Hey, that's my grandfather on the bottom left, Lt. "Briere" (actually Breare lol) Many thanks for posting!
Hi Ethan welcome to the forum, would you like to share information/photos about your grandfather? Cheers Paul
OK sure, my beloved Grandpa (died suddenly this last November) volunteered in 1939 and was in the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, which was his own father's regiment in the Great War (he carried his father's pistol and binoculars). Grandpa (William David Breare, always known as David) often talked about his experiences in the army, but I was never 100% sure of the chronology of his service, and am unfamiliar with the ways in which men move between units. He was in 45th Recce for the second Chindit expedition, and after the Chindits were disbanded he was in a parachute unit, and was ( I believe) about to be dropped as part of the invasion of Singapore when the A-bombs ended that part of the war. After the war he stayed in the army and served in Halifax (UK) where he met my grandmother. Later he served in the Royal West African Frontier Force in Zaria in Northern Nigeria, and after that he was posted to Germany for several years. I believe he left the army in 1952. As I said he often talked to me about his army experiences but more anecdotes and recollections than analysis and step-by-step recounting of where he was and when. He spoke with great fondness of his army days, and had a fairly decent-sized collection of books about the war in general and the Burma campaign in particular, and though he never attended reunions he kept in touch with many friends from this time (the tall man next to him is my mother's godfather, to choose one of several friends from this photo). I live in Canada and Grandpa's photos are all in England, but a few exist of his war years and plenty from his African and German service years as my Granny (ex-WAAF) was very good with photos, sketches and albums (if anyone knows any WAAF history buffs please get in touch!!).
For those with an interest in 45th Recce I have attached an officers group photo - with names. View attachment 47568 Wonderful photo Tony, rarely see group photographs with names.
Many thanks for posting the photograph. It enables me to put a face to a name I only know from a letter to my mother telling her of her first husbands death in Burma / March 1943. The officer in question is Major Vargoe. The soldier was Cpl Joe Brereton. If anybody knew him, please email me. Thank you.
Deetees welcome to the forum. Do you have any more information, photos that you can share? Corporal JOSEPH BRERETON 4196492 Who died age 25 on 26 March 1944 Son of Harold and Agnes Brereton; husband of Edith Brereton, of Stretford, Lancashire. TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY 14. A. 6. Cheers Paul
Deetees, Hello and welcome to the forum. Any Recce information and photographs are always welcome. Regards Tom
Hi Folks, This weekend i came into possession of some photos, Soldiers release book, AB64 and some insignia of a soldier of the 1st Bn South Staffs, 45 Recce Regiment. The soldier is 5677587 Pte Wallace F. Bonham. I have attached a photo and his insignia. The pic was taken in Dehra Dun Northern India, oct 1945. Steve
I had a quick look on the 1 South Staffs rolls I have on file, but he was not there. To be expected really, these were from 77th Indian Infantry Brigade, whilst 45 Recce were with 16th British Infantry Brigade in 1944. Cheers Steve
Bamboo, So was 1 South Staffs part of 45 recce, or was it a case of the South Staffs providing recce for 45. One of the pics i have from Wallaces collection is of a Sgt Foote with his Recce Regt badge attached to his Sgts stripes. Steve
Hi Steve, The personnel allocation for Operation Thursday was a very confused affair. When needed anyone could end up attached to just about any unit involved, especially specialised soldiers, signalmen, wireless operators etc. NCO's also moved around a lot between units when the need arose. 45 Recce Regiment were used as Infantry in 16th British Infantry Brigade forgoing their usual role. This brigade marched into Burma ahead of the main Chindit thrust. 1st South Staffs served in 77th Indian Infantry Brigade and were flown in to Burma slightly later on. The two Brigades did not liaise once inside Burma. Nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to the mixed up world of a Chindit soldier, so we need to keep an open mind.
