Royal Welchmen in the 1st Chindit expedition 1943

Despite it’s name, the 13^th btn King’s (Liverpool) Regiment, was formed in North Wales, in june 1940. It was raised from a cadre of Warrant Officers and NCOs from the KOSB, the RWF and RUR. When the ranks were filled, most came from Liverpool and Manchester but also a number of men with original enlistment in the RWF.

The battalion was raised as originally as a second line unit, and many of the soldiers were around 30 years of age. After a period of coastal and beach defence duties in the UK, the btn sailed for India were it was used for internal security duties at Secunderabad.<o:p></o:p>
When the planning began for a long range penetration into Japanese controlled territory in Burma, the british battalion available to Orde Wingate was the 13^th King’s. Along with 3/2nd Gurkha Rifles, 2nd Burma Rifles, 142nd Commando Company and support units they made up 77^th (Indian) infantry brigade, commanded by Wingate.

After training, during which a number of men were transferred out of the battalion for health and physical reasons, the force went into Burma in mid February 1943, by know Christened “Chindits” after the Burmese temple lion/griffin, “Chinthe” in Burmese.<o:p></o:p>
They marched into Burma, where the objective was to cut two railway lines, between Mandalay and Myityina, and Maymio-Lashio, and to harass the enemy in the Shwebo area. The railway lines were located 100 and 150 miles into enemy territory. This meant that apart from the rations the men carried, the force would either be supplied by air drop or forage for themselves. The did not march in as battalions, but in marching columns. The 13^th King’s were in Columns no 5 (Fergusson), 7 (Gilkes) and 8 (Scott).

The King’s regimental history states that “the task with which the men of the 13^th battalion were now faced as probably the most unusual ever deliberately undertaken by British troops”. Not only were they to operate behind enemy lines, but they faced a thick jungle, high and steep ridges, forested mountains, few roads or tracks, a number of rivers and water courses, along with the numerous malaria infected mosquitoes.

The railway between Mandalay and Myitkyina was reached and blown up, the enemy were harassed (albeit this often went both ways during the operation), but the second railway line had to be given up, and the force began to make their way back to India.

Encounters with the enemy, the hardships of the march, lack of food due to the difficulties of air supply, and diseases depleted the force. The marching columns broke into smaller parties, sometimes only a few men strong. By middle of June those that managed to survive or evade capture were back in India or had arrived in China, “gaunt, bearded, emaciated men, disheveled, and in many cases ill with one or other of the various diseases so easily picked up in the jungle”, again a quote from the King’s regimental history.

One source says that the 13^th King’s went into Burma 721 men strong, 384 of them coming back to India. Of those that did not come back many were captured by the Japanese and incarcerated in the Rangoon jail, a capitivity that many did not survive. <o:p></o:p>

After this, the battalion was stationed in Karachi and not used for front line duty for the rest of the war. Every time Archibald Wavell was in Karachi he used to visit the 13th King's at the Napier Barracks and would ask them to provide his 'Guard of Honour' whenever he moved throughout the region.

Along with a friend, whose grandfather served and died with the 13^th King’s in Burma, I have helped complete a roll of honour of the 13^th King’s. A recent surfacing of a medal group to a member of the battalion, one of the men with an original enlistment in the RWF led me to write this for the forum. Below I attach an extract of this roll, showing the former Royal Welchmen who died serving in the 13^th King’s during the war.

For further reading I suggest a visit to the website http://www.chinditslongcloth1943.com , maintained by Stephen Fogden, whose grandfather Arthur Leslie Howney did not come back from the expedition. <o:p></o:p>
Among the various books on the subject, I would like to mention one, by the commander of No 5, Major Bernard Fergusson, “Beyond the Chindwin”.<o:p></o:p>

ATB,<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Lars<o:p></o:p>

Extract from the Roll of Honour, 13^th King’s (Liverpool) Regiment in WWII, showing men with an original enlistment for the Royal Welch Fusiliers.<o:p></o:p>

