I'm looking for any information about Captain (1274IA) Ian Alastair Scott Dodd, died 6 April 1944 and listed on the Rangoon Memorial. He is also listed on the War Memorial in the village of Minnigaff near Newton Stewart in South-West Scotland. He was born in 1920 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire but from 1935 his father the Reverend George Edward Dodd, who had been a Chaplain in WW1, was the minister of the Minnigaff parish church. CWGC shows him as serving with the 4th Battalion, 6th Gurkha Rifles but my own reading suggests that this unit did not enter Burma until "mid-1944" Also the Scottish National War Memorial database shows his unit as 3rd/6th Gurkha Rifles. Any information, help, thoughts, ideas would be valued. Ken
I'm looking for any information about Captain (1274IA) Ian Alastair Scott Dodd, died 6 April 1944 and listed on the Rangoon Memorial. He is also listed on the War Memorial in the village of Minnigaff near Newton Stewart in South-West Scotland. He was born in 1920 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire but from 1935 his father the Reverend George Edward Dodd, who had been a Chaplain in WW1, was the minister of the Minnigaff parish church. CWGC shows him as serving with the 4th Battalion, 6th Gurkha Rifles but my own reading suggests that this unit did not enter Burma until "mid-1944" Also the Scottish National War Memorial database shows his unit as 3rd/6th Gurkha Rifles. Any information, help, thoughts, ideas would be valued. Ken Hi Ken, At first glance this has Chindit 2 written all over it. 3/6 GR were part of 77th Indian Infantry Brigade led by Mike Calvert. In 1944 they formed part of the spearhead force for Operation Thursday. If Captain Dodd was amongst those men he is likely to have died defending one of the Chindit strongholds that year, possibly 'Broadway' or 'White City'. I can't help much more right now as I am at work, but will look later. Steve
Welcome to the forum Ken. As Steve correctly suggested Dodd was in the 3rd/6th Gurkha Rifles, with Chindits, and seems that at least for some time he also served with 1st Battalion of the regiment. He died during the Japanese attack on the White City. From the "Prisoners of Hope": The next night the bombardment started at about 5.30 and continued until dusk, when the Japanese put in an identical attack on O.P. Hill and the eastern sector. Later they also attacked from the north, and this attack continue until dawn. Major Shaw, who was commanding the floater company, was ordered to put in an attack in their rear, but was himself inextricably involved in a life-or-dead struggle in that very place. We put in a strong counter-attack to relieve him. The West Africans took one prisoner in this attack, besides killing a number of Japs. Shaw's company was extricated, having done very well and inflicted on an inferior trained but much more numerous enemy many more casualties than it had received. Capt. Gordon, M.C., R.E., who was commanding the commando platoon, excelled himself in this action and repeatedly charged or repulsed enemy attacks. However, I decided that a floater company in such maelstrom as this could not exist, and withdraw them into the block. Mentioned floater company led by Major Shaw was from 3rd/6th Gurkha Rifles. Also found this on the net: When only five rounds a man was left it was decided to move back to the block. This was no easy task as the Japanese were by now dug in all round the column, and there were no stretchers for the wounded. After an unpleasant hour and a half the column was able to slip through the encircling Japanese and to carry away all the wounded. Captain Ian A. S. Dodd was killed on the way back, and in him the Battalion lost an exceptionally brave officer. Captain C. V. Gordon, M.C., of the Royal Engineers, who was attached to the Battalion, had his right arm broken by a bullet, but continued fighting, and was subsequently awarded a bar to his M.C. Captain Chitwal's conduct was exemplary. He attended to the wounded under heavy small-arms and grenade fire and personally carried one badly wounded man on his back through the enemy's position back to the block. The column had the satisfaction of knowing that it had inflicted severe casualties on the enemy. six dead were seen and it is certain that others were also killed and many wounded. Good luck with research. Enes
The Historical Record of 6th Gurkha Rifles mentions him thrice: as the last regular officer to join 1st Bn in 1940 and a founder member of the 4th when it was formed on 15 March 1941. Then: Meanwhile 36 Column less its rifle company took up an ambush position some five hundred yards north of the block in the small hills just east of the road. It was hoped to catch the enemy attacking White City. The attack on the block was beaten off with sharp losses to the enemy, and at first light 36 Column ambushed ten japanese on the road. The Japanese then began to attack 36 Column vigorously. Rifle grenades caused a number of casualties and our men's ammunition began to run low. When only five rounds a man was left it was decided to move back to the block. This was no easy task as the Japanesse were by now dug in all around the column, and there were no stretchers for the wounded. After an unpleasant hour and a half the column was able to slip through the encircling Japanese and to carry away all the wounded. Captain Ian A. S. Dodd was killed on the way back, and in him the Battalion lost an exceptionally brave officer.Captain C. V. Gordon, M.C., of the Royal Engineers, who was attached to the Battalion, had his right arm broken by a bullet, but continued fighting, and was subsequently awarded a bar to his M.C.
Gents, I can't thank you enough for the detail (and speed) of your replies. I'm in the process of researching those named on the War Memorial in this little village in what used to be Kirkcudbrightshire (now Dumfries & Galloway) and of the 5 WW2 names Captain Dodd was the only one where I did not have any background about his loss. I will be adding his details soon (and adding this forum as my source) but in the meantime photos of the memorial are at The Scottish War Memorials Project :: View topic - Minnigaff Many, many thanks. Ken
Hi Ken, By the time I got home the other gents had found some far better information than I have at my disposal. I do recommend that you read 'Prisoner's of Hope' by Mike Calvert, it certainly will give you a real idea of what these men went through. In the meantime I will keep my eye out for Captain Dodd on my reading travels. Steve
Ken, I ran my eyes over a couple of War diaries this afternoon, but could not find any direct mention of Captain Dodd by name. However, there was one mention of some Gurkha Rifle casualties on the 6th April protecting the air landing strip at 'White City'. One officer and three men killed. Could be him, cannot of course be totally sure!
Ken, one thing you can do, if you already didn't, is to try to contact whoever run this website: 6thgurkhas.org
Ken, one thing you can do, if you already didn't, is to try to contact whoever run this website: 6thgurkhas.org Thanks Sol. One thing I have found is the London Gazette of 2 Jan 1940 page 68 announcing Ian Alastair Scott Dodd (112924) appointed as a 2nd Lieutenant to the "unattached list for the Indian Army" with effect from 31 Dec. 1939. From the Officer Cadet Training Unit Sandhurst. Ken
Hello Ken I have only just come across your message on the internet requesting information about Ian Dodd. As it happens, he was my uncle. In due course I can tell you quite a lot about him - and of course I have photos etc (but not of the actual campaign) - but I am too busy right now (due to work etc) . As you left the message a couple of years ago, you may already have gleaned the information from others. In the meantime, I thank you for taking an interest in Ian in the first place. David
Hello Ken I have only just logged in and seen the message you left on 8th February. Sorry, but I can't trace an email (?) reply from you. I get a lot of spam/junk mail, so I may not have realised it was from you. Could you re-send it ? Thanks. David PS I only spotted your message because I was "googling" Ian's name on the internet - today being the anniversary of his death. My mother always used to put a remembrance notice in the newspaper as of course nobody knows exactly where he was buried.
