113515 Captain Donald Friswell EASTEN, MC, MiD, 4th Bn. Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment

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    Personal Number: 113515
    Rank: Colonel
    Name: Donald Friswell EASTEN, MC, MiD
    Unit: Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment


    London Gazette: 16 January 1940
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34772/supplement/291/data.pdf
    The undermentioned from H.A.C. (Cadets, 162nd Officer Cadet Trng. Unit), to be 2nd Lts. 14th Jan. 1940: —
    INFANTRY.
    R.W.K.
    Donald Friswell EASTEN (113515).

    London Gazette: 8 February 1945
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36928/supplement/801/data.pdf
    The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Burma and on the Eastern Frontier of India: —
    The Military Cross.
    Lieutenant (temporary Captain) Donald Friswell Easten (1113515), The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment.

    London Gazette : 19 September 1946
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37730/supplement/4701/data.pdf
    The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Burma:—
    R.W.K.
    Ma], (actg.) D. F. EASTERN, M.C. (113515).

    London Gazette : 1 August 1947
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38032/supplement/3613/data.pdf
    ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS.
    2nd Lt. (War Subs. Capt.) Donald Friswell EASTEN, M.C. ,(113515), 8th May 1941. from R.W.K., Emerg. Commn.

    London Gazette : 19 August 1949
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38693/supplement/4011/data.pdf
    The following officer is awarded that 3rd Clasp to the Efficiency Medal (Territorial).
    The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment.
    Lt. (now T. Maj.) D. F. EASTEN, M.C. (113515) (now R.A.S.C.).

    London Gazette : 11 November 1952
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39691/supplement/5930/data.pdf
    ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS.
    Capt. D. F. EASTEN, M.C. (113515), to be Maj., 8th Nov. 1952.

    London Gazette : 8 November 1960
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/42186/supplement/7547/data.pdf
    ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS REGULAR ARMY
    The undermentioned Majs. to be Lt.-Cols. on the dates shown:
    D. F. EASTEN, M.C. (113515), 22nd Aug. 1960.

    London Gazette : 3 December 1965
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/43829/supplement/11303/data.pdf
    The undermentioned Lt.-Cols. to be Cols, on the dates shown:
    D. F. EASTEN, M.C. (113515), from R.C.T., 14th June 1965, with seniority 24th Aug. 1964.

    London Gazette : 4 February 1966
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/43890/supplement/1249/data.pdf
    The undermentioned Lt.-Cols. to be Cols, on the dates shown:
    R. F. DISCOMBE, O.B.E. (105922), from R.C.T., 16th Nov. 1965, with seniority 24th Aug. 1964, and with precedence next above D. F. EASTEN, M.C. (113515).
    R. K. M. PARRY, M.B.E., B.A. (98866), from R.C.T., Sth Dec. 1965, with seniority 24th Aug. 1964, and with precedence next below D. F. EASTEN, M.C. (113515).

    London Gazette : 6 February 1973
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/45899/supplement/1680/data.pdf
    ARMY DEPARTMENT
    COMMANDS AND STAFF
    REGULAR ARMY
    Col. D. F. EASTEN, M.C. (113515) late R.C.T., retires on retired pay, 31st Jan. 1973.
     
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    dbf, Aug 23, 2021
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    Last edited: Aug 27, 2021
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    Not available as of August 2021

    Easten, Donald Friswell (Oral history)

    Object description: British officer served with Honourable Artillery Company, GB, 1938-1939; served with 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regt and as liaison officer to 44th Div headquarters in GB and Egypt, 1940-1942; served as company commander with D Coy, 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regt in India and Burma, 1943-1944

    Content description
    • REEL 1 Background in GB, 1918-1938: family and education. Period with Territorial Army, 1938-1939: joining Honourable Artillery Company as private, 2/1938; nature of drill. Reaction to declaration of war, 3/9/1939. Period with 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regt, GB, 1940: joining unit, 5/1940; coastal defence duties, Dover Castle; view of troops returning from Dunkirk; nature of Kent and Sussex defences. Period as liaison officer with headquarters of 44th Division, GB and Western Desert, 1940-1942: memories of divisional commanding officer General Percival in GB; role as observer during Battle of Alam Halfa, 1942; opinion of German artillery; problems of role as liaison officer; escorting Prime Minister Winston Churchill through minefield, summer, 1942; return to 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regt, 11/1942. Transfer of 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regt from Western Desert to Baghdad via Palestine, 1942. Recollections of operations with 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regt, 161 Bde, 5th Indian Div in India and Burma, 1943-1944: nature of jungle training, Ranchi; India; recruitment areas of battalion; role as company commander of D Coy; opinion of bravery of Japanese troops in Arakan.
    • REEL 2 Continues: problems of seeing Japanese in Arakan; casualties in D Coy; attack on Japanese positions 'The Tunnels', on island of Maungdaw, Arakan; withdrawal and flight of unit to Dimapur, India; work of US airman 'Slide-rule' in loading air transport; conditions in Arakan Recollections of period with 4th Bn RWK during siege of Kohima, 1944: move of unit from Dimapur to Kohima; unit's role in defence of Kohima; memories of Lance Corporal John Harman's action at Kohima 9/4/1944, for which he was awarded posthumous Victoria Cross.
    • REEL 3 Continues: terrain around Kohima; incident when Easten and engineer officer [John Wright] used gun cotton to deal with Japanese in brick ovens; nature of Japanese attacks; wounding and evacuation; supply of water and ammunition to unit; effect of fear of being taken prisoner; morale of D Coy; state of British casualties; contact between besieged troops and outside world; relief of 4 Bn RWK by Punjabi troops and sight of Kohima after siege; question of sleep during siege; comradeship of those under siege; knowledge gained of Japanese troops; accuracy of parachute drops into Kohima. Question of effects of war.


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    Last edited: Aug 27, 2021
    dbf, Aug 27, 2021
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