PRIVATE FRANK BLACKWELL
9th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment

Nick Blackwell has sent us the following photographs and information that you may find interesting:  If you know who the other soldiers are, could you contact Nick whose details will be at the bottom of this page?

Do you know who the others are?
 

The sword that the man in the centre is carrying was kept at Frank's house when Nick was a boy

 This is taken from the local newspaper the Newbury Weekly News.

Local Lads on way home from S.E.A.C

Among those on their way home from the Far East are 139 officers and men of the 9th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment who recently left Malaya on the first stage of their journey.  The party includes the following all of whom have been overseas 3 years:- Private F. Blackwell of 36 Roman Way, Henwick lane, Thatcham, who has been in the army 5 1/2 years and has served with the 9th since its inception.
A driver, he was in the Arakan campaign and later drove a jeep down the famous Ledo road to the big base at Myitkyina. His vehicle was rafted across the Shweli river and he drove on to Mandalay. A milk roundsman by trade.

Lance-Corporal H. Coxhead, of Marlstone Hermitage, who has been in the Army
3 years 8 months and has served with the "9th" for 3 years, flew in Myitkina and foot-slogged in nearly all the way from Myitkyina to Mandalay- a 250 mile journey. A glasshouse gardener by trade.

If you remember any of the lads and Frank in particular, would you like to contact Grandson Nick on nick_blackwell26@tiscali.co.uk - You may be able to help each other