3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards) Nominal Roll.

Discussion in 'Burma & India' started by High Wood, Jul 30, 2020.

  1. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    I'd been watching it too and was planning a bid but left it after a few other bits cropped up
     
  2. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    AB64 and Highwood - I too was planning to bid and didn't! Wonder who got them?
     
  3. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Whoever did secure the medals was fortunate you three had other fish to fry!
     
  4. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Sadly, I learned today that Dick Hilder passed away on the 18th September aged 101.
     
  5. Peter Hanchant

    Peter Hanchant New Member

    My dad is 7940602 Sgt Hanchant Paul
     
  6. JTH

    JTH New Member

    Just come across this thread. My grandfather was Edgar Walsh (on the list), who was killed on 15 March 45 somewhere near Tamu on the India/Burma border. Any idea what the Carabiniers were doing round there at this time?
     
  7. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    Hi JTH

    He probably wasn't killed near Tamu unless it was an accident on the route to the front in Burma. he was initially buried in Mandalay and then his grave was concentrated to Taukkyan. which suggests he was fighting in the push through Burma. Another soldier from his Regiment was also killed that day.

    Edited: I can find four from 3 DG who died that day:
    Cpl H Rimmer 3765891
    Tpr B Martin 4697017
    Tpr F Martin 13053492
    Tpr EK Walsh 7953537
     
    Last edited: Oct 19, 2023
  8. JTH

    JTH New Member

    Thanks for the comment. I am wondering how I could find out where the Carabiniers were around 15 March 1945. Any suggestions?
     
  9. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

  10. JTH

    JTH New Member

    Many thanks. I will arrange a visit next time I am in London.
     
  11. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    I have the utmost admiration for you guys covering this This theatre of War.
    My uncle was with the 1st Northants Carrier Platoon and whilst not named, his recollections of the war to his family match parts of The Silchar Track which I purchased after excellent advice.
    Like most people I have some knowledge of the Burma Campaign. Two uncles both named Bill fought there.
    But not nearly as much as I should.

    Their invention of which were to them, strange sounding names epitomises the British Soldier of the time

    Potsangbam - Pots and Pans ?? In "The Silchar Track".

    Nunshigum was new to me until I read your lists:
    The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards - Anniversary of The Battle of Nunshigum - 13 April

    .
     
    Last edited: Oct 19, 2023
    bamboo43 likes this.
  12. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    JTH

    Whilst I don't have the War Diary for 1945 I do have the Regimental History of 3rd Carabiniers called 'I Serve' by Oatts.

    At the time 3 DG were supporting 2nd British Infantry Division who crossed the Irrawaddy in late February and then moved on Mandalay. On 8th March 'C' Squadron was with the Royal Scots (of 5th Infantry Brigade) and helped them clear Myotha without loss.

    'Both the squadrons (A & C) were in action immediately in close support of the infantry, and so continued with but one day's rest on the 12th, until the fort of Ava was reached and captured on the 17th. Some of the battles on the way were brisk affairs, such as that on the 16th when 'C' Squadron attacked Kadozeik, losing a tank and four men killed, with Lt Lothian and three others wounded.'

    'On the 20th 'C' Squadron was ferried across the Mytinge from Ava and advanced into Mandalay. Fort Dufferin was still holding out but it fell on the 21st and the headquarters Troop of 'C' Squadron escorted the commander of 5 Infantry Brigade when he entered it for the ceremony of breaking out the union flag.'

    I think the 'C' Squadron loss at Kadozeik is likely to be where your grandfather was killed. Although the date is a day out that is not unusual in the Burma campaign and the four killed tallies with those I found in the Casualty Lists.
     
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  13. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    JTH

    Just pulled and checked a spreadsheet of all the 3DG casualties from the CWGC database and the four men are the only dead from 8/9 April to 29 April so the lost tank I mentioned above is more than likely where your grandfather lost his life.
     
    bamboo43 likes this.
  14. JTH

    JTH New Member

    Skoyen89

    Many thanks for the information. I have just received from Bovington Tank Museum scans of the pages from the War Diary for the 3DG for the first half of March. The entry for 15 March references a tank being knocked out, so it is reasonable to assume that this was when my grandfather was killed. It appears that Kadozeik is near Pyinmana, quite a long way south of Mandalay. Given that he joined the 3DG in May 1944 during the battle of Imphal, he had driven a very long way south.
     
  15. Christopher Kay

    Christopher Kay New Member

    Good Afternoon,
    I am currently researching my grandfather and am coming up with abit of a dead end. I have his release documents and some photos but can't seem to find any more information on him and his time in the army.
     

    Attached Files:

  16. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    Unfortunately the release documents generally only tell you the name of the unit he was with just before he was released in the UK at the end of his service. You need to order his records from the MOD or the National Archives (they are in the middle of a programme to transfer them from the former to the latter). That will tell you which unit he served with when he was in India and Burma etc. Then you need the war Diaries or Regimental History. In the case of the 3rd Carabineers (DG) it is called 'I Serve' by Oatts and copies occasionally come up through Abebooks.co.uk

    There is a good Facebook group called WW2 Burma Research Group where there are lots of people going through the same process which may be worth joining if you 'do FB'.
     
  17. Christopher Kay

    Christopher Kay New Member

    Good Morning,
    Many thanks for the reply and information, I have applied through MOD Personnel for his service records so suppose it is abit of a waiting game now as the last update I had from them was in October. I Will keep an eye out for the diaries and have a look at the Facebook group. Thank you again.
     
  18. Nick Shipton

    Nick Shipton New Member

    I've just come across this thread whilst blindly thrashing around looking at my Grandad war history.
    I knew he'd served in Burma as part of the 3rd Carabiniers, but know little about his movements etc, other than he was part of a tank crew.
    I've attached a number of photos and other documents I have which he had kept but never spoke about, hope these are of some interest
     

    Attached Files:

    Skoyen89 and dryan67 like this.
  19. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    Hi Nick

    These are really interesting, especially the pieces from the Officer Training School at Mhow. As he was an officer it should be possible to trace his involvement through the War Diary for 3DG. I have 1944 but not 1945. When I get a moment over the next week I will have a look - what was his name? Was he in the ranks prior to going to the Officer Training?
     
  20. Nick Shipton

    Nick Shipton New Member

    Hi, That would be fantastic thanks.

    His name was Ronald Dickinson and he was in the ranks prior to officer training. I believe his service number was 827842 and he originally joined up as part of the TA in 1933 - his father was already in the TA - Berks and Bucks Yeomanry. They both went to France/Belgium in 39 as part of the BEF and I have pictures of them in various places on the retreat back and eventually they made it back from Dunkirk (again he never spoke about it). Seems he then went on numerous training camps particularly in Yorkshire before being seconded to the Carabiniers.

    Regards

    Nick
     

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