I am looking for some help with the circumstances surrounding the death of Captain Glyndwr Morgan Davies, Burma Army Service Corps (Army in Burma Reserve of Officers). He died on 27th June 1942 and was buried at Gauhati War Cemetery, India. I am compiling a book on the men who fell in the Second World War from my village - Whitchurch - in Cardiff, South Wales and he is named on the local War Memorial. He was born in the village in 1904. I suspect that his death was due to accident or illness, but have not been able to find anything specific through the internet so far. On his probate records, his address at the time of death is given as Mawchi, South Shan, Burma. Can anyone help please? Many thanks, Ceri.
Hi again Ceri, I can find that Captain Davies (named in the London Gazette as "Glyn") received an Emergency Commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Army in Burma Reserve of Officers on 10th April 1942. From the CWGC site his service number was ABRO539. Given his age and the fact that his commission occurred very late in the 1942 Burma campaign, I might guess that he was one of many civilians working in Burma who were commissioned at around that time because they had a civilian expertise needed by the Army. Steve
One of the snags with a two month period of service and the retreat from Burma there may be only minimal official records.
A few more snippets ..... G.M. Davies of 26 Merthyr Road, Whitechurch [sic], Cardiff, age 23, occupation stores clerk, travelled from Dover to Curacao, departed 7th January 1928. G.M. Davies, 26 Merthyr Road, Whitchurch, Glamorgan, age 27, occupation storekeeper, travelled from Liverpool to Madeira/The Canaries, departed 16th June 1931. Accompanied by his wife (not named). Glyndwr Morgan Davies, cost clerk, married Delia Choyce Fraser 15th June 1931. Both residing at 8 Palace Road, Llandaff. Groom's father, William Morgan Davies, District Manager. Bride's father, Hugh Donald Fraser, surveyor. Steve
Absolutely right. The last Burma Army List published that I have is July 1941 - I think this was in fact the last published prior to the Japanese invasion. Another was published in 1943, a kind of special edition, which listed those of the Burma Army who were known to have reached India. It also lists a few casualties. G.M. Davies is in neither. Of those commissioned in a hurry in this manner, many of those who survived to reach India were later released, mainly on grounds of age and/or ill health. Steve
Memorial inscriptions/burial records for him here: Campbell Robert - Desouza Francis - The Kabristan Archives
Perhaps this article will help with the context, given Captain Davies came from Mawchi, South Shan: 'The Role of the Shan States in the Japanese Conquest of Burma', a May 1943 journal article (so under wartime restrictions) via JSTOR, which currently allows free access for independent researchers: https://www.jstor.org/stable/2049211?seq=1 I note Mawchi before WW2 started there were: The town's name appears in: 'The Fall of Burma, 1941–1943' By John Grehan, Martin Mace and Google enables searching for them. Was Captain Davies employed at the mine(s)? The book refers to Kachin's being recruited and transferred to help as the Japanese arrived.
Further to post 7 above by Tony56, Findmypast (pay website) contains a transcribed record, (which does say full text) which seems to be the same as the GWCC record, but whose source is stated to be The Kabristan Archives. https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBPRS/INDIA-KABRISTAN2/005315 (need to be signed in to FMP to view) “DAVIES AB/0539 CAPTAIN GLYNDWR MORGAN DAVIES Burma Army Service Corps Died 27 Jun 1942 age 48 Son of William Morgan & Sophia Jan Davies of Pen-y-law Cardiff & husband of Joyce Delia Davies” FMP record page says sourced from India Indexes - The Kabristan Archives. The record appears to be from a Kabristan Archives publication “North Assam War Graves” It is possible although not guaranteed, that there may be further details available, for a fee, from Kabristan Archives, as I believe the founder/owner of Kabristan Archives, (recently deceased) travelled around the cemeteries in North Assam. You should be able to ask whether there would be any additional information available.
Ceri, You might be able to source a photograph Davies’ grave at Gauhati from this website and perhaps other men you are currently researching: Home - asia war graves
Hello Ceri, the man you are talking about is my grandfather; such a surprise to see this here. He was the manager of Mawchi mine (tungsten/wolfram) and died from exhaustion and illness after a gruelling walk away from the advancing Japanese army. My father and his mother Delia were by then in Cape Town. It's very sad that my great-grandfather was unable to contact his son before he died as the telegram station that alerted him to his son's grave condition was a temporary war one and so a reply was difficult. My father did not share many memories of his father but we do have papers and a few photos. My parents have visited his grave in Darjeeling. Your book sounds interesting. Best wishes, Rachel
Hi Rachel, many thanks for your message and the information regarding your grandfather. This is very helpful indeed and will enable me to give more information on his entry into the book that I am compiling. Is there any possibility that you might have an image of him that I could use with his entry? Ideally just a head and shoulders image, as high quality as possible. I can always do some editing on the image if it includes other people etc. It does not have to be in military uniform, the key is the clarity of the image really. I hope that the book will be published later this year. It has been held up, like so many things, by the issues of Covid-19. My direct email is: ceristennett AT gmail.com (Please use the usual symbol for AT (@), which I have changed to avoid bots from using the email address) Many thanks once again. Ceri.
Ceri Suggest you edit your post and replace the '@' with 'AT' to avoid bots from using your email addess TD
Hello Ceri, We'll have a look at our photos on the weekend and be in touch soon. There is also a document I found online that describes the circumstances of death of those walking away from the Japanese army (tragic to read) which you may not have seen? Best wishes, Rachel
Hi Rachel, That is very kind indeed. I would be interested to have the link to the article. Kind Regards, Ceri.
