The Chindit Society

Discussion in 'Burma & India' started by bamboo43, Mar 21, 2016.

  1. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Thanks Jim and HW,

    I have always wanted one of these, but never really chased one hard enough at auction. The one that got away for me was back in 2009, when the escape map for a Longcloth Commando went up on eBay.

    Cheers

    Steve
     
    JimHerriot likes this.
  2. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    Ebay really is a double edged sword, it helps you find rare and wonderful things that you have always wanted. It then teaches you patience, resignation and forbearance as you watch some b----r outbid you by a country mile.

    Unfortunately, the internet has allowed anyone to be an expert without putting in the hours of study. Everyone now seems to know the significance of the orange map.
     
  3. Shiny 9th

    Shiny 9th Member

    I will treasure mine.
     
    JimHerriot and bamboo43 like this.
  4. Hebridean Chindit

    Hebridean Chindit Lost in review... Patron

    My dad never saw one...
     
    bamboo43 likes this.
  5. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    I've often wondered if everyone on Operation Thursday received one of these maps.
     
  6. Shiny 9th

    Shiny 9th Member

    My father was not involved in Thursday to my knowledge but did bring back a silk escape map.He liked maps and good quality items and always demonstrated how it could be disguised as a handkerchief if you were captured. Not sure if this would work in practice! Mine has been folded up in the past and has dark patches, maybe caused by ingrained dirt, caused by handling in use. Special care is needed in keeping these maps,I have been told.
     
    JimHerriot likes this.
  7. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Seeing the scale and detail on these escape maps, I am amazed that soldiers without great map reading skills did get out of Burma using them. Sadly, as I am sure I've mentioned before, nothing much exists belonging to my grandfather. I have his Army clothes brush with his Army number on it and a few photographs and a stylish tie pin.
     
    JimHerriot likes this.
  8. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    My example has the original owner's Army Number written on the margin in indelible pencil. I seem to remember reading that they could be worn as scarves and used to signal aircraft during supply drops.

    0range.jpg
     
    JimHerriot likes this.
  9. Father Peter Clegg

    Father Peter Clegg Padre Peter D. Clegg

    160 Field Reg RA (Much against his wishes and assigned as a Signaller (bright yellow radio in the Jungle!!)).
    Transferred to The Second Expeditionary Force, The Chindits, to Burma. 927009 W/Bdr. H. Clegg
     
    bamboo43 and JimHerriot like this.
  10. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    That's very interesting Peter. Were 160 Field Regiment RA the Gunners at the Blackpool Block attached to 111th Indian Infantry Brigade? I would be very interested to hear more about your father's time in Burma.

    Did you pick up the link to the Chindit Society website re: membership?

    Steve
     
    JimHerriot likes this.
  11. Father Peter Clegg

    Father Peter Clegg Padre Peter D. Clegg

    Firstly:160 Fd Regt RA then transferred to The Second Expeditionary Force (The Chindits).
    927009 W/Bdr Harry Clegg
     
    JimHerriot likes this.
  12. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Thanks Peter. I only ask because I was talking to the son of a Royal Artillery Chindit, who was a member of U Troop, which were the Gunners at Blackpool Block in May 1944. I'd love to hear more.
     
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2020
    JimHerriot likes this.
  13. Father Peter Clegg

    Father Peter Clegg Padre Peter D. Clegg

    I have his War Diary (very spidery writing) that his ‘comings and goings’ friends that he saw shot etc, right upto to his discharge (£53.00 (he said) and then, “Thanks for nothing’.
    Sad really.
     
  14. Hebridean Chindit

    Hebridean Chindit Lost in review... Patron

    That would be interesting to see for comparison purposes and attempt a transcription... I have there official diary... not that many pages, and a couple of maps that were in it... not very much comes up about it... there are some references in Tony Redding's book War In The Wilderness...
    There is also an IWM transcription by Ronald Swann... his son (iirc) came and went here... posted a couple of items and then was gone...
    Kenny
     
  15. Father Peter Clegg

    Father Peter Clegg Padre Peter D. Clegg

    I’ll see what I can do re sorting his notes out.
    There is a picture of him in Redding’s Book, squatting down making a brew.
     
    dbf and Hebridean Chindit like this.
  16. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Just a quick note to say, that it is highly likely that the Chindit society event in June will now be cancelled for the obvious reasons. More news to follow when I know more, but with all our surviving veterans now aged 97 years plus, we cannot expose them to any unnecessary risk. Hopefully, we can re-focus on the VJ Day commemorations in August, but only time will tell.
     
  17. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    A note from the Chindit Society:

    Sadly, and as expected, it has become necessary to cancel this year's main commemoration weekend planned for the 26/27/28th June. The Society is looking and hoping to attempt a gathering of some sort around the time of VJ Day, 15th August 2020. Details of any new event will be advertised in good time to all our friends and members.
     
    veronicad and JimHerriot like this.
  18. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    For Steve and Simon, and all who follow the Burma/India threads, and given that at last count (courtesy of Steve) the Chindit Society had a couple or three surviving South Staffs chaps, I hope this may be of interest.

    Taken out of the South Staffs loft box today (not looked at it myself for more years than I care to remember) and I hope, general information as it is, will be of some interest (I think it may be a bit of a rarity nowadays)

    "Your Men In Battle", Chapter 4, The Chindits.

    Kind regards, always,

    Jim.

    Your Men In Battle cover.jpg

    Your Men In Battle Ch 4 1.jpg

    Your Men In Battle Ch 4 2.jpg

    Your Men In Battle Ch 4 3.jpg

    Your Men In Battle Ch 4 4.jpg

    Your Men In Battle Ch 4 5.jpg

    Your Men In Battle Ch 4 6.jpg

    Your Men In Battle Ch 4 7.jpg

    Your Men In Battle Ch 4 8.jpg

    Your Men In Battle Ch 4 9.jpg
     
    kopite, timuk, High Wood and 6 others like this.
  19. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Thanks very much for thus Jim. I had not seen it before although the content is familiar. I am probably going to be writing up an extra newsletter for the Society members in a couple of weeks and may include some of this. As you say, the South Staffs veterans will be keen to read this no doubt.
     
  20. Jagan

    Jagan Junior Member

    bamboo43 likes this.

Share This Page