I am trying to find information about my father in WW2. He died in the 1970s, but I have obtained the available records from the Army Personnel Centre and have been tracking his activities from 1942 to 1947. In particular I was looking for evidence to support a story he once vividly told about being in a jungle and apparently escorting Japanese prisoners. However there is no mention anywhere in his records of him being anywhere near any Japanese or jungle! He was certainly in NWE in 1944 when he was wounded and evacuated, although it was not an injury from which he couldn’t have recovered. He was then placed on the Y LIST in Aug 1944. I do know that Germany surrendered in May 1945, but Japan didn't surrender until August 1945. It seems that once Germany had surrendered, British troops were sent to help finish the Japanese off in the various countries where they had taken over. I am therefore wondering if this is what happened with my father. There is nothing to support this in the records, but my father was assigned to a unit in March 1945 - 55th Inf. Div. Signals. I had hoped that researching this unit may provide some evidence, but I have been unable to find any mention of it anywhere, apart from the 55th (West Lancashire) Division which my research indicates was disbanded after WW1. I would be very grateful for any information about 55th Inf. Div. Signals and/or any other assistance. Please excuse my ignorance as I am very new to all this! I am obviously happy to answer any questions you may have.
55 Div did not serve in the Far East during WW2. Where was he between 1942 and 1944? Did he have a Burma Star or a Pacific Star? It would probably be best to scan and post all of the service records that you have.
Many thanks for your swift response. To answer your questions, I can see it might take a while to list the information I have for 1942-44 and can understand why you are suggesting I upload what service documents I have! I have now uploaded them, so I hope this helps. You will see that there seems to be a rather large gap between Service1.jpg and service2.jpg, the first ending on 21/3/45 and the second beginning 10/12/45. This is what drew me to the thought that my father could have been helping towards the Japanese surrender. Do you think that perhaps one of the forms may have been lost? However, this does not explain why the ‘Military history Sheet’, (included in medal.jpg) only shows that my father was ‘Home’. The thing is my father was never someone to make up stories for effect or to tell someone else’s story as his own, he just wouldn’t dream of it, so I am really puzzled as to the lack of reference in his records. As to the medals, there is only a definite reference to War Medal 1939-45, although there is a reference I can’t quite decipher on medal.jpg, which may refer to this. This is just above details of the War Medal. I have never seen my father’s medal(s) and am unsure if he ever applied for it/them. One last thing, you obviously know about 55 Div – can you tell me where I can read about them, particularly if information is available online? I still cannot find anything about them. Once again, many thanks
Well he was definitely awarded a France and Germany Star on account of the 25 days he spent in North West Europe until he was wounded and evacuated back to the UK. He seems to have been with 15 Recce Regt at that time. 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division - Wikipedia There is no evidence that he was ever in the Far East; is it possible that you misinterpreted the story in question?
Central Asian chaps fighting for the Wehrmacht in Normandy maybe? But the "jungle" part, beyond the heavily forested areas within Normandy, is a mystery. Good luck with all your enquiries. Kind regards, always, Jim.
55th Infantry Division is listed in Orders of Battle (by Joslen) as; Sep 1939 - A First Line Territorial Army Division, organized as a Motor Division Jun 1940 - reorganized as an Infantry Division Jan 1942 - placed on Lower Establishment May 1944 - raised to Higher establishment The Division did not proceed overseas and remained in the UK for the duration of the war. What caused me to post though was an old query of mine. In late 1944 preparations were made to form Light Divisions, predominantly for service in jungle terrain against the Imperial Japanese forces in the Far East. A feature of the Light Division was a Light Regiment, RA, equipped with 3.7-inch howitzers rather than 25-prs. 61st Infantry Division was reorganized as a Light Division in August 1945, and had already received 168 Light Regt, RA, at the end of June 1945. 55th Infantry Division converted its 5 Field Regt to 5 Light Regt, also at the end of June 1945. I have wondered, but have never been able to confirm, whether 55th Infantry Division were in the early stages of becoming a Light Division also in Jun-Aug 1945. Gary
Perhaps it might be worth getting his Tracer Card to rule out an administrative error in his Service Records? Here's a long shot - Perhaps he was posted to 45th Recce Regiment, not 45th Independent Recce Squadron. 45th Recce Regiment were in India in 1942 and I believe Burma in 1943. Anyway, its probably not going to be the case but you never know! Cheers Emps
Yes, I have considered my misinterpretation – I was young at the time and was actually earwigging as my father told the story to another adult. My memory is very clear on two phrases my father used: Japs (apologies if that offends anyone, but that is the term he used), walking along with their hands clasped behind their heads; all the troops smoking to keep the flies off (my father didn’t smoke). The jungle reference is less clear in my memory, so the possibility of misinterpretation is there. However, it is hard to let go of a memory, without being entirely convinced yet! Thanks for the link to 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division – as you say there are no references found anywhere which indicate 15 Recce Regiment were anywhere outside Europe.
The Normandy heavily forested areas are certainly food for thought. As I said in my reply to Jitter Party above, the reference to the ‘jungle’ is less clear in my memory, so it is certainly possible you have hit on an explanation. Can you tell me where I might find out about any Central Asian forces fighting in Normandy for the Wehrmacht and when? I wonder if you or anyone else might be able to help with a little thing which has intrigued me. I noticed on my father’s record that there are two references to the ‘Place of casualty’ being ‘field’ rather than the name of a place – on Service1.jpg 6/12/42 and 1/3/43. This was before he left for NWE. Would you happen to know what this term means and why it was used? It seems strange no actual place is given.
Many thanks for the information about the 55th Infantry Division. Of course, your thoughts on the Light Division are certainly intriguing in relation to my query – fingers crossed the knowledgeable people on here may be able to give further information!
Thanks for the suggestion of sending for my father’s Tracer Card. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe I may be able to obtain this from The Tank Museum? I have been considering asking them to do some research on my father and it seems asking if they have his Tracer Card should form part of this. I have been wary of filling in the enquiry form because of the cost this may entail, in terms of how long it may take them to find the information and whether what they discover would be any different to what I already have. I don’t want to end up paying twice for the same information! Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Interestingly, my previous research also led me to consider the 45th Recce Regiment, particularly when I too discovered they were in Burma in 1943. I haven’t discounted it, but as you say it is a long shot and feels in the realms of ‘too good to be true’ in terms of a simpler solution. The lack of any reference in records doesn’t help……..
Here's a start. Foreign volunteers in the Wermacht - Wikipedia Over the years I've read a few accounts of prisoners taken in Normandy of Asiatic appearance (former Soviet army chaps taken as prisoners and propagandered into changing sides and fighting for the axis). I'm out and about on the old hoof at present but I'll endeavour to dig some book references out on my return to Blighty. In the meantime, never give up in trying to get to the bottom of your father's recollections. Kind regards, always, Jim.
Many thanks, I will see what I can find out. Thanks also for your encouraging words - I will certainly keep going, with fingers crossed that I reach a satisfying conclusion.
