Subedar Din Mohammad MC, 2/1 Punjab Regt

Discussion in 'Burma & India' started by Skoyen89, Nov 22, 2019.

  1. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    Reading a magazine called Pheonix from 1945 I found this portrait of Sub Din Mohammad MC of 2/1 Punjab Regt who won his MC in the Arakan. As I was interested in 2/1 Punjab Regt I have found out some of the background to his Military Cross which may be of interest. Intriguing that the Battalion Commander who signed the recommendation is Indian as this is one of the Regiments chosen to pilot the 'Indianisation' of command.

    I sometimes think we need to keep reminding ourselves that the Burma campaign wasn't only British Battalions, Chindits and Gurkhas and that Indian Battalions made up so much of 14th Army.
     

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    Owen, Rothy, timuk and 1 other person like this.
  2. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    As they did in defending Malaya and Singapore.
    upload_2019-11-22_23-37-57.png

    Tim
     
    Skoyen89 likes this.
  3. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    I think that it wasn't that they made up "so much", it was more like the majority.
     
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  4. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    The Indian Army was the largest entirely volunteer army of WW2 and served in almost every theatre
     
  5. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    My intention in posting about Din Mohammad MC was to highlight his bravery and that of other Indian units in the Arakan and other, less talked about theatres of the war in the Far East.

    I'm just a bit annoyed that this post was moved from 'India and Burma' to 'British Indian Army'. That forum is a relative backwater on here with only two posts so far in November. It also seems to reinforce the concern I have expressed in the post when I said "I sometimes think we need to keep reminding ourselves that the Burma campaign wasn't only British Battalions, Chindits and Gurkhas and that Indian Battalions made up so much of 14th Army". If the same logic is followed all the numerous posts on the Chindits in 'India and Burma' should all be moved to British Army Units - Others'!!

     
  6. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    My intention in posting about Din Mohammad MC last night was to highlight his bravery and that of other Indian units in the Arakan and other, less talked about theatres of the war in the Far East.

    I'm just a bit annoyed that this post was moved from 'India and Burma' to 'British Indian Army'. That forum is a relative backwater on here with only two posts so far in November. It also seems to reinforce the concern I have expressed in the post when I said "I sometimes think we need to keep reminding ourselves that the Burma campaign wasn't only British Battalions, Chindits and Gurkhas and that Indian Battalions made up so much of 14th Army". If the same logic is followed all the numerous posts on the Chindits in 'India and Burma' should all be moved to British Army Units - Others'!!

     
  7. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Ok I'll move it back.
     
  8. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    Owen

    Many thanks

    Tony
     
  9. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    All sub-forums get equal billing on the forum front page and are equally accessible to search engines. None are backwaters. If some are less utilised it's because people don't post there, surely not due to lack awareness in the subject. But at least the BIA platform exists, waiting for posts. Entirely up to those with an interest to populate it more.

    I'd love it if more
    documents like Recommendations were posted under Unit History. It's a solid reference space already but it could always do with more contributions. There will be overlaps, but I'd argue under eg BIA they'd make more of an impact, collated in one area (which is why I myself consistently post citations under the various subs there).
     
  10. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    dbf I can't disagree with much you have said (they do get equal billing, some are more used than others, it is because people post less there etc) but you have to ask why they are used less. IMHO structurally there is a conundrum with the existence of 'Theatres' and 'Units' alongside each other.

    For me the issue with British Indian Army forum is that it is a real mix of material and as I have an interest in one or two theatres primarily, including the British, Gurkha, Indian and African units that served in them, I find that finding relevant material posted in them relies on good use of the Search function and that they are titled and tagged sensibly. I suppose there are some on here whose primary interest are British Indian Army units or Regiments no matter where they fought and they may find it more useful.
     
  11. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Perhaps this'll clarify :)
    Unit History = Documents: source material specific to units and those serving in them; as well as queries to which they can provide answers.
    Theatre = Discussions: broadly relating to all participating formations & units; as well as conditions particular to that area of conflict.
     

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