Special Forces in Burma

Discussion in 'Burma & India' started by Sushil Talwar, Sep 7, 2009.

  1. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    It is very true what you say Jonathan. I have just finished reading, The War of the Running Dogs. This is about the Malayan Emergency post war and as you say, brought out the best in ordinary Rubber planters and Mining operatives and their families.
     
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  2. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    With the help of forum member Bucklt, here is a photograph of John Mackay's inscription upon Face 23 of the Rangoon Memorial:

    MACKAY J.H., Face 23, Rangoon Memorial, Taukkyan War Cemetery, .jpg
     
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  3. Jonathan Sheed

    Jonathan Sheed New Member

    This is outstanding, i'm so lucky to have found this group the family will be so pleased to see it.
    Was the rank of captain awarded to him once he was enlisted by z force to go behind enemy lines? Because all the info i have prior to that is "John Henry Mackay of the royal Indian engineers", however, his post death forces record and M.I.D which I downloaded from the national achieves, list him as Captain John Henry Mackay as in the memorial face above. ?

    does anyone know if and how many of the 10 british officer Johnnies survived the war in burma?
     
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  4. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    I can't answer the question of rank for the Z Force officers, but I do know that all officers who took part on the first Chindit expedition in 1943, had an immediate promotion of one rank as they entered Burma. These promotions were generally retained afterwards and they continued forward with them during their war service.
     
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  5. Webby-962

    Webby-962 New Member

    Hi everyone. Bit more of an update on my Freddy Webster journey. I managed to find his medals, which are on display at the Military Intelligence Museum in Chicksands! The irony here, was I used to do some work at that Camp and they were only a stones throw away! Now to track down a copy of 'Wild Green Earth' by Bernard Fergusson, which evidently also details some of the Z Force activities.

     
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  6. Webby962

    Webby962 Member

    Hi all, further to my investigations into Freddy's medals, I've got an invite to Chicksands to view them and speak to the curator. Now COVID permits. In the meantime, here is a photo they had, which some may or may not have seen. Anyone able to id everyone? Freddy is on the right.
    245921469_1144913802705091_261399411287619789_n.jpg
     
  7. Is it possible to find out the exact composition of Wood force ?
     
  8. . Is it possible to find out the exact composition of Wood force ?
     
  9. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Well not sure about exact composition, but between 20th and 30th May it had under its command

    9/12th Frontier Force Regiment
    3/1st Gurkha Rifles
    one battery from 9th Field Regiment RA

    All three units were detached from 20th Indian Division. After roadblock at Marban was cleared, all these units returned to its parent division on 30th May, while three battalions from 17th Indian Division were put under Woodforce command

    7/10th Baluch Regiment
    4/12th Frontier Force Regiment
    1/4th Gurkha Rifles

    Woodforce was finally disbanded on the 5th July. During this time various other units were probably attached to the force or supported it, like elements of 3rd Carabiniers.
     
  10. Thanks.
     
  11. Do you think you could tell me anything about ARTFORCE and what it consisted of. Thanks.
     
  12. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    I am not sure if this is one you are asking for
    * in the book it say 14th Indian Division but this is mistake, it was 17th Indian Division that operated in the Chin Hills.
     
  13. O.K., this is it, Thanks.
     
  14. I am fairly sure that ARTFORCE fighting as infantry, fought as part of WOOD FORCE in the battle of Redhill....and other elements from the Bishenpur gun box as well ?
     
  15. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Possible, but the one I mentioned in the earlier post is the only "Artforce" I could find reference in books.
     

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