1st Bn The King's Regiment, (Liverpool), Chindits.

Discussion in 'Burma & India' started by High Wood, Mar 28, 2016.

  1. DuncanFx

    DuncanFx New Member

    Thank you both for your replies, and for taking the time to check your records. I'll continue with my pursuit of his official records and report back if they uncover anything. I'll also speak to my mother this weekend and see if she has any photos of my grandfather in his service days that she is willing for me to share.

    Thank you again,
    Duncan
     
  2. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    729232 Lieutenant Peter Guy Colley photographed whilst attending a six week Junior Commanders Course at the Tactical School, Deccan College, Poona, 1942. Two officers of the 13th battalion, Kings Regiment also attended the course and went on to serve in the first Wingate expedition, Operation Longcloth.

    Peter Colley appears to be wearing a medal ribbon

    Colley 002.JPG

    Peter Colley found the time for romance during his time in India, he married Kathleen Joy Clenmurphy in Srinagar, Kashmir in 1944. Unfortunately, only a transcript of the registrar's entry survives so I have no further details regarding the date and location.
     
    Last edited: Dec 4, 2021
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  3. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Could be an India General Service Medal 1936-37 for service on the North West Frontier.

    IGSM NWF 1936-37.jpg
     
  4. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    Certainly a possibility but as he was commissioned into the Royal Artillery on 11th September 1937 it would be a close call. More likely to be N.W.F. 1937-39.
     
  5. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Not sure why I did not put that version of the medal up in the first place HW. :rolleyes:
     
  6. DuncanFx

    DuncanFx New Member

    Hi. Bit of an update to share. My auntie has done me proud this past week in gathering together a number of details and photos regarding my grandfather (although no records). I've uploaded the photo taken closest in time to my grandfather's return home post-war.

    I've also now seen his medal collection (1939-1945 Star, Burma Star, Defence Medal, British War Medal 1939-1945), and red beret. I've also uploaded three other photos I found fascinating in what they shared this week - in amongst her collection, my auntie owns the reversible 'panic' map my grandfather wore as a scarf, that apparently has pin holes in it to show the location of ammo dumps, and some photos of him on one of his jumps leaving the plane (he's in the middle in this shot - I'm assuming these were training jumps, not in action, but can't confirm either way).

    My auntie also reiterated the account of events shared with her with regards to his injuries and the subsequent messages they received, that he was in fact shot in both the arm and leg, they received a telegram saying he was MIA, but he later sent a letter home from hospital. Unfortunately, she has neither dates or locations for either telegram or letter.

    - Duncan

    Fernley Ralph Nicholas:
    nick_back_from_war.jpg

    nick_jump1.jpg

    chindit_map1.jpg

    chindit_map2.jpg
     
  7. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    Superb photographs, thank you for posting them. In the first photograph he appears to be wearing the Pegasus India formation signs worn by the 44th Indian Airborne Division. He would of course have served with the 15th (King's) Parachute Battalion in that Division.
     
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  8. Jack Newbound

    Jack Newbound New Member

    Hi all,

    I recently discovered this forum trying to find out more information on whether my Great Grandad was an actual Chindit I've managed to get some useful information through this forum I wondering if anyone could help me out with anymore further information. :)

    3608622
    Border Regt 19B 82 Pte Milburn Matthew
     
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  9. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    Hi Jack

    It depends on which Battalion of the Border Regiment he was in.

    The 2nd and 9th Battalions were in India and Burma in the fighting from 1943 to 1945 but they were in the 20th and 17th Indian Infantry Divisions and altho involved in hard fighting were not 'Chindits'.

    The 4th Battalion were trained as Chindits but they were not sent on the main Chindit operation in 1944. However they were part of 23rd Long Range Penetration Brigade and went on a Chindit-style operation behind the Japanese front lines east of Kohima to hit the attacking Japanese troops' supply lines.
     
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  10. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    Jack
    Cancel the info above in #669 for you grandfather. Although true for the Borders, he was serving in 1st Battalion Kings Regiment on 'Operation Thursday' at the time and was shown in the Casualty List #1409 as Missing on 6 March 1944. However by 29 April 1944 that had been changed to 'Not Missing' in CL#1433.

    Some of the 'Chindit experts' may be able to add more on the circumstances on how he came to be Missing.
     
  11. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

  12. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    Matthew Milburn is mentioned several times in this thread. He was a Medical Orderly serving with 82 Column who was "lost" whilst crossing the Chindwin. He later rejoined the column. See post 334.

    He is also mentioned in an article in the Burma Star Association magazine Dekho!. number 121.
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2022
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  13. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    It would be great to learn more from you about your Great Grandad and perhaps see a photo of him if you have one. :)
     
    Last edited: Dec 22, 2021
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  14. Jack Newbound

    Jack Newbound New Member

    hi Everyone,

    thank you everyone for the information you have given its greatly appreciated, I'm still trying to find more information of the events over the rest of my Great Grandad military career once him and Sgt Hugh McGee got swept away in the Chindwin River. Unfortunately he passed away before I was born and he never spoke of his time in the military to anyone, I'll keep the forum up to date when I find more information. IMG-20220102-WA0004.jpg IMG-20220102-WA0003.jpg IMG-20220102-WA0005.jpg
     
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  15. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

  16. Andrew Morrow

    Andrew Morrow New Member

     
  17. Andrew Morrow

    Andrew Morrow New Member

    My great uncle is George Alexander Morrow. I would be very grateful of any further information on him or his Chindits campaign. Many thanks
     
  18. Andrew Morrow

    Andrew Morrow New Member

    Photos of a uncle George’s campaign…the camera was seized from an Italian Captain in N.Africa…we know much of Africa but the Chindits campaign is much of a mystery
     

    Attached Files:

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  19. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    Hello Andrew and welcome to the forum. Thank you for posting the photographs.

    Here is George Morrow's Burma Star Association membership form.

    GBM_BURMASTAR_M_M-301-450_0149.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2022
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  20. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    Here is his entry in the Royal Artillery Enlistment Book, dating from 1938. It shows that he was posted to a Heavy Anti Aircraft unit on the 28th January 1942 and was discharged to a Commission on the 20th February 1943.

    Morrow RA.jpg
     
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