14th battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry.

One of the safer Indian battalions to serve in during the Second World War, and I say that without any disrespect.

"The 14th battalion of the 5th Mahratta Light Infantry was raised on 1 February 1941, at Ambala by Lieutenant Colonel ES Storey-Cooper, OBE, MC, a British Officer who joined the regiment as a Staff Captain with 2nd/5th Mahratta Light Infantry on 1 April 1933. The battalion proceeded to Dacca, in Eastern Bengal, for a term of internal security duty in the autumn of the same year. In February 1942 the 14th Battalion moved across India to undergo a period of training at Campbellpore (now known as Attock, Pakistan).

In October 1942 the 14th Battalion embarked for service in the Indian Ocean as the defence garrison of the tiny Attu Atoll, which was a base vital to the air patrol of the sea routes and a possible object of Japanese attack.

At the end of 1943 the Battalion returned to India for a period of special training, in the Ahmednagar and Bombay areas, in amphibious operations with the role of Beach Group to the 33rd Indian Corps. It was during this period, and following the disastrous explosion of April 1944, that the Battalion performed notable service in clearing away the debris from the wrecked Bombay Docks.

In the last weeks of the war in Europe, during February 1945, the 14th Battalion proceeded overseas for service in Iraq. Soon after the completion of its tour of duty there, the battalion was disembodied following the end of the Second World War."

 

Edward Samuel Storey Cooper. O.B.E., M.C.
Royal Engineers Sgt. 51612
Commissioned 18th December 1916, 2nd Lieutenant Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
114th Mahrattas
Indian Army 4th April 1921.
Served with 2/6th Jat Regiment, 2/5th Mahratta Light Infantry. Awarded the O.B.E. for service with the Indian Farms Department 11th July 1940.
Raised 14th Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry 1st February 1941.

 

The man himself.

 

Two sepoys died in Iraq and are buried at Basra, in July and September 1945. See: Search Results | CWGC

My 2020 research Force 401 in Iraq August 1946-August 1947 would indicate the 14th 5th were a 'garrison' unit and if they stayed in Basra would have guarded the three RAF sites, one being a huge storage depot. In the period I looked at there were three Indian infantry battalions posted there.

 

Dacca, Bengal. October - December 1941. (The captions are those given in the photograph album).

Officers' Mess, Dacca.

 

Barrack Block, Dacca.

 

Charles Boultwood, Peter Brough, Self. (John Egerton Little Jones).



2/Lt. Charles William Northwood Boultwood. Born 15th April 1922. Commissioned 2nd Lieut. 10th September 1941.

76740 Major Peter Rignold Brough. Born 26th January 1918. Commissioned 2nd Lieut. 31st July 1938.

342587 Major John Egerton Little Jones. Born 21st March 1919. Commissioned 2nd Lieut. 26th July 1941. British Army Attached.

 

Jonah and 'Maufit' outside Mess.



Jonah is, as yet, unidentified.

'Maufit' was the nickname of 2nd Lieut. Ronald Bole Brown. Born 24th August 1911. Commissioned 23rd August 1941.

 

Sherriff & Doctor.



M.K. Sherriff. Commissioned 29th January 1931. T/Major. 29th January 1939. Later served with the 3rd Madras Regiment.

Doctor, as yet, unidentified.

 

Subadar Bala Powar. Date of enrolment: 28th April 1924. Jemadar: 1st April 1935. Subadar: 3rd August 1940.

 

Subadur Babu Kale. Date of enrolment: 6th January 1923. Jemadar 16th October 1935. Subadar 1st February 1941.

 

Sherriff 2 in C. (T/Major M.K. Sherriff. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant 29th January 1931. T/Major 29/01/1939. Later served with the 3rd Madras Regiment.

 

342587 Lt. John Egerton Little Jones.

 

C.H.M. Laxuman Jadhar. I am not sure if I have identified him yet as there are several Laxumans in the India Army List serving with the 5th Mahratta Light Infantry and at least one Jadhar. None are an exact match. Possibly Jemadar Lakshman Jadhar. Enrolled 15th April 1924. W/S Subedar 28th December 1939. I do not not if C.H.M. is a rank or his initials.

 

Pete, Elaine, Betty, outside swimming pool Dacca Club.

 

Umadh Dhaj ("Hermes"). Presumably employed at the Dacca Club.

 

Peggy and self at Dacca Races. Self being J.E. Little Jones.

 

I think CHM could be Company Havildar Major.

Tim

 

Thank you for the information, I will look again at the Army List. Incidentally, it was "C" Coy that Little Jones commanded.

 

Desmond Gordon. (W.S. Lt. Desmond Wilson Gordon, commissioned 2nd Lieut. 10th July 1941 from the Royal Corps of Signals.. W.S. Capt. & T/Major. 7th July 1941).