Operation Porpoise - 31 January 1944

[roy dadge]

Hi,

I wondered if anyone had stories or information with regard to Operation Porpoise - The original Operation Porpoise had been the landingsnear Akyab by the 29^th Independent Brigade, this operation had beencancelled but it was decided to still use the code name for the transfer ofthe brigade from Poona to the Arakan. Hence the use of the code name for the 10 day train and boat journey fromPoona to Chittagong. The journey took the 2nd Battalion RWF (including my father) 10 days. As a small child in the 1950's I was mesmerised by my father telling me he had spent 10 days on a train travelling across India (in fact six days by train, 3 days by boat). I would travel from London to Somerset and South Wales but this only took two hours, how could anyone spend 10 days on a train!!!! I have the Thomas Ray Foltz story of an American Army Engineerattached to the 789 Engineer Petroleum Distribution Company (E.P.D. Co.). who landed in Bombay on the May 25, 1944 andcaught the train from Poona to Calcutta the next day.

I would like to share the story of a member of the 2nd Battalion who made the journey.

Also does anyone have information of the RWF guarding Ghandi while they were in Poona in 1943/44?

My father also said he gave a demonstration of a flame thrower to Lord Louis Mountbatten, probably in February/March/April does anyone know the date of the visit/photographs.

I would also like make contact with the family of Tosh Thomas who was a geat friend of my father Francis Dadge they travelled together from St Venant - Dunkirk - Horsham - Selkirk - Madagasgar - India - Burma dying in the same month October 1998. I have attached a photograph of the wedding of Tosh Thomas, my father is on the left.

[ap1]

Hi Roy,

The only reference I can find is that they commenced their journey on the 31st Jan 1944, travelling initially to Calcutta, then arriving by ship at Chittagong on the 10th Feb.

Source: Red Dragon.