2 Suffolks Burma

Discussion in 'Burma & India' started by Shanghai Jim, Feb 19, 2014.

  1. Shanghai Jim

    Shanghai Jim Member

    I'd be interested to learn more about the actions involving 2nd Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment at Imphal and Burma campaign 1944-45. Any information would be most welcome.
     
    CL1 likes this.
  2. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Here is a brief summary of the service of the 2nd Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment:

    2nd Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment

    Mhow Brigade Area – 3 September 1939 to 25 November 1939
    The battalion was in Mhow on September 3rd, 1939. It left Mhow and the Mhow Brigade on November 25th, 1939 for Mari Indus, where it arrived on the 28th. It then moved to Bannu on the 29th.

    Razmak Brigade – 30 November 1939 to October 1940
    It arrived at Razmak and joined the Razmak Brigade on the 30th of November to relieve the 1st Leicestershire Regiment. From July 14th to 21st the battalion served under Razcol at Razani before returning to Razmak. It left for Rawalpindi at the end of October 1940.

    Rawalpindi Area – October 1940 to June 1941
    The battalion served at Rawalpindi on internal security duties.

    1st Indian Infantry Brigade – Attached – June 1941 to 28 September 1941
    The battalion served under the 1st Indian Infantry Brigade from June to September 1941 in operations in the Tochi Valley. It was located for one month during this time at Ahmed Khel. The brigade left the Tochi Valley on August 14th, 1941 and moved to Miranshah and Ahmed Khel. The battalion returned to Rawalpindi on September 28th, 1941.

    Rawalpindi Area – October 1941 to April 1942
    It returned to internal security duties at Rawalpindi.

    Central Command – Lahore District – April 1942 to September 1942
    It served on internal security duties at Lahore.

    Central Command – Lucknow District – October 1942 to July 1943
    In September 1942 it moved from Gorakhpur to Azamgarh with companies at Syzabad, Azamgarh and Mau, Lucknow, Gorkhapur and Bhatni. At this time it was scattered over 400 square miles of United Provinces. It moved to Lucknow in October 1942 and in April 1943 to Fyzabad and then to the Ranchi area to train.

    123rd Indian Infantry Brigade – 16 July 1943 to 16 September 1944
    The 2nd Suffolk Regiment was mobilised in October 1943. It was located in Mohuda, Bihar until October 9th, 1943. It embarked at Madras on October 19th, and moved to Chittagong to join the 123rd Indian Infantry Brigade in the Arakan on October 23rd. On January 9th, 1944, the battalion was involved in the clearance of Japanese bunkers 'Bamboo' and 'Isaac' in the Mayu Ranges. It was detached under the 161st Indian Infantry Brigade in the Arakan from February 12th to March 4th, 1944 and then returned to the 123rd Indian Infantry Brigade until September 17th, 1944, leaving the Arakan for Imphal on March 18th, 1944. On June 9th, 1944, the battalion took objective Issac during the siege of Imphal. The 2nd Suffolks were withdrawn from the General Reserve to Imphal at the end of August 1944, its place in the brigade being taken by 2/1st Punjab Regiment.

    256th Line of Communications Sub-Area – 17 September 1944 to late September 1944
    The battalion then served under the 256th LOC Sub-Area in Imphal from September 17th, 1944 until later in September.

    123rd Indian Infantry Brigade – Late September 1944 to 1 March 1945
    It then returned to command of 123rd Indian Infantry Brigade and remained with it until March 1945. The 5th Indian Infantry Division had been withdrawn for rest at Imphal in November 1944 and the battalion remained under the 123rd Brigade, but was detached for different duties. It served under the XXXIII Indian Corps January 12th, 1945 and then under the 14th Army on traffic duty in the Line of Communications area at Kalewa then Shwebo from January 19th, 1945. The 7th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment replaced the Suffolks in the 123rd Brigade on March 1st.

    14th Army – 2 March 1945 to 10 March 1945
    The 4th Border Regiment relieved it of traffic duties on March 2nd. It served briefly under ‘Robforce’ in Burma from March 5th to 10th, 1945 then left Burma by air.

    Central Command – Lucknow District – March 1945 to April 1945
    It moved to the Lucknow area in March 1945.

    Central Command – Lahore District – April 1945 to 31 August 1945
    It then served in Lahore from April 1945 until the end of the war.
     
