1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 1943

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by LindenSecker, May 4, 2020.

  1. LindenSecker

    LindenSecker New Member

    hi, I am new to the site so forgive me if posting in the wrong location. I am specifically looking for detail of the movements and casualties of the 1st Btn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in early April of 1943. specifically Fuselier Cyril Lambert 608244 presumed killed in action 7th April in Sinoh area. also how would I discover if medals were awarded and if so who they were sent to. many thanks and sorry for my ignorance on the subject.
     
  2. PackRat

    PackRat Well-Known Member

    Hi, welcome to the forum.

    Here's the battalion's war diary for the early part of April (excuse some slightly blurry photos, was using my phone to take them):

    1.jpg 2.jpg 3.jpg 4.jpg 5.jpg

    You can find some more information on the fighting in that part of the Arakan (mostly focusing on Donbaik, though, where the Inniskillings fought in January and February) in this thread:

    http://ww2talk.com/index.php?thread...lliers-during-operation-longcloth-burma.71871

    If you have a look on page 3 of that thread there are extracts from the regimental history covering the period, including an excellent map of the battalion's movements in April.

    Finding out about one specific fusilier is likely to be very difficult - the situation in April was critical and chaotic, and war diaries rarely mention 'other ranks' at the best of times. However, if Cyril was initially marked as 'missing in action' (as many men of 1 Innisk were) then there is a chance that you could find something in one of these two files at the National Archives:

    WO 361/203 & WO 361/202
    (Burma: 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers; missing personnel)


    It might just be a mention of his name on a list, or might be a more detailed enquiry about his fate (reports from eyewitnesses etc.) like this:

    Image00001.jpg

    They are large files stuffed with paperwork in no particular order, though. I had a brief look through when I was searching for someone in particular, but it would have taken hours to photograph the whole thing so I'm afraid I don't have much of it.

    Do you have his service records? They would show his medal entitlement and should be stamped to say if the medals were actually issued (but not who they were sent to).
     
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  3. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Well done PackRat, you beat me to it. I have the same info really but do have the MIA listings with Cyril's entry:

    april 1.JPG april 2.JPG april 3.JPG april 4.JPG MIA listing.JPG
     
    PackRat likes this.
  4. ozzy16

    ozzy16 Well-Known Member

    First name, Cyril.
    Last name, Lambert.
    Birth year 1921.
    Birth Place Lincolnshire.
    Age 22.
    Death year 1943.
    Death date 7th April 1943.
    Service no 6982444.
    Rank Fusilier.
    Unit 1st Bn.
    Regt Royal Inniskilling Fusilliers.
    Grave ref Face 11.
    Cemetery or Memorial, Rangoon Memorial.
    Theatre of war Burma.
    Burial Country Myanmar.
    Son of Alfred Lambert, and of Hannah E, Lambert, of Holbeach, Lincolnshire.

    regards......…..Graham.
     
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  5. LindenSecker

    LindenSecker New Member

    brilliant work thanks so much. his daughter has just sent off for the service records so will be interesting to look at them. Linden

    thanks for these. I was totally lost where to even start. Linden
     
  6. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    No worries. I only had these diary entries because a friend of mine lost her great uncle on the very next day. He was Fred Hartle.
     

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