1st battalion Cameronians

Interesting note re 26th and 90th... wasn't aware of that, but it makes sense, sort of... the Battalion was re-populated with fresh-blood (of which my dad was seconded from the Seaforths; Gordons and others also) in '43... the retreat is something I have not studied as dad was not involved...
edit... certainly aware of Highlanders in 26 Column and English in 90...

Both B43 and I live/lived (I'm now slightly further north) close by Kew and you'll find all sorts of stuff there... save yourself the trip until you know some details about his records... we can advise you what files to order and recommend you book a camera-table... to visit you must obtain a viewing card, which will require proof of identity... drivers licence and utility bill, just in case... my Kew files run into images in the multiple thousands and is circa 40 GB of data and my total notations are multiple millions of words, not all transcribed, obviously, but I have OCR'd dozens of titles... Kew is not just a "day-trip", so fore-armed is fore-warned...
There are specific specialist here that can obtain copies of the records for a 10th of the cost that Kew charge, and you do not even need to visit... not me, before you ask... I'm chaotic... Drew and Lee are regulars in this field...

The formation of the two Columns took place in India in 1943... 400 men; ten Platoons of 40 men, with all the usual Officers down to Riflemen... they usually marched single-file in jungle conditions to minimise evidence of their passing... the records will not tell you the platoon number, not the column number; just when he went in, his health, and when he came out... it may be possible to figure out which Convoy he sailed out on by dates though...

Recommended titles... John Masters' The Road Past Mandalay (still in print) and Richard Rhodes James' Chindit (scarce) are essential info... both first-hand novels... Masters' commanded the 111th, of which the 1st Cameronians were integral... Rhodes James was a cipher officer for the 111th...
There are numerous other titles and overviews but a good starter is Tony Redding's War In The Wilderness... a big title with small print and lots of detail...

Records caveats, which is why I suggest hold-your-fire on records sprees until you have some pointers... we had a pro-writer that enquired about his dad's records for a (then) forthcoming title and we asked him to post them to help him confirm detailing... transpired that his dad never went in, but he used our recommendations and produced a title that regurgitated old details in an alternate format... I'm credited in the title but I have yet to pick up a copy...

I've been (sort of) working on a title encompassing all the known details, along with my late dad's notes (90 Column) and some other new (old) details but I'm presently stalled, yet again...

 

Thanks HC

Very much in awe at the depth of detail you have accumulated and appreciative of you sharing the information with a novice like myself. Using a Researcher may well be the route I choose to go, as spare time at a premium.

I will access the recommended texts and am currently re-reading Slim 's Defeat into Victory which was a staple of my Dad's library, Its starting to make more sense this time round. I am guessing that the well thumbed and slightly frayed pages are the likely areas of particular relevance, so playing detective as I proceed.!

I will post further detail once obtained

 

That title gives very little reference to what your dad went through if he was at Blackpool... Tony Redding's work gives a better overview from that perspective... Masters' work is "Exemplary"...

We should still be here when you get back...

Kenny

 

This is a photo of Blackpool as it is now as far as I could pin it down on the road through Namkin towards Mogaung

 

Beautiful photographs zahonado, Alistair will be thrilled with those.

 

Alistair will be thrilled (he stammered in a huff) ?! :biggrin:

It will be interesting to compare that first one with your pic, me ol' Bamboo...

... and yes, gorgeous pics, Za...

 

Captain Geoffrey Raymond Middleton 126067 (1st Bn. Cameronians)
I'm trying to find any information on Captain Geoffrey Raymond Middleton 126067 (1st Bn. Cameronians). He is on the Rangoon Memorial, having died on 7 March 1942. I have a picture from his school days and a complete record of his school exploits. But I am struggling to find anything to do with his life after school and in the army. Can anybody help with info or direction? Many thanks, David

 

I do not have anything that states Middleton's name I'm afraid. But I do have several missing in action reports that show men from the battalion lost after an ambush by the Japanese on the railway at Pegu on the 7th March 1942. This is during the battalion's retreat in the face of the Japanese invasion and just before the destruction of the Yenangyaung oilfields in April.

 

Many thanks bamboo43, I very much appreciate this. It appears to be a possibility then that he was killed during this ambush and was one of the many bodies that lay around the location. It makes scary reading.

 

Quite possibly David. Hopefully, Hebridean Chindit might know more.

 

I'm afraid not, me Ol' China... all my material is pretty much 43-44 centric...
Best of luck with the research, David...
Kenny

 

Not to worry mate. Hope all is well?

 

Many thanks for the kind reply Kenny,
David

 

It's why we're all here, David... we do what we can... some folks more than most, not mentioning any bamboocentric folks...

Doing okay, me Ol' China... hopefully same for you and the fam... now started my 4th week back and can't believe how much the Highlands have been invaded already...

 

Just picked up this kit label to Rfn Carlin of 1st Cameronians wounded 15/5/44 - any info on which column or what was going on that day welcome

 

Wounded 15th May 1944, probably at Blackpool with the 111th Indian Infantry Brigade under John Masters.

 

As HW says, highly likely wounded in the defence of the Blackpool block just 10 days before it was abandoned.

 

The story of Blackpool around the time of Carlin's wound, is told on the Chindit Society website on the following page:

The Chindits - Operation Thursday - The Chindit Society

 

Thanks for the link, interesting reading - with him being a Cameronian it caught my attention