Surname<o:p></o:p>	First name<o:p></o:p>	Rank<o:p></o:p>	Service number<o:p></o:p>	Cemetery or memorial<o:p></o:p>	Date of death<o:p></o:p>	CWGC info<o:p></o:p>	Column (on Longcloth)<o:p></o:p>
Ackerman<o:p></o:p>	Henry James<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4204981<o:p></o:p>	Rangoon War Cemetery<o:p></o:p>	19430802<o:p></o:p>	Age 32. Son of George and Elizabeth Ackerman<o:p></o:p>	5 POW<o:p></o:p>
Aindow<o:p></o:p>	Henry William<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4206334<o:p></o:p>	Rangoon Memorial<o:p></o:p>	19430601<o:p></o:p>	Age 21. Son of Henry Gerald and Alice Aindow, of Formby, Lancashire. <o:p></o:p>	7<o:p></o:p>
Allen<o:p></o:p>	Archibald Walter<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4192910<o:p></o:p>	Rangoon War Cemetery<o:p></o:p>	19440414<o:p></o:p>	Age 22<o:p></o:p>	8 POW<o:p></o:p>
Coates<o:p></o:p>	Richard<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4192705<o:p></o:p>	Rangoon Memorial<o:p></o:p>	19430217<o:p></o:p>	Age 21. Son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Coates, of Swansea; husband of M. J. Coates, of Townhill, Swansea.<o:p></o:p>	8 POW<o:p></o:p>
Davies<o:p></o:p>	Gwilym<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4199350<o:p></o:p>	Rangoon Memorial<o:p></o:p>	19430501<o:p></o:p>	Age 23. Son of David Evan Davies and Annie Davies.<o:p></o:p>	8<o:p></o:p>
Fitzpatrick<o:p></o:p>	Joseph<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4198452<o:p></o:p>	Rangoon War Cemetery<o:p></o:p>	19441021<o:p></o:p>	Age 24. Son of Stephen and Alice Fitzpatrick, of Appley Bridge, Lancashire<o:p></o:p>	5 POW<o:p></o:p>
Gittins<o:p></o:p>	Sebert<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4194699<o:p></o:p>	Rangoon War Cemetery<o:p></o:p>	19440309<o:p></o:p>	Age 24. Son of Benjamin and Mary Gittins <o:p></o:p>	5 POW<o:p></o:p>
Jones<o:p></o:p>	William George<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4194244<o:p></o:p>	Karachi War Cemetery<o:p></o:p>	19440623<o:p></o:p>	Age 29. Son of Hugh Hughes Jones and Elizabeth Ann Jones, of Conway, Caernarvonshire<o:p></o:p>	After; Malaria<o:p></o:p>
Jones<o:p></o:p>	Alfred Ronald<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4192665<o:p></o:p>	Rangoon War Cemetery<o:p></o:p>	19431124<o:p></o:p>	Age 24. Army Catering Corps, attached 13th King’s. Son of David and Phyllis Jones, of Tonyrefail, Glamorgan.<o:p></o:p>	POW<o:p></o:p>
Kenna<o:p></o:p>	Ernest Patrick<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4195166<o:p></o:p>	Rangoon Memorial<o:p></o:p>	19430329<o:p></o:p>	Age 21. Son of Ernest and Rose Ellen Kenna, of Rhos, Denbighshire.<o:p></o:p>	5<o:p></o:p>
Lawton<o:p></o:p>	Leonard<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4208120<o:p></o:p>	Rangoon Memorial<o:p></o:p>	19430418<o:p></o:p>	Age 23. <o:p></o:p>	8<o:p></o:p>
Lowe<o:p></o:p>	Fred<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4202396<o:p></o:p>	Rangoon War Cemetery<o:p></o:p>	19430601<o:p></o:p>	Age 28. <o:p></o:p>	5 POW<o:p></o:p>
Newton<o:p></o:p>	Robert<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4199398<o:p></o:p>	Rangoon Memorial<o:p></o:p>	19430601-30<o:p></o:p>	Age 23. Son of Richard and Alice Newton, of Cefn, Denbighshire. <o:p></o:p>	7<o:p></o:p>
Owen<o:p></o:p>	Hugh Thomas<o:p></o:p>	Lance Corporal<o:p></o:p>	4202366<o:p></o:p>	Rangoon War Cemetery<o:p></o:p>	19431212<o:p></o:p>	Age 28. <o:p></o:p>	5 POW<o:p></o:p>
