Some of them is easy to miss by using data from TNA. For example for Subedar Abdul Rehman from 152 Para is not listed unit but just "the Indian Army" note instead. I will look can I find some more later today, as those are the only one I could find last night.
Sergeant Reginald Geoffrey Hirst, D Troop, 582nd Field Battery, 158th Field Regiment Royal Artillery Military Medal
Gunner Robert Martin Crowle, D Troop, 582nd Field Battery, 158th Field Regiment Royal Artillery Military Medal
Gunner Herbert Crowson, D Troop, 582nd Field Battery, 158th Field Regiment Royal Artillery Military Medal
Havildar Sambhaji Bhuingde, 4th Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry Indian Order of Merit (1st Class)
Going through the casualties from Sanshak on the CWGC site I came across this unusual level of detail in the Concentration Report: Major John Vigne Percy Smith is mentioned in most accounts of the battle as he commanded 582 Battery of 158 Field Regt who deployed their 3" mortars throughout the battle. He died in a counter-attack on 26 March 1944. He came from Little Waltham, Chelmsford, Essex. Lt CPB Cox (89773) is given as RA attached to Airborne Forces. Although there are a number of accounts that the Japanese treated the wounded better than normal after Sangshak, it seems that there were still cases where they just shot or bayonetted the wounded when they came across them. Christopher Philip Bernard Cox is buried at Imphal and also commemorated at Holy Trinity Church, Lickey, Worcs. He was born in 1921. The London Gazette shows him as being commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on 16 June 1939. The Birmingham Daily Post article of 22 April 1944 gives more detail on his life but was published the same day as he appeared in the Casualty List. He doesn't show in any of the books or war diaries I have of the battle, including Seaman's list of officers. The Casualty List shows him as being in 152 Para Bn.
Account of the demise of Majors Smith and Lock from the Cheltenham Chronicle of 8 April 1944, within a couple of weeks of the end of the battle of Sangshak.
My favourite Sangshak award is that to Abdulla Khan, Mess Waiter HQ 50 Indian Parachute Brigade, who received a Mention in Despatches: Citation: "ABDULLAH KHAN was taken prisoner at SANGSHAK in March 1944, when his Brigade broke out of a Japanese encircling movement. He was later moved to UKHRUL, where a detachment of Indian National Army endeavoured to persuade him to join up with them but to no avail. He was roughly treated by the JAPANESE, and was offered the job of returning to SANGSHAK to look after the wounded Indian Other Ranks (IORs) who were still there. Gladly accepting because it brought him nearer to our troops, ABDULLAH KHAN and four others returned to SANGSHAK. Whilst looking after those wounded IORs ABDULLAH KHAN decided to escape, and although in a very weak condition from lack of food, he escaped with two other IORs. He later became separated from his companions and wandered in the jungle for 40 days, living on berries in a completely uninhabited tract. ABDULLAH KHAN eventually reached PANDU where he reported to our troops. For his bravery and endurance it is recommended that Mess Waiter ABDULLAH KHAN should be awarded a ‘MENTION IN DESPATCHES’." Recommended by an anonymous British interrogator responsible for evaluating the reports of escapers.
Amber39 This is great. Where did you find it? MID citations are quite rare unless they were 'downgrades' from a gallantry medal.
I trawled the National Archives using search words of Parachute & Burma & Award. I have two books out on Burma WW2 (put Harry Fecitt into Amazon's book search box) and I am compiling another on all Indian, Nepalese and Burmese soldiers, plus European officers, who served behind Japanese lines in WW2 Burma - Sangshak qualifies. I was there a few years ago - what a battle & break-out - it's a pity that the Indian Army old fogeys needed to denigrate the Para Brigade. Harry.
Hi Harry I think we have bumped into each other on the FB group 'WW2 Burma Research Group'. I have just ordered your book on Kohima and the Nagas from Abebooks.co.uk but the other is proving very expensive, so will wait for a better priced example to come up. I used 'WO373 Burma and Parachute' and came up with a much shorter list, even trying it and variations and still Sol and yourself came up with a number I missed!! On your new book - if you message me your email address I will keep an eye out for any extra stuff I come across in my research. All the nest Tony Honeyman
I also have this citation. I have found that a number of MIDs awarded for escaping or attempting to escape a number of times often have some sort of citation with the recommendations put forward. I have been working on putting together awards to Airborne forces in one place, it is now split into five due to volume, and most of these awards I have. When I have some time, which is not often even though retired, I will see if I can find any awards, not yet mentioned, and post them, but I think most have been shown already Regards Andy
This appears to be the main, general thread for this battle; so I have added this update by Dr. Robert Lyman: Sangshak He recommends a new book: The book was published in October 2023 by Pen & Sword: Fight Your Way Out - Pen and Sword Books and UK site: Fight Your Way Out For other options see: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/139905631X?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_PXDQT5RX8RCWQN3Y8E9R
Hi I have a copy - by David Allison. It is good - still working my way through it but good level of detail rather than just re-hashing the stuff out there already.
