S/Sgt JOHN 'BRIAN' HENNESSEY

My parent unit was the 29th Beach Assault Workshop, 29th Brigade, 36th British Division, later called the 36th Indian Division under Brigadier Francis Festing.

About me : Brian Hennessy { my name is John Brian Hennessy but I am and was back then known as Brian Hennessy} ; I was a designer of instruments and optical equipment. I designed equipment from parts I found in Bazaars that the army in India could not provide. I was given a Bungalow opposite the Aga Khans Palace in POONA where Ghandi was staying. I asked for and got two 3-ton trucks fitted out for me to run a mobile instrument workshop along with some personal support of the 36th Divisions activities in the Arakan. My team spent time in SHILLONG servicing all the instruments brought to us. We followed on from this by setting up a base instrument workshop in TINSUKIA. We then  took a jeep and two trailers of eqpt to MYITIKYNA, spending some time in Chindit country before moving south east. We supported British, Indian, American, Chinese and Burmese troops. By road and rail across rivers we eventually reached THAZI past MEIKTILA. We then returned to India where I had a stay in hospital with Malaria. Having lost contact with the 36th Division, I joined a second division unit despite having spent 3 1/2 years in India, Arakan, Assam & Burma. This unit was the Commonwealth unit in India and left for Japan. After some time there I returned to the UK and joined the New Zealand Army. Today I am Managing director of my own company building optoelectronic instruments for the meat industry worldwide {see http://www.hennessy-technology.com }

I would love to contact some of my old comrades if anyone can help

John/Brian is available on hennessy@hennessy-technology.com

The original request came from one of John's employees who said "

I enquire on behalf of my boss one John Brian Hennessy who served in the British forces in Burma. He is now a resident of New Zealand His Army Number was 10555838 ( Staff Sergeant) and his Association number is 113268/80. He is interested in contacting old colleagues. If anybody can assist him would they please forward any electronic mail to hennessy@hennessy-technology.com.

He is an amazing man and remains managing director of his own successful technology exporting company.

On his behalf I request some assistance in aiding his desire to contact old comrades. Thank you for time and I am sure he would greatly appreciate some information from your organisation to keep him abreast of things.

Kind Regards

Paul Donaldson

Note from webmaster - he must be a good boss!!