1130983 Gunner Thomas Archer Williamson of 129th Field Regt, RA Presumed killed and commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial. Son of Edward William and Cecilia Williamson of Kirk Langley, Derbyshire. Article from Derbyshire Daily Telegraph of 13 March 1946
UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 Name: Thomas Williamson Given Initials: T A Rank: Gunner Death Date: 13 May 1944 Number: 1130983 Birth Place: Derby Residence: Derby Branch at Enlistment: Royal Artillery Theatre of War: Burma Regiment at Death: Royal Artillery Branch at Death: Royal Artillery TD
Gunner Williamson was part of a Royal Artillery Observation Post south of the Silchar Track and Pt 5846. The escort was provided by 1/4 Gurkha Rifles. The guns of 129 Field Regt that they were directing were back in 'Gunner Box' near the village of Bishenpur. The OP was overrun by the Japanese on the night of 12th/13th May 1944. The Officer in charge (Capt DWMB Gordon RA: 93534) was killed as was Williamson and Trooper WLK Almond of 'A' Squadron, 3rd Carabiniers. Gunner Normanton (968033) and Gunner Cook survived and escaped. Gunner Normanton's statement in the RA Missing Men file gives more detail of the night. It seems that Capt Gordon's body was found subsequently when the area was taken and there were also some freshly dug graves found but the GRU could not find the graves after the war and so Gordon, Williamson and Almond are commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial.
GORDON, DUNCAN WILLIAM BLACK Captain, Service Number 93534 129 Field Regt. Royal Artillery Aged 38 Mentioned in Despatches Died 13/05/1944 Son of Robert and Mary Jane Gordon; husband of Pamela Jane Gordon, of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. Chartered Accountant.
ALMOND, WALTER LANCELOT KENNETH Trooper; Service Number 7904760 "A" Sqn. 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards), Royal Armoured Corps Died 13/05/1944 Aged 24 Son of W. W. Lance Almond and K. Almond, of Ramsgate, Kent. He is not mentioned in the 3rd Carabiniers War Diary for 12/13 May 1944.
Thanks for posting these updates Skoyen89. I would be interested to know which WO361 series file, the information on Williamson comes from. Cheers now Steve
Hi Steve WO 361/210 Missing Personnel Royal Artillery. I copied it all and have a few others. If you are looking for something - shoot me an email and I will dig around. All the best Tony
Thanks Tony. I think I have all the large nominal rolls from that file, but not the individual witness statements. There is nothing specific really, but we have had a fair amount of traffic in relation to the RA personnel lost during the evacuation of the Chindit Blackpool stronghold in late May 1944.