DCLI far east

Discussion in 'Burma & India' started by Rob Dickers, Jan 26, 2014.

  1. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

    Bit out of my manor i'm afraid.
    trying to find someone
    Did any of the battalions of the Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry serve in the Far-East theatre ww2 please?
    Cheers
    Rob
     
  2. Charpoy Chindit

    Charpoy Chindit Junior Member

    No, I'm afraid not.
     
  3. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

    ;) Great stuff, many thanks

    Rob
     
  4. ethan

    ethan Member

    However......quite a few of the men of 45 Recce (part of 16 Brigade in the 2nd Chindit expedition in Burma) were originally from the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry; just a quick search of the roll of honour shows four men, three of them senior NCO's.
     
  5. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Very similar to ethan's answer really, but a number of the 2nd Battaliion volunteered for Commando units in 1940 and found themselves in India/Burma/China by 1942. Some served on the Chinese Military Mission and other such expeditions.
     
  6. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

    Thanks Chaps, very helpfull. ;)
    Kew Weds will hopefully solve the puzzle

    Best
    Rob
     
  7. Hi Rob
    I'am quite new to all this and just picked up on an old posting by you
    My dad served with D.C.L.I. and with 307 Holding battalion was posted to West Africa,then posted to 9th battalion GoldCoast Regiment which went to India,25-03-45 and returned back 03-03-46
     
    Rob Dickers likes this.
  8. Hi Rob,
    I see you'r trying to find someone ,have you tried D.C.L.I museum at Bodmin, Cornwall,they have a research guy that could probably help,look up their webb site,
    Best of look J.T.O
     
  9. DaveWilts

    DaveWilts Member

    Hello folks. For some years my Dad and I have been trying to find any information regarding my Grandad Pte Wilton of the 2d Bn DCLI. He was awarded the Burma Star but never spoke a word about his time in the war while he was alive. We discovered a poem after he died that he wrote in dedication to the '16 Cornwalls' that he was with when they were taken as prisoners of war. Any attempts we have made so far to find anything out have hit brick walls because we are told that the DCLI were not in Burma.
     
  10. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Dave,

    From what I've read around here you will need to apply for his service records.

    I bought a copy of the DCLI history when I was at the Museum in Bodmin in June, and from that the 2nd did not go as a unit to Burma, so I think there must be more to the story of your grandfather's service in the war than just 2DCLI.
     
  11. DaveWilts

    DaveWilts Member

    Thanks for your reply. I would love to find some relatives of the people that my Grandad served with so that they can read his poem. My Dad was a young child when my Grandfather returned from the war and he clearly recalls my Grandad receiving his medals in the post and going outside and throwing them away over the hedge. Fortunately my Dad managed to find and rescue them but when we found the poem it suggested that whilst he wanted no recognition himself having tried to throw his own medals away he took great care in keeping the poem safe and hid it knowing that it would be found after he died.
     
    Chris C likes this.
  12. DaveWilts

    DaveWilts Member

    Thanks all. I have now applied for his military records and hopefully can fill in some blanks. My interest has been sparked because last week I had the honour and privilege to play at the daily Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate alongside my 15 year old son with Camborne Youth Band. My son proudly wore my Grandads medals and many people asked about them. I will attempt to upload a photo if I can.
     

    Attached Files:

    Chris C likes this.
  13. DaveWilts

    DaveWilts Member

    An update having received my Grandads service records. He was in the DCLI but was drafted overseas in March 1942 serving in India, Ceylon and Burma including a tour with the 2nd Chindit Force.
    This has proved very interesting and my thanks to everyone particularly Seroster for steering me in the right direction.
     
    Chris C likes this.
  14. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    Hi Dave
    So did he serve with 2 DCLI in India, Ceylon and Burma or was he attached to another unit?
     
  15. DaveWilts

    DaveWilts Member

    Hi. No he did not go with the DCLI and I am trying to work out who he was with (? Kings Own Royals) but I'm struggling slightly to understand all of the handwriting and abbreviations.
    What I find curious though is that the poem he wrote is dedicated to 2DCLI 'Now prisoners of war' and in it he refers to the 'sixteen Cornwalls fighting'.
    I am getting some help with deciphering his service records and will let you know if I can be sure who he was with.
     
  16. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Hi David,

    I just realised I've been talking to you by email and had not connected the dots to this thread. It's Steve from the Chindit Society. I hope some of the information I sent over was of use.
     
  17. DaveWilts

    DaveWilts Member

    Hi Steve. Thank you so much for the information that you gave me it was most helpful - particularly deciphering some of the abbreviations. I am gradually filling in some of the blanks and making some progress and will get some scanned documents over to you at some point. If only work didn't keep getting in the way!
     
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