Lincolnshire Regiment in Burma

Could anybody tell me about where and how the Lincolnshire regiment were involved in Burma? My grandad was in a few regiments during the war but ended up in Burma with the Lincolns. Any help would be appreciated, I’m new to this hope it’s ok to post here.
Thanks Matt

 

Casualty lists show him wounded, Burma, on 24.1.45, he was recorded as 1st Bn so that is the unit you need to research at that time. Presumably you have his official service records?

 

Tony I do have some of his documents yes, I wanted to find out more about his time in Burma. Thanks

 

There are five threads tagged for the regiment, they can be id'd using: 1 lincolnshire regiment | WW2Talk

If you search with a wider remit you get many threads, obviously some do not refer to the period you are interested in! Try using "lincolnshire regiment" + "burma" + "ww2talk.com"

This thread appears to be the main thread for the regiment: The Lincolnshire Regiment

Somewhere I am sure there is a book mentioned.

If you can identify the brigade they were with, that will give you more options. Post 10 & 12 on 1st Bn (x foot) Lincolnshire Regiment summarise their service. They show the battalion was part of 71st Indian Infantry Brigade – 1 March 1942 to July 1945; on my quick scan this was the formation for the Dutch East Indies, as part of: 26th Indian Infantry Division - Wikipedia

 

Thankyou

 

Hi

We know 1 Lincolns were in Burma 43-5 in the Arakan. There is a really good book produced by them just after the war : The History of the First Battalion: The Lincolnshire Regiment in India, Arakan, Burma, and Sumatra, September 1939-1946: Good Original Paper Wrps (1949) | Alcuin Books, ABAA (abebooks.com). It sometimes comes up cheaper than these copies so worth keeping an eye out for on EBay, Abebooks.co.uk etc.

I think you need to find out when he arrived in Burma as he could have served with The Royal Artillery (which unit was he with in the RA) and East Lancashire Regiment there as well. Do you have info on that from the documents you have? If you are having difficulty 'translating' them photograph them and post them here - we will help.

Have attached the Casualty List mentioned above. Do you know anything about his wounding and the aftermath of it?

 

Thanks here are his casualty and service records

 

That’s all I have,

 

Apparently he was on Akyab and Ramree, he was injured on Ramree by a motor bomb and was taken off the beach by one of the 17th Indian army maybe 71st? He was taken out into Bay of Bengali then to India for a month then sent back to fight, according to an old recording from my grandma.

 

Excellent thread started my Matt Poole in 2020 about Ramree Island. I posted copies the 1 Lincolns Book and some war diaries. I will look for a copy of his name in the Lincolns Nominal Rolls.

Map, Ramree Island, Kyaukpyu area, invaded 21 Jan 45

 

From the History of the Lincolnshire Regiment, 1st Battalion. They were in the first wave and landed at Ramree Island. The Lincolns were relieved and left on the 24th March 1945 leaving 58 men dead, wounded unknown. (Rangoon next).

 

There are two copies of the cited book in the UK, the British Library, London and the University of Nottingham Library - according to worldcat.org There are three copies in the USA and one in Holland. Note it is only eighty pgs. though.

 

Thankyou there is a bit on the 24th about one killed and 11 injured, same day as my grandad he could be one of the 11.

 

I have relatives who fought in Burma.
It looks on the surface, that you are set to spend much on books about what happened there without actually knowing exactly which Regiment or units he was with and when.
The only way to find out is through his Army Service Record.
Get a copy of military service records (see the link above)
Then you can begin buying the books that might give you his actual story.
It is of course entirely up to you as there may or may not be the information that you expect to see.
It will take time and cost money but are his personal movements, training courses and postings, leave and hospital admissions (probably several in Burma).
Its all up to you.
Burma is in the media at the moment but you will find out when he joined with which unit and where he was posted before he went there.
According to your framed display he missed the Dunkirk BEF evacuation May - June 1940
Did he go abroad as a Gunner or was that on home service training (and most likely on Anti Aircraft duties).
When did he embark for India or Ceylon and on which ship.
Which Battalion of the East Yorkshires (1st Btn was in India 1939).
The Lincolns appear to have been there as well serving in the Arakan (Battle of the Admin Box) before your grandfather got there.
He arrived after the Battle of Imphal but joined the advance into Burma at some stage.
Army Service Records wont tell you exactly but will give hints by the places, units and dates as to what HE actually did.

 

Matt 71,

A small correction:

Mortar, not motor bomb.

 

Wow! Matt Poole's thread has an amazing collection of documents on 1 Lincolns at Ramree. Rarely do we see a topic covered so thoroughly. Something for Matt 71 to get his teeth into. But lots more to discover about his relative's service especially if he he gets the records from the MOD (I know it is a wait!). They are starting to flow from the MOD and it seems to be a bit of a lottery as to whether it is eighteen months or sometimes shorter.

A theory: It could be that he went out to India in 1944 in the Royal Artillery and once there was 'converted' into Infantry serving with the East Lancs briefly before moving on to the Lincolns. There was a shortage of infantry at that time in India/Burma (and in Italy) and some of the requirements for artillery (such as heavy and light anti-aircraft ) had reduced as the Allies had air supremacy. Only his MOD records will tell when he went out and with which unit.

 

He was with the East Yorkshire reg for about 10 months maybe infantry training before the Lincoln’s, I know he was meant to go to Africa with the RA but he didn’t go in the end and found himself in Burma.thanks for the help Next stage MOD service records.

 

Here is a copy of Herbert WALMSLEY's name in the Lincolnshire Regiment Nominal Rolls now held in the Lincoln archives.

Found in Book reference REGI 3-26, Page No: 59.

He was discharged to Class Z (T) Reserve on 25 February 1946

 

Hallo
Finally got my grandads service records, would you have a glance at the records and help me understand his service in Burma?
Thanks matt