Having finished publishing letters between my parents, I am wondering if my fathers extensive recollections/ diaries of his time as a junior officer in India in 1943 in the RA and training with the Chindits and his attachment to the Lancashire Fusiliers would be worth publishing. They are too lengthy to put up here and actually stop around the White City battle time. There is very little written about actual fighting, but much about social attitudes in India at the time, leaves, and many different personalities encountered. What is astonishing to me is the innocence of men going to war and what is omitted from the account. I have no idea whether it is worth getting it up for people to have a look at. Definitely more of sociological interest than military, and for people looking for mention of relatives. Anyone think it is worth it?
Hi zahonado, I have tried in some way to achieve what you describe on my website. Getting behind the men in question, not concentrating on the battles or fighting, which in most cases has been covered in books already. I think a lot of folk will find this interesting. I am working on a small project at the moment which will show what the average soldier got up to on leave in Bombay during 1942-45, well, not everything you understand!!
Have you tried contacting site member Opana Pointer, a.k.a. Larry Jewell :biggrin: ? He is now in charge of the Hyperwar site, after the passing away of Patrick Clancey.
Thanks everyone for your positive encouragement! That will keep me busy for a year or two.....How far should I edit?
Bamboo, I have a few descriptions of this I believe (leave in Bombay) but the text needs wading through!
Z, Treasure this account of the other side of war, the friendships made and lost, character observations and places visited. War is not all blood and guts and for the most part was an adventure. I too have been given a "diary" full of detail of the social history of the time as well as very detailed day to day events as seen by a Gunner during the Siege of Imphal and onwards into Burma. Reading through parts of it makes you feel that you are there with the narrator. I'm not sure what I will do with it yet. Lionboxer
zahonado Document the papers somehow, otherwise they are lost for ever. Here are two examples of what other people have done with websites based on family letters/diaries. The first relates to the Tibet Expedition of 1903-4, but the second is about WW2 (and 1939) http://intotibet1903-04.blogspot.com.au/2008/12/2nd-rajput-mess-alipore-calcutta.html http://storyofwar.com/about/ Both of these have been added as links on the FIBIS Fibiwiki http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php?title=Main_Page If you don't have the time to do something like this, you could discuss with the FIBIS webmaster uplading copies to the FIBIS website. http://www.new.fibis.org/contact. In addition, or as an alternative consider a donation of your papers to a Museum such as the Imperial War Museum , London Cheers Maureen
The Fusilier Museum in Bury would certainly be interested. They have quite a lot of Chindit material.
Thank you for all the ideas and links. Will try to sort out specific stuff for you, Bamboo.As it is too hot to be indoors I will not be doing the main slog till autumn arrives! Maureene, are you a member of FIBIS? I have a specific look up request if you have access to members only papers. A very slim chance of finding anything, but there is a diary of life in Quetta which just may have something in I am looking for.
I would certainly be interested in seeing a copy - even an advance copy. I have just completed a 60 page account (including maps and photos) of my Father's WW2 India - Burma experiences with the RA and infantry. I did it as a Family Record more than a published work for a range of reasons. The document mostly details his experiences from Calcutta - Dimapur - Kohima - Imphal - Meiktila. Anyone interested can contact me direct for a copy or discussion on alecogray@gmail.com
zahonado, yes I am a FIBIS member. I am willing to have a look and tell you if there is anything there, if you PM me the details (assuming I can be sent PMs as a recent member) Cheers Maureen
Dear Zahonado, I am the webmaster and author of: www.BritishMilitaryHistory.co.uk, which I run as a not-for-profit information website about the British Army and British Indian Army during the Second World War. I am currently writing a concise history of the 3 Indian Division (Special Force) for eventual publication on the website. In principle, I would be pleased to look at publishing your story and information on my website if you wish. You are welcome to contact me at: info@britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk. Regards, Rob PALMER
Alec... it might be worth posting it up in instalments on the site, within its own thread, if you are not intending it for publication, for everyone to read... split it up into logical sections and see how it goes... Which RA section was he with...?
Rob(British military history) Thanks for the offer... I am considering a blog here and publishing on Kindle . As I said originally it has very little about actual warfare so of limited interest in a military sense. However I will have a look at your site and contact you if I think it would fit there.