Hiya,my mum cant find the pic of my grandad by the memorial but heres a pic of the whole thing that she found out.
Has anyone got any idea what towns & citys the 1RWF went through between 14/08/43 to 14/07/46 as im getting nowhere fast trying to plot his route on a map.
Many thanks for any help and i hope you all had a good christmas & new year!!
Shaz
Hi Shaz, here are some locations for you to plot on a map. They cover the Battle of Kohima, and the subsequent move south to Imphal. It finishes with the Bn at the end of 1944, heading towards Mandalay on foot, in the steamy jungles of Burma, pursuing the retreating Japanese.
12/4/44 Bn arrives at Dimapur
13th Start Departing Dimapur to Graspani. On the 14th
15th Zubza/Some fighting, a Platoon Comd was killed, I did wonder if your Grandfather was injured here.
17th Reached Jotsoma. Some heavy fighting, indeed 2 sections of A Company 1RWF were overun by the Japanese, the survivors were taken prisoner. An immediate counter attack was launched by Lt Callaghan and A Coy CSM. Using a covered approach they counter attacked, and completely wiped the enemy out, and rescued their own men!!! During the counter attack they killed 17 of the enemy.
29th Ferried by Bren Carriers to the outskirts of Kohima. This was the start of their part in the Kohima Battle, they were to remain in action until the battles end on the 12th May, a few days later they moved to Forest Gate Rest Camp at Dimapur, for a short break.
28th May, deployed to a jungle box, close to Aradura, which is South of Kohima. The Japanese still held this area, and heavy fighting ensued. They took a bit of a kicking during this period, its possible that the CO was replaced as the Japanese had managed to catch the Bn off guard. Aradura was finally taken on the 6th June.
They now started advancing south along the main road to Imphal, engaging enemy on route.
18th June Advancing on Mao Songsang Sands.
24th June The Bn launches an attack on Thumion Khulen, killing a number of the enemy, similar skirmishes happen over the next few days.
By the 1st July the Division was in full control of Imphal, and they were visited by Mountbatten.
6th July The Bn attacks the village of Shorbung, this pretty much finished the Imphal Campaign. The Bn then went into tents near the village of Maram, and lived a slightly more sedate life than the previous 3 months. They were able to play sport, enjoy normal Bn life and leave was granted.
During this period on the 8th Nov, members of the Bn returned to Kohima and unveiled and dedicated the Kohima memorial shown on your photograph.
20th Nov, on the move, reaching Hazagyo in the Kibaw Valley on the 22nd Nov.
15th Dec, the Bn crosses the River Chindwin moving south east through the jungle pursuing the Japanese towards the plains of Burma. This was a new phase of their warfighting, one of the aims being the capture of Mandalay.
Thanks for the great reply al,its really,really helpful!!!We've now got something to plot on a map-yayyy!!!Cant wait to ring my mum tomorrow & tell her.
Thanks again.
Shaz :)
Hello Al,
What an interesting thread. I believe both Cliff Slater,Sjt John MacDonald who won am M.M. at Donbaik served in Burma. and by coincidence Cliff who was my C.Q.M. S. and Mac M.M was my C.S.M. in "B" company in the first when we were in Jamaica.I also believe Don Matthews served in Burma as well?? David Graves ( the son of Robert Graves ) was kia in Burma, whilst attacking Japanese machine gun posts, and Reuben Jones was wounded when he went back for more 36 grenades.Robert Graves was naturally devastated over the loss of his son who was recommended for a gong in this action.
Regards Don
Your absolutely right Don, it a fascinating story. I was chatting with Don Matthews last year at the LOF, having known him for about 10 yrs, I was gobsmacked when he told me he had joined the 2nd Bn in 1944, and fought along Railway Corridor, very humbling.
What bowled me over about this piece of research, was the small section about A Company 1RWF, my old company. Having lost 2 sections to the Japs, and all the survivors carted off by the enemy, the Pl Comd and the CSM grab the reserve section, counter attack, killing 17 enemy and release their own guys from capture!!!! How amazing is that. Now thats the sort of story, I should have been told as a young fusilier in Alphas. Equally I should have been re-telling it when I was a senior rank in the same company. Thats regimental history brought into sharp focus. Every young Royal Welsh squaddie could identify with that.
I only wish many of these guys were still alive, I don't think we as a nation paid them anywhere near enough respect they deserved. When i was a kid, my old fella had a pub in Newtown called the Wheatsheaf. Most of our customers were ex RWF Burma Star Vets, they were great guys and gentlemen every one of them. Im looking forward to plotting Reg Sherriff's march to Mandalay
It is amazing about A company and how the reserves counter attacked,killing 17 Japs and released their own men from capture!!Those guys were real heros & it brings a lump to my throat when i hear things like that.I cant even begin to imagine what all those brave fellas went through.
My mum said thanks for the info Al,she sat there taking notes while i read out what you had written,thanks again for that!!!
Iv scanned the other part that come with his service record onto my pc,would it be ok to send it to you to see if theres anything of use there?
Also my Grandad always use to say that his mate Pickford saved his life and he always use to recite the name Robert Edward Bernard James Sigh (i think thats right),do either names mean anything to anyone?
Am posting a pic of my grandad & battalion? incase anyone recognises anyone.
Thanks once again for all your help so far!
Shaz
i did notice there was rather alot of mixed people in the pic,lol.
I didnt realise my grandad was part of a raiding sqn.I wish everything was typed out on his service record instead of handwritten,then id be able to understand it all instead of just the odd word.I dont know how anyone can understand any of it,lol!!!
The attached document is quite interesting. It confirms he was Wounded In Action on the 14th Apr 1944, and although it is difficult to read, he appears to have been injured again on the 30th May 44. This second injury may have occured when the Bn was trying to take Aradura...which was pretty messy.
Also looking at his medal entitlement, it looks like he may have also recieved a UN medal? Did he serve in Korea?
korea,not to the best of my knowledge,no.Think iv got pics of his medals on my phone somewhere,will post em when i get back from fetching kids from school.
:)
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