 August 1945 by way of Colombo, Ceylon. It then moved to Alipore and Secunderabad by 18 August 1945. 9/8th Punjab Regiment The battalion was raised at Fyzabad on 1 May 1941 as part of the newly created 99th Indian Infantry Brigade, which was forming at Lucknow. The brigade was mobilized at Babina in November 1941 and embarked for Ceylon from Dhanuskodi on 4 January 1942. One platoon of the battalion served on Cocos Island from January 1943 until March 1944. The battalion remained under command of the brigade garrisoning Ceylon until March 1944. It then moved to Ratu near Ranchi with the brigade. Ceylon Garrison Artillery The Ceylon Garrison Artillery also maintained the Seychelles Coast Battery in the Seychelles and the Cocos Keeling Coast Battery on Director Island in January 1942.
The Cocos Islands was also the site of a famous mutiny in WW II. See: Ockham's Razor - 20/05/01: The Cocos Islands Mutiny There is also a book written about the mutiny, I believe.
