Hi All, As an off-shoot discussion from a previous Burma related thread, I have asked for assistance in tracing information on Major A.A.J. Emmett, a Gurkha officer who commanded 2 Column on Operation Longcloth. He was reputed to be a tea-planter in Ceylon before the war. His Army number was EC 3216. I have his London Gazette details from 1948, when he left the Army and his commission details for his promotion to Captain in September 1942. Some other forum members have added these comments: amberdog45, on 26 Apr 2016 - 18:17, said: Hi Maria, I think that Emmett was one of the original Gurkha officers with 3/2 GR in 1942, when they travelled from the North West Frontier to join Chindit training. For this reason, I have always thought of him to be one of the older members of the 77 Brigade, possibly in his late thirties. I have his Indian Army List entries, showing his commission to Captain, but these do not show his age unfortunately. There was another officer in India/Burma of the same name who went on to have a very fine Army career. A post several years back on the Burma Star Forum (sadly defunct) clarified that this A. Emmett was not my man. He has always been a bit of a mystery character from Longcloth. Thanks for the tip with the Sri Lankan files. Steve Tricky Dicky added: Have found this guy on a passenger list with his family going back to Bombay from Torquay, I can upload the passenger list page if you think it necessary. On the passenger list he is noted as a Tea Planter Name: Arthur Alfred John Emmett Gender: Male Age: 32 Birth Date: abt 1915 Departure Date: 1 Aug 1947 Port of Departure: Southampton, England Destination Port: Bombay, India Ship Name: Strathmore Search Ship Database: Search for the Strathmore in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database Shipping line: P and O Official Number: 164521 TD Just found another for him: Name: Arthur Albert John Emmett Birth Date: abt 1914 Age: 12 Port of Departure: Bombay, India Arrival Date: 27 Oct 1926 Port of Arrival: London, England Ports of Voyage: Colombo Ship Name: Malda Search Ship Database: Search for the Malda in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database Shipping line: British and Indian Steam Navigation Company Official Number: 146286 This shows him born in India, in fact his father is a Sgt Major in the Assam Police and they are going to an address in Torquay - possibly his grandmother on his mothers side TD Any additional thoughts to information gratefully received. Steve
Steve, Arthur Alfred John Emmett was born in Silchar, Bengal in 1915. He married Cynthia Dorothy Davies in Bombay in 1942. The other man was Major Arthur Maitland Emmet MBE Ox & Bucks LI. He was senior liaison officer for the 25th Indian Division. http://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/mar/21/guardianobituaries.highereducation Guy
Just for completeness of the above info: Name: Arthur Alfred John Emmett Gender: Male Age: 32 Birth Date: abt 1915 Departure Date: 1 Aug 1947 Port of Departure: Southampton, England Destination Port: Bombay, India Ship Name: Strathmore Search Ship Database: Search for the Strathmore in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database Shipping line: P and O Official Number: 164521 Master: H C C Forsyth Name: Arthur Alfred John Emmett Birth Date: abt 1915 Age: 32 Port of Departure: Sydney, Australia Arrival Date: 30 Mar 1947 Port of Arrival: Liverpool, England Ship Name: Sarpedon Search Ship Database: Search for the Sarpedon in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database Shipping line: Blue Funnel Line Official Number: 147214 Name: Arthur Albert John Emmett Birth Date: abt 1914 Age: 12 Port of Departure: Bombay, India Arrival Date: 27 Oct 1926 Port of Arrival: London, England Ports of Voyage: Colombo Ship Name: Malda Search Ship Database: Search for the Malda in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database Shipping line: British and Indian Steam Navigation Company Official Number: 146286 TD
Also some basic info from a family tree: Arthur Albert John Emmett Birth: 1914 - India Father: Charles Emmett (1872 - 1929) Mother: Louisa Anne Lamond (1883 - 1962) TD
Thanks Guy. That has answered that query for me. As I said, I should have grabbed the info on the BSA forum when I had the chance.
