You're absolutely right, I'm trying to find access to the war diaries at the moment - I've been to the National Archive on another matter and what I learned is that you need to know exactly where to look, all these documents are buried in sub-folders of sub-folders of ..... I also wonder if I should be looking in the Imperial War Museum? Any guidance on where to find the diaries would be most helpful.
Are these the War Diaries you are after - assume he was 3 Carabiniers from your other thread Burma 1943: Royal Armoured Corps: 3 Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards) | The National Archives Reference: WO 172/2269 Description: Burma 1943: Royal Armoured Corps: 3 Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards) Date: 1939 Sept.- 1943 Dec. Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s) 3 Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards) | The National Archives Reference: WO 172/4595 Description: 3 Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards) Date: 1944 Jan.- Dec. Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s) 3 Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards) | The National Archives Reference: WO 172/7339 Description: 3 Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards) Date: 1945 Jan.- July Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s) There are other files to TD
Yes, brilliant! I had found WO 172 but got lost trying to find the relative subfolders. ps did you read my last post re Chakdora?
No TD There are sufficient references in this thread for you to read and obtain the relevant from for you to answer your original question. Can I suggest you take the time to read and understand, before taking into account (but not being persuaded by) other members opinions so that at some point you will reach a decision or answer that you feel answers the original question you posed to your satisfaction
This thread is full of largely useless guesswork and is very short of hard information. What exactly do you have in the way of facts - apart from a photograph? Do you have your father's service records? Have you acquired the War Diaries of the relevant units? If you don’t have these sources you are just guessing on the basis of what seems to be a limited understanding of the realities of the Far Eastern war. This forum is great, but you must expect to do some of the work yourself.
er, you've jumped onto a thread which is an extension of other threads. You are correct it is full of guesswork, that is what a forum does - someone proposes an idea others support it or shoot it down. This thread is a third in a progression which started with the above and involved weeks of research. And yes, I have his service record book with a photo of the above mentioned tank no 25711 amongst other things. The problem was an unexplained series of photos from Chakdara, so I started the thread to see if anyone had any specific knowledge on the subject. If you take the time to read the thread, or if you don't have the time see post #25 you will see what it boils down to, which is still only a guess but somewhere to start looking. That apart as I said previously unless anyone has anything material to add this thread is dead. Best regards Paul
"That apart as I said previously unless anyone has anything material to add this thread is dead." I do have something material to add, I came across this: WS (Winston Specials) Convoys in WW2 - 1941 Sailings and although it is not in the time frame we are looking at describes a pattern which is probably similar. I notice amongst these convoys is the Highland Princess - the boat on which the 3rd Carabiniers returned in 1947. I will keep looking to see if I can locate the convoy of March 1944.
I have seen no reference to Chakdara before they went to Imphal. Maybe it was after hostilities had ceased they went there. The Carbs arrived Imphal area in December 1943 after a combination of rail and road transport. You say you have your fathers “service record book”, this is not the same as his service record which can only be obtained through the MoD.
Yes, in the process of obtaining the service record but I'm sure you know it doesn't arrive overnight! You may see from post #19 that I have also come to the conclusion that Chakdara was on the way out, not the way in. Since then I have been searching for some photos which I've put in a 'safe place' to no avail but have found a blow-up I did many years ago which is now very faded as it is a computer print, not a photo (beware all who think they both have the same life) which would have spared TD much frustration at my 'Devils Advocate' posts (for which I apologise TD)
