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

Thank you so much bamboo43.

 

No worries. Glad to have something to add to your grandfather's Chindit pathway. I made up a little map showing Mogaung and the areas mentioned on the diary entry. Hope this will be of some use to you. The fighting for Mogaung was fairly brutal and 77 Brigade had very few fully fit personnel left by then. Your grandfather showed great resilience and fortitude to have made it so far in 1944.

 

Thanks again. All his children are still alive so will pass along. Reading the first hand accounts from other it's clear they went through hell.

 

No worries Hinks. Please see attached a very general summary of what the two King's columns experienced during Operation Thursday in 1944. Reading through, you can assume that your grandfather was one of the men who became separated from the main body of the King's on the 19th May, as they marched towards the new Chindit stronghold codenamed, Blackpool. The book that would provide you and the family with a decent overview of the King's pathway in Burma would be, Prisoners of Hope by Michael Calvert.

Much of the information I have posted comes from the excellent research done by forum member High Wood, the originator of this thread.

 

Hi everyone
Just thought I would let you know, i have just found out our Jimmy was only 24yrs old when he died and not 26 like it states on his grave stone. He had only just turned 24 on the 25 January 1944. I have know idea how the mistake happened, maybe he told them he was older, b
I know when he was younger he was a bit of a naughty boy, getting into trouble, all the time and as far as I know was put in borstal, or approved school even though my nan pleaded with the courts not to this, he was then i think put straight into the army, as the information my mother had. He was one of 11 children, and from a poor family how sad, but what a man he turned into. I am the most proudest nice any uncle could have. Thank you uncle James. And thanks to everyone of you again, for giving me the knowledge to help me find the truth God bless you all
Monica

 

Monica, thanks for the update about Jimmy. Not giving your actual age in order to enlist was a very common situation in both WW1 and WW2. You should, as I think I have mentioned before, be very proud of your uncle and the sacrifice he made in 1944.

 

I am
Monica

 

It would be great to see a photograph of your grandfather, if you are willing to share one with the this thread.

 

Ernest Michael Bryan

Quality isn't great - working on trying to get a better copy.

 

Thanks for taking the time to send the photo, Hinks. I visited Burma back in March 2008 and travelled through Chindit country quite extensively. It's not much I know, but please find attached a panoramic photograph of Mogaung looking at the town from the south west. The town is basically just below the skyline in the far distance. Gives you an understanding of the countryside at least.