Field Ambulances and Clearing Stations (Burma)

Can anyone point me in the right direction for info on:

5A Field Ambulance (about 22/1/45)

and

19 Casualty Clearing Station (about 6/5/45)

I have another acronym - 'Disch 74 IGH' - reckon its a hospital, dated 25/2/45

My grandfather was injured in a glider crash, just trying to work out which date / where abouts. i am going to pick through the war diary, but interested in these units as well.

Thanks

Pete

 

Pete -
Looks like you "Disch 74 IGH" is for discharge from Indian General Hospital as opposed to the BGH - British etc...

Cheers

 

Sounds right.

Ok - where was 74 Indian General Hospital?

I'm fairly sure the glider crash was May 1945 - he said he was fighting alingside Chindits, which ties in with the 5th Kings Liverpool (chindits during op Thursday) who joined the South Lancs in April 45, for what is described as a '500 mile trek' through the jungle.

I'm sure i've seen a thread on 5 Field Ambulance, just cant find it!

Regards

Pete

 

At the outbreak of World War 2 (WW2), 5 Field Ambulance was reformed at the Connaught Hospital, Aldershot and served in Arles, Marshiennes, India, Rangoon, Japan and Malaya.

This is an article taken from the Wrexham Leader, 1945.

The Royal Red Cross has been awarded to Sister Ivy Pritchard, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Nursing Service, of Llay, for services in Burma. The citation states: “ Over the period 15<SUP>th</SUP> February to 15<SUP>th</SUP> May, 1945, 19<SUP>th</SUP> (I) CCS was working to full capacity at Sinthe and Myitche in Burma. The conditions were as bad as could be, with extreme heat, no shade, tentage only and no fans or refrigerators. Nationalities of patients included Europeans, Indians, Americans, East Africans, Japanese and Burmese. In spite of the difficulties in conditions and languages, and long hours of work, Sister Pritchard by her constant cheerfulness, patience and devotion to duty won the gratitude of all. Her nursing skill was an inspiration to the staff working under her management. I recommend her for the ARRC.”

Fact Sheets : Operation THURSDAY : Operation THURSDAY

Merrill's Marauders: Combined Operations in Northern Burma in 1944

Pete, it looks as if your man transferred from the South Lancs during his time in Burma. Does the service record not give an exact date, or details of transfer from the south lancs to other unit.

I have details of the 6week slog through the jungle but no mention of glider operations relating to the SL's.

P
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The 15th (British) Parachute Battalion was formed in 1945 from the 1st Battalion the Kings Regiment in India. It belonged to the 77th Indian Brigade, part of the 44th Indian Airborne Division. It was disbanded in December 1946 and reformed in 1947 as the 15th (Scottish) Parachute Battalion (TA) under the command of Lt Col AS Pearson.


Source: Paradata

 

Order of Battle, as of May 1, 1945

<DL><DD>General Officer Commanding - Major General Earnest Edward Down <DD>Commander, Royal Artillery - Brigadier Reginald John Kirton </DD></DL><DL><DD>British 14th Airlanding Brigade - Brigadier Francis William Gibb <DL><DD>2nd Bn. Black Watch <DD>4th Bn. 6th Rajputana Rifles <DD>6th Bn. 16th Punjab Regiment </DD></DL></DD></DL><DL><DD>Indian 50th Parachute Brigade - Brigadier Edward Galbraith Woods <DL><DD>1st Bn. Indian Parachute Regiment <DD>3rd Bn. Indian Parachute Regiment </DD></DL></DD></DL><DL><DD>Indian 77th Parachute Brigade - Brigadier Claude John Wilkinson <DL><DD>15th Bn. Parachute Regiment <DD>16th Bn. Parachute Regiment <DD>2nd Bn. Indian Parachute Regiment <DD>4th Bn. Indian Parachute Regiment </DD></DL></DD></DL>Divisional Units
<DL><DD>123 Light / Airborne Regiment RA <DD>159 Field Regiment RA <DD>23rd Light Anti-Aircraft / Anti-Tank Regiment RA </DD></DL>Creation

The division's creation was a protracted affair. The division was first converted from the Indian 9th Airborne Division (itself built around the core of the disbanded Indian 44th Armoured Division), at Secunderabad in India, on April 15, 1944.
Within a fortnight, the division HQ and such supporting units as had been allocated were used to form the Indian 21st Infantry Division, as an emergency measure during the Japanese invasion of India (see Battle of Imphal). By July 15, the crisis was clearly over, and the airborne division's formation was resumed.