    Son of LAC likes this.
  3. lionboxer

    lionboxer Member

    What's your interest Shanghai Jim? I am going to Isaac near Imphal in April and can get photo's for you.
    Lionboxer
     
  4. Shanghai Jim

    Shanghai Jim Member

    This is fantastic - really fills in all the blanks. Many thanks for taking the time to send to me.
     
  5. Shanghai Jim

    Shanghai Jim Member

    My paternal grandfather fought with 2nd Suffolks at Isaac - he told me some pretty hair raising stories of clearing bunkers. He was a Bren gunner. Later in India he was a bugler in the Corps of Drums. I would very much appreciate any photographs. I'm based in China, and I haven't had an opportunity to visit Burma yet, so anything that you'd like to share would be brilliant.
     
    CL1 likes this.
  6. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Here are the units war diary refs at Kew. Drop me a PM or click the red link below for more info if you can't get there to copy them yourself.

    WO 172/4922 2 Suffolk Regiment 1944 Jan. - Dec.
    WO 172/7667 2 Suffolk Regiment 1945 Jan.-Dec.
     
  7. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

  8. Shanghai Jim

    Shanghai Jim Member

    Many thanks. I'll look into this.
     
  9. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    No probs - give me a shout if you want me to copy them for you.
     
  10. Shanghai Jim

    Shanghai Jim Member

    Can you PM me the cost. Thanks.
     
  11. Shanghai Jim

    Shanghai Jim Member

  12. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi Jim

    Costa vary depending on how thick a file is. Most war diaries tend to range between 200 and 400 pages each which would be around £200 to £400 for the National Archives to copy for you at their rate of £1 a page. I charge 10p per page so that brings it down to £20 to £40. Some can be a lot thicker but you only get charged for what you get if that makes sense? If you'd like a more accurate quote and are not in a hurry you can request a quote from Kew for individual files but this takes a few weeks. Whatever they quote divide it by £1 and this will give you a rough idea of the cost.

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  13. Shanghai Jim

    Shanghai Jim Member

    Great. I had already put in a request with Kew, but you sound considerably cheaper. I'll be in touch if I decide to proceed. Thanks.
     
  14. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    No probs - out of curiosity I wouldn't mind knowing what they say.

    Cheers
    Andy

    Ps make sure you're sitting down when you open the email ;)
     
  15. Shanghai Jim

    Shanghai Jim Member

    £75 !!!!
     
  16. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Ha - Cheaper than I thought if I'm honest. I'm assuming they told you the amount of 'units' (pages to you and me) in the diary ?
     
  17. mike331278

    mike331278 Member

    Can anyone help with info on a soldier Private David Tod, born 1909 Edinburgh, 2nd Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment
    Name: Private David Tod
    Cemetery: Rangoon Memorial
    Burial or Cremation Place: Rangoon, Yangon Region, Burma

    Name: David Tod
    Given Initials: D
    Rank: Private
    Death Date: 15 Apr 1944
    Number: 14595719
    Birth Place: Edinburgh
    Residence: Midlothian
    Branch at Enlistment: Infantry
    Theatre of War: Burma
    Regiment at Death: Suffolk Regiment
    Branch at Death: Infantry

    Private David Tod 14595719 Suffolk Regiment (Formerly Royal Scots) died 15/04/1944 age 34. He was living in Arniston Gorebridge when he either volunteered or was called up.

    He was allegedly shot by a sniper

    Thanks for any help

    Repost to other page if neccessary

    Michael
     
  18. lionboxer

    lionboxer Member

    He was killed with four others attacking positions on the Ukhrul road north east of Imphal, part of the battles around Kameng and Nungshigum.
    Lionboxer
     
  19. mike331278

    mike331278 Member

    Thanks LionBoxer do you have the source where I could read this? wondering if his military number was for Royal Scots regiment and he was just attached to Suffolk regiment? Can't find any records whatsoever other than Roll of honour. he was born 1909 Edinburgh

    MIchael
     
  20. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    14595719 is General Service Corps number.
    He would have enlisted into the GSC before being posted to where the Army thought he'd be needed.

    General Service Corps 14200001 - 15000000
    Army Number Block Allocations
     
    Son of LAC likes this.

Share This Page