One of my Wiltshire lads, Pte 55777317 George Ponting died serving with 9th Susssex on this date. What were they doing at the time? With 36th Div I think. His Army Number shows he was originally Wilts Regt. Name:PONTING, GEORGE Initials:G Nationality:United Kingdom Rank:Private Regiment/Service:Royal Sussex Regiment Unit Text:9th Bn. Age:23 Date of Death:06/08/1944 Service No:5577317 Additional information:Son of Charles Henry and Sarah Ellen Ponting, of Upper Stratton, Swindon, Wiltshire. Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference:7. A. 19. Cemetery:TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY
(Owen D @ Feb 4 2006, 05:18 PM) [post=45282]One of my Wiltshire lads, Pte 55777317 George Ponting died serving with 9th Susssex on this date. What were they doing at the time? With 36th Div I think. His Army Number shows he was originally Wilts Regt. [/b] Where did he give his life? Do you know?
Owen - there is a history of this battalion in WW2. It is the only book on the regiment I don't have! Missed it when it first came out, and missed it time and again on eBay!
Found some info on Burma Star site but still a bit vague on what they were up to. I know 1st Wilts took a hammering April 44 and were sent to the NW Frontier. I assume Pte Ponting was transfered to 9 Sussex then.As yet I haven't found out much more. 36th Division at the time were in north Burma working with the American/Chinese Forces under Gen. Stilwell.
Found this about 9th Sussex at the time Pte Ponting was killed. http://www.burmastar.org.uk/dawes.htm The wounded Lt., was B.Brewster of ‘D’ Coy and the one killed by the shell by Lt. P. Dunford of ‘C’ Coy. Both are buried in Taukkyan Cemetery, as is Pte Bright. Name:BREWSTER, MAURICE JOSEPH Initials:M J Nationality:United Kingdom Rank:Lieutenant Regiment/Service:Royal Sussex Regiment Unit Text:9th Bn. Age:23 Date of Death:06/08/1944 Service No:233262 Additional information:Son of Joseph Stockbridge Brewster and Florence Brewster, of Southwick, Sussex. Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference:6. G. 18. Cemetery:TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY Name.DUNFORD, PERCY Initials:P Nationality:United Kingdom Rank:Lieutenant Regiment/Service:Royal Sussex Regiment Unit Text:9th Bn. Date of Death:05/08/1944 Service No:249228 Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference:7. A. 11. Cemetery:TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY Name:BRIGHT, WILLIAM Initials:W Nationality:United Kingdom Rank:Private Regiment/Service:Royal Sussex Regiment Unit Text:9th Bn. Age:21 Date of Death:05/08/1944 Service No:5350377 Additional information:Ward of Mrs. B. Hanslip, of Redbridge, Southampton. Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference:7. B. 8. Cemetery:TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY This Sergeant is mentioned in Len Dawe's account. I digress. Before going to the hill the Coy. Commander was I think talking to another Major and I and another chap were burying the two Sgts. Allen and Crunden, then an officer took a compass bearing of the graves for the Graves Registration chaps. Name:ALLEN, FREDERICK RICHARD Initials:F R Nationality:United Kingdom Rank:Serjeant Regiment/Service:Royal Sussex Regiment Unit Text:9th Bn. Age:24 Date of Death:05/08/1944 Service No:5337445 Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference:7. G. 4. Cemetery:TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY Name:CRUNDEN, FREDERICK GEORGE Initials:F G Nationality:United Kingdom Rank:Lance Serjeant Regiment/Service:Royal Sussex Regiment Unit Text:9th Bn. Age:36 Date of Death:05/08/1944 Service No:6396611 Additional information:His brother, Ronald Allenby Crunden, also died on service. Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference:7. G. 5. Cemetery:TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY
Owen - there is a history of this battalion in WW2. It is the only book on the regiment I don't have! Missed it when it first came out, and missed it time and again on eBay! You mean this one? THE SHINY NINTH - 9TH BN. THE ROYAL SUSSEX: GILLINGS, MURRAY - AbeBooks - WORLD WAR II BOOKS THE SHINY NINTH - 9TH BN. THE ROYAL SUSSEX GILLINGS, MURRAY 2001. Pinwe Club, rpt, 176pp, Special Edn, ills, plates, maps, card covered, NEW. This battalion was raised, in 1940, by Sir Gerald Templer. The Bn. was posted to Burma and after fighting in the Arakan, they were in action in N. Burma. With the 72nd Brigade of the 36th Division they won Battle Honours at Pinwe a nd Schweli River. The Bn. was disbanded in 1946. Bookseller Inventory # WIIBK00386
Owen, if you are still looking for info on GP, then Bert Maile maybe able to help. email him at ShinyNinth@aol.com
One of my Wiltshire lads, Pte 55777317 George Ponting died serving with 9th Susssex on this date. What were they doing at the time? With 36th Div I think. His Army Number shows he was originally Wilts Regt. Name:PONTING, GEORGE Initials:G Nationality:United Kingdom Rank:Private Regiment/Service:Royal Sussex Regiment Unit Text:9th Bn. Age:23 Date of Death:06/08/1944 Service No:5577317 Additional information:Son of Charles Henry and Sarah Ellen Ponting, of Upper Stratton, Swindon, Wiltshire. Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference:7. A. 19. Cemetery:TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY Owen: Have picture but need e-mail address from you in order to send it ! Bucklt nt872b(at)hotmail.com
Many thanks to bucklt for sending me this photo. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachments/burma-india/16344d1241686006-9th-sussex-ponting-jpg
Owen, if you are still looking for info on GP, then Bert Maile maybe able to help. email him at ShinyNinth (at) aol.com Just got this back. Delivery Status Notification (Failure) This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification. Delivery to the following recipients failed.
Sorry owen, that was the only contact details I had other a mail address, see below. P Mr. H.G. Stock (Henry) XXXXX Edit: Removed address. There's some funny old types that read the Interweb. ~A
I've just checked my folder & have got Bert's address in Cambridgeshire. It was one of those jobs I didn't get around to doing. Must write to him.
My father was in B coy 9th. Batn Royal Sussex Regiment in Burma in 1944. He died there on November 24 ( his 32nd birthday) I wonder if anyone can help me find a copy of the "Shiny ninth" the story of this Batn. I would be gratefull for any information relating to this Battalion.
Hello and welcome to the forum. Do you know the full title and author of the book? Do you have the battalions war diaries? Regards Andy
"The Shiny Ninth: 9th Battalion the Royal Sussex Regiment 1940-1946" by Murray Gillings I guess that this is your father CWGC :: Casualty Details
"The Shiny Ninth: 9th Battalion the Royal Sussex Regiment 1940-1946" by Murray Gillings I guess that this is your father CWGC :: Casualty Details If that is your father I believe a forum member has photographed that cemetery and will have a shot of your fathers headstone.
"The Shiny Ninth: 9th Battalion the Royal Sussex Regiment 1940-1946" by Murray Gillings I guess that this is your father CWGC :: Casualty Details Yes it is. I only saw him once when he was on leave. Thank you for answering my enquiry.
Hello and welcome to the forum. Do you know the full title and author of the book? Do you have the battalions war diaries? Regards Andy Murry Gillings was the Auther. No I do not have and no I don't have the Batn's war diaries.
If that is your father I believe a forum member has photographed that cemetery and will have a shot of your fathers headstone. I do have a photo of this cemetry and I have seen exactly where he is buried.