Parker<o:p></o:p>	Jack<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4206761<o:p></o:p>	Rangoon War Cemetery<o:p></o:p>	19440222<o:p></o:p>	Age 22. Son of John and Nellie Edith Parker, of Cotteridge, Birmingham<o:p></o:p>	5 POW<o:p></o:p>
Roberts<o:p></o:p>	Elias<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4198208<o:p></o:p>	Rangoon War Cemetery<o:p></o:p>	19430827<o:p></o:p>	Age 25.<o:p></o:p>	2 GHQ POW<o:p></o:p>
Roche<o:p></o:p>	William<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4202370<o:p></o:p>	Rangoon War Cemetery<o:p></o:p>	19440118<o:p></o:p>	Age 29.<o:p></o:p>	5 POW<o:p></o:p>
Spears<o:p></o:p>	George<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4198211<o:p></o:p>	Rangoon Memorial<o:p></o:p>	19430504<o:p></o:p>	Age 25. Son of John Spears, and of Jane Spears, of Low Team, Gateshead, Co. Durham. <o:p></o:p>	7<o:p></o:p>
Taylor<o:p></o:p>	John Henry<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4198702<o:p></o:p>	Rangoon War Cemetery<o:p></o:p>	19430713<o:p></o:p>	Age 29. Son of Robert and Hilda Taylor, of Manchester; husband of Elsie Taylor, of Ardwick, Manchester.<o:p></o:p>	5 POW<o:p></o:p>
Thomas<o:p></o:p>	Merion Morris<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4199534<o:p></o:p>	Kirkee War Cemetery<o:p></o:p>	19430806<o:p></o:p>	Age 27. Son of Evan and Keturah Thomas, of Bethesda, Caernarvonshire.<o:p></o:p>	After<o:p></o:p>
Tonks<o:p></o:p>	John<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4206503<o:p></o:p>	Rangoon War Cemetery<o:p></o:p>	19430427<o:p></o:p>	Age 20. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Ambrose Tonks <o:p></o:p>	7 POW<o:p></o:p>
Webb<o:p></o:p>	Kenneth Dalrymple<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4202457<o:p></o:p>	Rangoon Memorial<o:p></o:p>	19430428<o:p></o:p>	Age 20. Son of L. Webb, and of Elsie J. Webb, of Sedgley, Dudley, Worcestershire.<o:p></o:p>	5<o:p></o:p>
Williams<o:p></o:p>	Ernest Walter<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4197586<o:p></o:p>	Rangoon Memorial<o:p></o:p>	19430411<o:p></o:p>	Age 25.<o:p></o:p>	7<o:p></o:p>
Williams<o:p></o:p>	Ivor Sidney<o:p></o:p>	Private<o:p></o:p>	4197554<o:p></o:p>	Rangoon War Cemetery<o:p></o:p>	19440627<o:p></o:p>	Age 24.<o:p></o:p>	5 POW<o:p></o:p>

Thanks for this Lars, very interesting and totally unknown to me.

The Chindits story is one of twists and turns, mainly about their commanders. Whilst the bravery and toughness of the men is unquestionable, the value of the force seems to split the historians and senior commanders of that era. The first expedition was horrendous, am I right in saying that on occasion they had to "Dispatch" their wounded to prevent them falling into Japanese hands? For me they conjure up an image of men facing incredible odds. For my parents generation, the Chindits were probably the first indication that British and Empire troops were now more than able to take on what, until that point had been a seemingly invincible jungle fighter in the shape of the Japanese Infantryman.

I think I have seen a reference to mortally wounded men being helped over, but couldn't find the reference when I looked for it again. What is mentioned several times is that sick or wounded that could not march on were left, sometimes in villages. Some men who could not go on, chose to remain where they were in order that their mates could proceed without hindrance.

ATB,

Lars