Formation

On September 15, 1944, the existing Indian 50th Parachute Brigade was allocated to the division. Later in the year, it was decreed that the Chindit formations were to be broken up and some of them converted to airborne formations. British 14th Airlanding Brigade became part of the division on November 1, 1944, and Indian 77th Parachute Brigade on March 1, 1945.
The conversion of 77th Brigade was accompanied by the formation of the Indian Parachute Regiment which absorbed the existing Indian and Gurkha parachute battalions, and the formation of two British battalions of the Parachute Regiment around the cadre of troops which had already fought as Glider infantry during the Chindit campaign; 15th Battalion from 1st Bn. King's Regiment (Liverpool), and 16th Battalion from 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment.

Operation Dracula

The division was still in the midst of formation, reorganisation and training, when it was called upon to provide a parachute force to take part in Operation Dracula. This was an amphibious invasion against Rangoon, the capital and principal port of Burma, which was reinstated at short notice after being earlier cancelled.
A composite Gurkha parachute battalion was formed from the two Gurkha battalions of the Indian Parachute Regiment, and landed behind Japanese coastal defences at the mouth of the Rangoon river on May 1, 1945. They cleared Japanese rearguards from the defences, but the main Japanese garrison had evacuated Rangoon several days previously. The subsequent landings from the sea were unopposed.

Later Operations

The division was preparing to take part in the projected invasions of Malaya and Singapore when the war ended unexpectedly. The division provided small airborne parties which landed in Japanese-occupied territories ahead of the main Allied forces, locating camps of Allied prisoners of war and interned civilians and delivering emergency relief supplies.
<DL><DD></DD></DL>

 

At the outbreak of World War 2 (WW2), 5 Field Ambulance was reformed at the Connaught Hospital, Aldershot and served in Arles, Marshiennes, India, Rangoon, Japan and Malaya.

This is an article taken from the Wrexham Leader, 1945.

The Royal Red Cross has been awarded to Sister Ivy Pritchard, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Nursing Service, of Llay, for services in Burma. The citation states: “ Over the period 15<SUP>th</SUP> February to 15<SUP>th</SUP> May, 1945, 19<SUP>th</SUP> (I) CCS was working to full capacity at Sinthe and Myitche in Burma. The conditions were as bad as could be, with extreme heat, no shade, tentage only and no fans or refrigerators. Nationalities of patients included Europeans, Indians, Americans, East Africans, Japanese and Burmese. In spite of the difficulties in conditions and languages, and long hours of work, Sister Pritchard by her constant cheerfulness, patience and devotion to duty won the gratitude of all. Her nursing skill was an inspiration to the staff working under her management. I recommend her for the ARRC.”

Fact Sheets : Operation THURSDAY : Operation THURSDAY

Merrill's Marauders: Combined Operations in Northern Burma in 1944

Pete, it looks as if your man transferred from the South Lancs during his time in Burma. Does the service record not give an exact date, or details of transfer from the south lancs to other unit.

I have details of the 6week slog through the jungle but no mention of glider operations relating to the SL's.

P
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Was this unit involved when the Nip overran Chindit medical posts during the offensive against Mawlu-Henu-Mogaung?

 

Some great stuff in there - will need to read it all again tomorrow.

Phil - he wasnt in Thursday, didnt get to India until late '44. Interesting about the 15th Para's , he was quite specific that he fought alongside chindits, were the 1st Kings chindits?

Service history, well, mostly deciphered but has thrown up more questions! He was posted to Kirkwall with the 9th Bn in May 42, but he was drafted in Nov 40, in between he was shown as posted to No.4 Command, HQ Chester (I assume this was Western Command), but no idea what he was doing as he wasnt posyed to a Battalion!

I have had a look on google for Kirkwall, Orkneys, but nothing about the South Lancs - it is mentioned in the regt. history though.

the odd thing is the amount of time in Hospital - he is on X list on 6 May 45, and on the 3 Oct 45 he is shown as being at 40 ICD (BT), which sounds hospitalish to me.

The glider crash is from my dad, when it crashed his leg was bent back (like kneeling) but with a piece of wood straight through, so he couldnt unbend it! I will ring my uncle tomorrow and see what he can recall.

Thanks for the help so far, much appreciated!

Pete

 

Phil,

Just had a look at the timeline:

17.8.44 Disembarked Bombay. posted BBRC No.1 Wing BBRC. (no idea!)
9.9.44 Attached 7th Bn. South Lancs, Buani. (Jungle training I reckon)
9.10.44 To reinforcement camp, Comilla & posted X(iv)a 11 Army Group (?)
20.10.44 Admitted No.10....unreadable
31.10.44 Discharged No.10...unreadable but sounds medical.
1.11.44 posted 2nd Bn. south lancs
22.1.45 Admitted 5A field Ambulance
25.2.45 Discharged
6.5.45 Admitted 19th CCS
after that it seems to be hospitals and then embarked for home on 10.12.45

He was awarded the 39-43 Service Medal, but not the Burma Star, got there too late/in hospital/wounded and home probably.

