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303rd Indian Field Company

Discussion in 'Burma & India' started by Skoyen89, Nov 29, 2025.

  1. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    Does anyone know what 303rd Field Park Company was involved in during February 1944?

    I came across this newspaper article announcing the death of Major William Stephen Douglas Cooper RE on 3rd February 1944. He was the Commanding Officer of the unit according to the CWGC. They were part of 7th Indian Infantry Division and so in the Arakan in the Buthidaung area but this was a couple of days before the main Japanese offensive in the area commenced.

    He was probably buried near the site of his death, the grave was subsequently concentrated to Akyab War Cemetery (which was not in Indian/British hands at the time of his death) and then relocated again to Taukkyan when Akyab was closed.

    He had attested as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers in 1939 and had the number 2079321. He then went to an OCTU and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 13 July 1941. His commissioned number was 198972 and he had risen to the rank of Acting Major at the age of 24 by the time of his death. Some more details of his military career are included in the newspaper article,

    Aberdeen Evening Express 18 Feb 1944 Maj WS Douglas Cooper RE KIA.jpg
     

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