The War in Burma

[Bernard67Arnold]

I think Bill Slim was spot on when he said his lads in the XIV were the
forgotten Army, when you read about the terrain, the weather and the sub
human enemy they were fighting its a wonder any of them came back.
Whenever I see someone with the Burma Star they go up 100% in my
estimation cheers Bernard

 

[Dolphie]

Y'know, my Dad has a Burma Star but I have never seen it.........it's wrapped up & put away in some cupboard...........he wont talk about his time in Burma at all other than to say "its the past". Dad was a Chindit & something in me says I should be very proud of my Dad (I am anyway, not because of this just he's my Dad & therefore I'm very biased) but I'd love to know more about what he went thru. You've got me thinking there Bernard.

 

[Alf]

My Cousin who I remember he lived with Gran in Ashford Street Aston, was a Chindit and was wounded and taken back to India where he died after 10 days. 27th June 1944.

No 5 0n this list

https://www.cwgc.org/search/SearchR...&force=Army&nationality=6&send.x=48&send.y=14

 

[OtherHalf]

it was a forgotten war and all who went there suffered The real problem for the Allies was the environment. Burma was criss-crossed with jungle, mountains, rivers and mangrove swamps. Moving equipment was a nightmare across such hazardous terrain and worse was the constant threat of disease. Malaria was a very real problem

 

[Alf]

Have a look at this Tom

https://www.chindits.info/Photos/Index.html

 

[lesr1]

This tale is as vivid now as it was when it occured over 50 yars ago.My mother,father and I were walking in Bidford on Avon for a newspaper after his fishing contest had ended.My father deliberately crossed the road as he thought he had recognised someone he new.My father asked"Is your name Slater".Slater then went white as a sheet shaking uncontrollably and replied"Yes but if you are who I think you are I am seeing a ghost"Dad then headed for the pub to buy him a brandy.
What caused all this was that they served together in Burma and my father got shot in the back and shoulder by a Jap.Slater looked over dad and thought he was dead and in the turmoil carried on doing what he had to do. Unbeknown to him shortly after 2 Ghurkas also checked dad out, found he was still alive, placed him in a ditch,put a grenade in his hand and covered him with foliage.They returned 2 days later and saved his life.Eventually he was evacuated to India until the end of the war.
As a post note my father would have turned in his grave at how the Ghurkas would have been treated if Britains politicians had gotten their way.

 

[OtherHalf]

some great pictures there Alf ta

 

[Mossy]

Here is my moms brother

In Memory of
Gunner FRANK MARKLAND

4181571, 5 Searchlight Regt., Royal Artillery
who died age 42
on 14 July 1944
Son of George and Lily E. Markland, of Birmingham; husband of L. F. Markland, of Kingstanding, Birmingham.
Remembered with honour
KRANJI WAR CEMETERY

Commemorated in perpetuity by
the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

 

[Mossy]

My mothers other brother Frederick Markland survived Burma he was a R S M and was awarded the Burma Star as well as other campaign medals he was a great soldier.

I have got the badge of his sleeve that he sent my mom from India and also a letter where he is metioned in dispatches

I also have photos of him with the chindits as he was out there training them

As any body got any ideas where i can obtain his records from plus all the medals that he got.i feel humble as iwrite this

Mossy

 

[Ray Barrett]

G'day Mossy,
This is my dads old pal,I have visited Kranji a few times to put flowers on his grave.What I did find out was the Royal Artillery arrived in Singapore,in Jan.1942.However their equipment,and guns was with another convoy,which never arrived,so can't imagine what they fought with.BIRD, ROBERTInitials:RNationality:United KingdomRank:GunnerRegiment/Service:Royal ArtilleryUnit Text:85 Anti-Tank Regt.Age:29Date of Death:15/02/1942Service No:1114619Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:12. C. 14.Cemetery:KRANJI WAR CEMETERY
On a lighter note,years ago in a pub in Yorkshire...the gaffer asked if my children would like some Burma Star Rock,he had it made every year for their reunion.

 

[Mossy]

Ray you say he was your dads old pal my uncle Fred ran a shop in Electric Avenue when he eventually came out of the army

Mossy

 

[Ray Barrett]

Made a bit of a mess of my last post.This is how I meant it to be.

 

[Mossy]

Not to worry Ray i also read your post wrong


Mossy

 

[Ray Barrett]

I did something wrong somewhere Mossy.Never mind, what we do know is, the final resting place of your uncle Frank and my dad's pal Bobby,along with their comrades is a beautiful place,on a hill,in very well kept gardens.

 

[Dolphie]

This is my Dad (standing in front of car, smoking pipe) in India. Before going into Burma, he was in India being 'fattened up' & then afterwards when he came out of the jungle, he was recovering there too (malaria etc).

 

[Ray Barrett]

The horror of it Dolphie.A man I worked with years ago was a chindit and later a P.O.W.Now this man was sturdy and well built, his normal weight would have been about 12 stone.He told me at the end of the war he was kept in India for 6 months until he gained weight...his weight had dropped to 5 stone.

Nice photo.of your dad,like the pipe...he must have been all of 18.

 

[Ray Barrett]

https://www.burmastar.org.uk/The%20Battle%20of%20Kohima.htm

Try this link Dolphi,you would need to know your dad's regiment to find out more.

 

[Ray Barrett]

My mom's cousin,another Brummy "doing his bit".Traced his regiment to the battle of Kohima.
Don't know who's blood is on the back of the photo.

 

[Ray Barrett]

Oh,he is seated in the centre.

 

[OtherHalf]

nice pictures and nice link Ray gives an insight and a little bit of perspective too

 

[lencops]

Deleted Len,

 

[Bernard67Arnold]

Hi Dolphie, I though this would be a good thread to start, lots of interesting stories on the forum that folk would love to share with us, like
your own for example, my wifes uncle Fred was a POW of the Japs, and a
had a awlful time, he would never ever talk about it and did not claim any
of his medals, Burma Star included. We should make sure that people know and remember what happened, I understand there is no word about the War in the Jap history books, take care now Bernard

 

[a s wood]

Fantastic photographs. Does anyone else have any Burma soldier pictures to share? My Dads brother was killed in April 1945 in Meiktila just days before his regiment was sent back to India. This is his grave this rear on 11/11/09

 

[lencops]

Deleted. Len.

 

[OtherHalf]

treasured pics Len how you do the album.. nice

 

[Ray Barrett]

Here you go Mossy,this is the place where your uncle Frank and my dads pal are buried.

 

[Ray Barrett]

So peacefull now,but this is the beach where the Japanese invasion fleet landed,and only a handfull of British troops to hold them back.

second photo.is a few local lads...note the R.A.F.cap worn by one of them.:shocked:.

 

[WINSTON]

View attachment 40689

 

[Bernard67Arnold]

Hi Winston, my wifes Uncle Fred was aPOW of the Japs after being captured in Burma, he would never talk about it, I think the mind must shut down to allow the people
to forget the terrible things they did to our men. He would not even send for his medals, those soldiers from the Land of the Raising Sun have got a lot to answer for,
Bernard; Quote Does Reincarnation mean you come back as a tin of milk???

 

[lencops]

IWM Photos in Burma 1945. Len.