Also - 40 days awol and 20 days Confined Barracks, mostly during his initial training. He was an argumentative, fisty old bugger, even in his 80's.

Will be up to the museum soon, as hopefully they will have the 9th Bn. War Diary and the 2nd Bn in 1945 (cant find it at Kew, but the regt. museum have a lot of NA documents stored at Preston)

Pete

 

Pete, there are a number of references to BBBR on the Lanc Fusilliers site, so you might me able to glean some info from there.

The Lancashire Fusiliers at Dunkirk

In 44, the 7th South Lancs, were at Budni

Comilla, is part of modern day Bangladesh

Phil

 

I've asked on the burmastar site - am thinking that maybe 'No.1 Wing' is a building, and B.B.R.C is B B Reinforcement Centre - but whats the B B?

Am sure it is Budni - quite a lot of the hanwriting is unreadable!

Thanks

Pete

 

9.10.44 To reinforcement camp, Comilla & posted X(iv)a 11 Army Group (?)



Pete, the Order of battle of 11 Army Group on the 9th Oct 44 was as below. From this you can assume that he went to the reinforecement Camp at Comilla and was posted to the 14th Army (X(iv)a) of the 11 Army Group.

20.10.44 Admitted No.10....unreadable
31.10.44 Discharged No.10...unreadable but sounds medical.
1.11.44 posted 2nd Bn. south lancs

It looks as if he was admitted to hospital before he could be assigned to a brigade / Regiment, more than likely with Malaria, and was finnaly posted to the south lancs on the 1st Nov 44.

22.1.45 Admitted 5A field Ambulance
25.2.45 Discharged

The 2nd South Lancs, were on their cross country march in Jan 45, so it is possible that he either suffered an injury during the march, or contracted malaria again, being discharged after the battalion had crossed the Irwarrdy.

11 Army Group<O:p</O:p
- 14 Army
o 19 Indian Infantry Division
§ 62 Indian Infantry Brigade
· 2 The Welch Regiment
· 3/6 Rajputana Rifles
· 4/6 Gurkha Rifles
§ 64 Indian Infantry Brigade
· 1/6 Gurkha Rifles
· 2 The Worcestershire Regiment
· 5/10 Baluch Regiment
§ 98 Indian Infantry Brigade
· 2 The Royal Berkshire Regiment
· 4/4 Gurkha Rifles
· 8/12 Frontier Force Regiment
§ 1/15 Punjab Regiment
§ MG/11 Sikh Regiment
§ 115 Field Regiment RA
§ 33 Anti-Tank Regiment RA
§ 29 Field Company IE
§ 64 Field Company IE
§ 65 Field Company IE
§ 327 Field Park Company IE
o HQ Ceylon Army Command
§ 22 (East Africa) Infantry Brigade
· 1 The Rhodesian African Rifles
· 3 The Northern Rhodesia Regiment
· 1 The King's African Rifles
· 59 Field Company EAE
§ 28 (East Africa) Infantry Brigade
§ 7 The Kings African Rifles
§ 71 (Somali) The Kings African Rifles
§ 46 The Kings African Rifles


Some supporting Testimony
BBC - WW2 People's War - Service in the Burma campaign
http://www.ramcjournal.com/2000/oct00/morgan_jones.pdf

 

I reckon you're right about Malaria.

I made some effort to track down Manny Curtis who has an entry on burmastar, as I believe he was also 9th Bn., but sadly he passed away last year.

I really wish I had done this 3 or 4 years ago.

Hows the regt. history going?

Cheers

Pete

 

Mr Keane,

My mother Sister Pritchard of the 19CCS is the person referred to in earlier posts. I have the War Diaries for 19 CCS in April/May 1945. On 6 May 1945 , the Unit was in Magwe but receiving patients from the surrounding area - mostly brought in by L5 s of the USAAF Liaison Squadrons . Hope this helps,

Elizabeth K

 

74 IGH was in Comilla in April/May 1944 - but would it have moved in the following year?

Skoyen89

 

Elizabeth

Thank you for your post.

I know the CCS was a busy place, but it would be nice to think that Jim benefitted from some of the care and attention that your mother was so rightfully rewarded for.

Regards

Pete Keane

 

Hi Peter,

If you are looking for any specific medical units war diaries they are all listed inc Cat No. and dates on excel in this thread:

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/research-material/29605-national-archives-catalogue-excel.html

Cheers
Andy

 

Thanks Drew, I really needed to know where 19CCS were, doubt I need to go any deeper as its unlikely patient rosters were kept?

Pete

 

unlikely patient rosters were kept?


Couldn't say mate, I've not started copying any BEF medical units yet.