Would anyone know the circumstances of the death of Lt. Col. Cecil John William Simpson (IA787) of the 4th Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry? He died on 6 July 1944 and was originally buried at Palel. He and a Major William Derek McConnell from the same unit and who died on the same date, were re-interred at Imphal. He was born in Moffat in Dumfriesshire and is named on the town's war memorial. Many thanks Ken
Here is an excerpt from the Indian Official History volume, Reconquest of Burma Volume II that details the circumstances of their death.
Thank you so much, folks. The following is extracted from a report of his death in the Dumfries and Galloway Standard of 26/7/1944 and I have been able to add some detail from the London Gazette. Cecil was educated at Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh before attending the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. From there he went to the Quetta Staff College and was commissioned in the Indian Army in 1924, was posted to the 5th Mahratta Light Infantry in 1925 and served with them as Lieutenant (April 1926) and Captain (January 1933) until 1939. He was brought back to the UK in February 1939 and served in the War Office as a General Staff Officer (Major January 1941) for two years before being sent on a mission to the Far East. He escaped from Hong Kong just before it fell to the Japanese in December 1941. He returned to India in 1943 as the Chief Administrative Officer of a Division and later was given command of the 4th Battalion of his old regiment. Cheers Ken
