bamboo43 submitted a new resource: 1st South Staffs War Diary 1944 - 1st South Staffs War diary-March, April and June Read more about this resource...
Thank you very much for posting. this, a remarkable period of a remarkable battalion. "Did we do our stuff Sir?" They certainly did. Mike
Although we losing our veterans horribly quickly now, it is astonishing that there are still a number of South Staffs and King's Regiment soldiers still with us. They seem to have a longevity gene compared to other Chindit units.
Does the diary exist for May 1944? I am running through my service books and trying a bit more in depth research than previously and have found one that I believe was a Colour Sergeant with 1st South Staffs at this point, he was wounded 18 May 1944 so am trying to do a bit more digging - he is 4913791 Ronald Turner
Thanks for that, it sets the scene a bit but doesn't actually tie down an incident which is a shame but its great to have it. Below is the book, the actual casualty list has him as South Stafford's without a Battalion number but I believe the 1st were the only Battalion they had in the Far East, he was Mentioned In Despatches in 1946 for services in Burma
Alistair, here are some pages from the 77 Brigade HQ war diary for the 18th May. It seems to me that the Brigade including 1 South Staffs were on their way to Moguang having given up White City a few weeks beforehand. On the 19th May it is said that they and the 1 Lancashire Fusiliers were at a place called Lamai:
Brilliant, thanks again for these - another one to add to the Service Files wanted list - its a big list and probably not going to happen any time soon
That is very true. A couple of family inquirers who I suggested got their soldier's service records came back to me today asking if the MOD offices are still open. Sounds like Glasgow have ground to a halt and are attempting to move over to email inquiries from now on. All to do with the dreaded coronavirus I guess.
Hi, I am doing some research on my great uncle Percy Mansell who was with the south staffs from 1939 and was in 80 column (I think). He survived the war and was one of the very few that was passed fit after op Thursday. He emigrated to Canada not long after the war and did not speak to anyone about the it, like many others. I’ve seen the south staffs war diary but although an incredible eye opening read, I can’t see anything about pagoda hill? (The citation of Lt Cairns’ VC doesn’t correspond with the war diary) So would Percy have fought in this battle? Hope you can make sense of this, Matthew
Hi Matthew, It is Steve Fogden here, I thought I should reply to your post, in case you had not realised that me and bamboo43 are one in the same person. I wondered if you had read Mike Calvert's book, Fighting Mad, which has a chapter devoted to Pagoda Hill. As I mentioned during our email correspondence recently, it would be very difficult to say for sure that Percy fought in this battle, although the document I sent you does strongly suggest he was with 80 Column in Burma. If you would like the pages from Fighting Mad in relation to Pagoda Hill, then let me know and I can send them over or post them here.
Hi , I am trying to find information on my late father, Thomas Percy Tideswell who served with the South Stafford's in India and Burma. He survived the war and seldom spoke of his experiences however I have managed to collect a few stories from my family. I am fairly confidant that he was at White City with Calvert's original force in March 44 ( I remember as a young man showing him a copy of The Victor boys comic which featured the Cairns VC and asking if he was there- his solitary answer was yes ! ). My eldest sister tells me that he was reported missing sometime in 1944,but had in fact made his way back to India with a small group (presumably walking across country- is that possible ?). He was then hospitalised at Darjeeling suffering from Malaria, Dysentery and exhaustion, the effects of which troubled him until his death. I have a number of photographs of him taken at Darjeeling. My father had never learned to swim and told a story of crossing a river in Burma twice by hanging onto a mules tail ! His release form 09/03/1946 at Hereford gives his service number 4918930 PVT Thomas Percy Tideswell.
Hi Tiger Tom, Thank you for your post. I have not been able to pick your father up from within the lists of soldiers from the South Staffs war diary. However, these are mainly casualties, either those killed, evacuated or wounded, so this might be why he might well not be included. Apart from reading Mike Calvert's book, entitled Prisoners of Hope, which would give you a broad overview of the South Staffs involvement on Operation Thursday, I would be happy to send you a digital copy of the war diary for you to look over. Let me know.
An overview that you may like to have a read of, should you not have seen it already, in the post here: The Chindit Society Good luck with your searching. Kind regards, always, Jim.
Thank you gentlemen for your replies. A copy of the war diaries would certainly be welcomed . Having read Jim's post I am now questioning what my family have told me about my fathers recouperation at Darjeeling and feel that Simla would have been a more probable location. If only I had asked my mother more when she was alive. I attach a photograph of my father ( on the left ) and an unknown solider taken at the location after his recovery. Thanks again for your help and good work .Its appreciated .
Great to see that photograph. I will contact you by pm today, so that we can arrange how to get the war diary to you.
