Gilbert Harding 5187656 1st/R.W.F.

[Richard Harding]

Hello All.

My grandfather Gilbert Harding 5187656 was born in Bristol and transferred to the 1st /R.W.F. shortly after joining the Gloster Regiment on 11 Jan 1940 at Bristol. I have his service record but I am a bit baffled as I don't understand all the military jargon. I am hoping that you can help me with it.

His Military History Sheet .

Home. British 11.1.40 - 14.5.40 124days
France BEF 15.5.40 - 30.5.40 16days
Home 31.5.40 - 11.4.42 316days
India British 12.4.42 - 18.3.43. 341days.

He disembarked in France with the Glosters and was posted to No 2 Infantry Base Depot 16.5.40. The next detail that I have is that he is transferred to the 1st/R.W.F. 14.6.40. I know that his brief time in France ended with the evacuation at Dunkirk. My father seems to think that my grandfather was already with the R.W.F. whilst in France. Can someone possibly check this out if that is possible please? I would like to know if he was at Dunkirk with the Glosters or the R.W.F.

After returning from France , what exactly would my grandfather of been doing. I know the country was expecting an invasion so what would he of been doing at this time?

Does anyone know the name of the ship that Gilbert Harding went to India in? I would like to know where the 1st Battalion went in India. I have traveled around much of India myself but never got further east than Calcutta. My grandfather went missing and was tragically presumed killed in action 18.3.43. Reading on the internet I assume he was killed in the battle at Donbaik, Burma. I don't have any knowledge of what did happen to him but obviously if anyone could shed any light on this subject I would be most grateful.

In November 1999 I traveled to Burma and spent four weeks travelling around the country on my own independently. It was a fascinating adventure. I never reached the Arakan region. I visited Mandalay, Pagan, Inle Lake and Rangoon. I went to the Rangoon Memorial at Taukkyan War Cemetery and found my grandfathers name on a column . He left a widow and four children between the ages of nine and five.

Thank you for any response. Richard Harding.

[ap1]

A warm welcome Richard.

Firstly the Bns war diary notes that on the 16th June 1940 138 men from the Glosters were posted to the 1st Bn(which pretty much fits in with your info). At that stage what was left of the 1st Bn RWF were in Huddersfield and still trying to re-form, identify who was dead, wounded or confirmed as POW. The battalion had pretty much been decimated, with less than 300 returning to the UK.

On the 13th June they held a roll call;

Battalion roll call revealed. (Total number of Royal Welchmen who had escaped from France) 5 Officers and 263 other ranks of the original 1st Battalion which had formed part of the Northern Army.

I'm currently away from home at the moment, so don't have access to my source book "The Red Dragon", unless in the meantime another member can assist, I would suggest a search on this forum, using the search facility for "Donbaik" and "Kohima". There will be considerable info on there crossing over both actions.

[ap1]

Hi Richard,

Just looking back at previous Donbaik posts, I can tell you that he would have probably sailed on the "Empress of Canada". The actor Jack Hawkins was a young RWF officer with the 1st Battalion at this stage. They set sail from Port Glasgow on the 15th April 1942, heading to India via South Africa.

[Richard Harding]

Hi ap1

Thanks for your reply.

It seems clear now that he must of been with the Glosters while in France. I will check that out later to see what happened to them while they were there.

As you suggest, I will have a look around this site specifically "Donbaik" and "Kohima" but if you find anything ap1 please let me know. I will check this thread again soon. Thanks again. Richard.

[ap1]

Richard, have you seen this account of the 18th March 1943 by the late Capt Demetriadi who was the 1RWF Intelligence Officer at Donabaik.

http://www.burmastar.org.uk/demetriadi.htm

We used to have the war diary for this period, but lost it in a site crash a few years ago. We are trying to obtain another copy.

[Richard Harding]

Thanks for the recent post ap1. I have seen that account. It is quite somber reading. It is how and where I imagined my grandfather was killed. I was hoping that there may be some more personal information available although I fully understand that in battle there will be a lot of " nobody knows" . It does seem that Donbaik was a bit of a suicide mission. I have total respect for all you past and serving military guys. Keep safe. Richard.