My late Grandfather George Burt joined the Wiltshire Regiment in 1940 and was then posted to the 1st RWF in March 1943. His service documents state that he was already in India in 1942 with the Wiltshire Regiment. Imlooking for any info on where they served and what they did. He also said that he served on the Isle of Wight. Agian imlooking for any info on this. Many thanks Steven Burt
Do the documents say if he was 1st or 2nd Wilts? 1st Bn was there for most of the war with some time in burma in '44. 2nd Bn called in for awhile after Madagascar in '42. You can buy their war diaries from The Wardrobe. https://www.thewardrobe.org.uk/prodSections.php?sect_id=19
no it just says Wiltshire Regiment. He does start in the 50th Holding Btn Wilts but I guess you could be posted to either Btn from there. He was based in Mudeford in Christchurch in 1940 being billeted in the Anchorage then (according to my Uncle) he was on the Isle Of Wight and did shooting practice by the Needles. Apparently he shot down a plane at one point( i personally dont believe it but my Uncle is convinced)
More than likely it'd be 1st Bn as 2nd Bn soon moved on to Persia. He might have not even been in a Bn & just sent as a general draft of reinforcements.
he arrived in india on 20th Aug 1942 if that makes any differenve and there is a stamp on his records that says wilts r 138
he arrived in india on 20th Aug 1942 if that makes any differenve and there is a stamp on his records that says wilts r 138 Steve, read the first paragraph in this link ref 1 Wilts. Highworth Historical Lest We Forget 23
The 2nd Wiltshire Regiment left India on August 19th, 1942 so more than likely he was posted to the 1st Wiltshire Regiment was was located at Dinapore on August 20th under the 152nd Line of Communications Sub-Area. The 1st Battalion was mobilised in September 1943 and then served as follows: Eastern Army – 19 September 1943 to 3 October 1943 The battalion joined Eastern Army on moving to the Arakan after leaving Dinapore. During this time it sailed from Madras to Chittagong. 4th Indian Infantry Brigade – 3 October 1943 to 9 October 1944 It joined the 4th Indian Infantry Brigade in the Arakan on October 3rd, 1943 and operated with the brigade until October 9th, 1944, when it left the brigade and returned to India. Rawalpindi Area – Northwestern Army – 15 October 1944 to 27 March 1945 It was located under in the Rawalpindi Area from October 15th, 1944. Razmak Brigade – 27 March 1945 to 31 August 1945 The battalion served under the Razmak Brigade until the end of the war.
my grandad was in the 1st battalion wiltshire in India i have lots of photos of india tigers guns and elephants etc
Cited only in part: In very separate research an Indian Army officer, who later became a General, Stanley Menezes when interviewed by the Imperial War Museum about his service before Partition at Landi Kotal (Khyber Pass), refers to: a Wiltshire Regt. Picket post was approached by local tribesmen and asked if they wanted women, they replied yes. The tribesmen later returned at night, tricked their way into the picket and massacred them all. From Reel 3 of his interviews: Menezes, Stanley (Oral history) Now I know which battalion was involved and might one day ask their museum if they have a record of this incident. Thank you dryan67. Incidentally and I know this is a WW2 talk site the 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment spent its last months in India on peace keeping duties in Calcutta, Jullundur, Amritsar and Lahore attempting to keep the warring factions apart prior to the British withdrawal before sailing for England in August 1947. From:The (Duke of Edinburghs) Wiltshire Regiment 1881-1920 The Wiltshire Regiment (Duke of Edinburghs) 1920-1959 - The Wardrobe housing The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum
