ALBERT (MAC) McQUIRE - LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS/CHINDITS:-

My late father in law, Albert (Mac) McQuire, was in the 10th. Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers traveling from England to India in the Reiner Del Pacifico in late1941. I am in possession of some notes that he wrote shortly before his death. The battalion fought in the Battle of the Arakan in 1942. I believe, but am not sure, that they fought with the Chindits because his rather cryptic notes mentioned Wingate and air drops. I would love to hear from anybody who can shed any further light on the activities of the 10th. Battalion and will share what information I have with anyone who is interested.

Bernard Boden on baboden@erols.com

The following is a transcription of notes recorded by Albert (Mac) McQuire who served with the 10th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers in India and Burma.  He arrived in India in late 1941 and did not return home until the war ended in 1945.  These notes were prepared in 1991 at my request as he had rarely spoken of his experiences during the war.  Albert died in 1992. 

It is apparent that Albert fought in the Battle of the Arakan during 1942 and perhaps into 1943. An “Airgraph” written to his family dated 22 June 1942 contains the following information: L/C A. McQuire 3459658 HQ Coy. Carriers Lancs Fusiliers F-P-O-67 Comilla, East Bengal, India.  Another of these airgraphs is dated 10 Feb 1944 and contains the following:  CPL A. McQuire 10 Lancs Fus, India Command.  I have some photographs that indicate that Albert was a patient in the British Military Hospital in Meerut in March 1943.  Another photograph taken in Murree, India, is dated 12 August 1944.   

Bernard Boden (Son-in-law)

Arlington, Virginia 

Dear Bernard, 

As promised, I relate to you the happenings as I remember them, don't forget, my memory can play tricks and 50 years is rather a long time.  I suppose I should start at the beginning, but I only intend to tell of the parts that could interest you and just mention the outstanding events or I would need more than a few sheets of paper, nor do I intend to relate any of the events that I wish to forget as you know and Avril knows I rarely talked about my war, and I am of the opinion those who do are relating events they heard about, not partaking in.  So here is all I will tell you.  

I was recruited in Airdrie, Scotland and after so‑called training with no rifles only pick shafts, clothes that did not fit, only my buttons, boots that were too tight, I became a soldier ‑ unpaid Lance Corporal.   

I soon learnt Army ways, never complain to an officer, I did about a caterpillar in my food, put on a charge and had to report to Commanding Officer next morning.  Seven days washing cabbage then cutting meat but I rebelled.  I ensured that by altering the shape the officers cookhouse got tough meat and our chaps the best.  We were, after three months, issued rifles, etc. and sent down to Lowestoft.  For miles back it was cleared of civilians.   

We were inspecting barbed wire on the cliffs in winter and German planes took a delight in letting us feel their presence, one lad fired his rifle and it exploded, the barrel was choked with mud!   I was then put into the Carrier Section after they found I could drive, and we enjoyed getting used to those ungainly machines, you steered by joy stick, by slowing one track you steered quite effectively.  I had a tommy gun, Chicago model.  The crew had an anti‑tank rifle, very dangerous to use, Bren gun, and rifles and no ammo. 

If you got a leave, 7 days, mine came six months after joining and Helen accused me of not wanting to come home.  We were later equipped to go abroad, down to Liverpool where our home for many, many weeks lay.  She was an Argentine liner, the Reino ‑ del ‑ Pacifico converted for us but not the officers!  They had cabins, swimming pools and dining rooms, whilst we had lower decks and hammocks and as the ship swayed in a big sea so the hammock swayed.  I thought being a fully paid Lance Corporal I should assert my rights by sleeping next to the ships side never thinking that 50 men were on one side and 1/2 inch of metal the other.  I lasted part one night in open sea, all the time after on the floor.  I well remember seeing Blackpool tower as we passed by on our way up to Greenock to assemble in a convoy.   

There would be about 40 ships set sail together with an old battleship to escort us, and right away it started being rough and I mean rough.  Out battalion of 900 men plus many hundreds of others must have been more sea sick than any in the Army.  The wash rooms were over a foot deep in sick, you could not get on deck to be decently sick so imagine a thousand men being ill at once except ME.  I wasn't.  The rough sea as our salvation, no submarines could hit us, but to see a huge ship suspended, apparently 100 ft. above you and then you were 100 ft. above the next ship in line was quite alarming. 

We eventually arrived in Freetown, West Africa.  The natives came to us in canoes some filled with various fruits and bananas which we had only dreamed about.  Others, divers, you used to wrap silver paper around halfpennies, the natives expected silver shillings and they knew all the rude words when they came to the top.  The sailors bought fruit to sell to us!  Exorbitantly, and as a parting gift to the natives emptied there slops over the canoes.  Oh yes they loved the English!  

We then set sail and finally got to Durban, South Africa.  We were issued with tropical kit, you never saw Fred Carno's Army but we were it, sun helmets, ex Boer War, 3/4 length shorts, spine pads, thick socks, boots and puttees!  And all odd sizes most issued to 7 ft. GUARDSMEN. 

We were allowed ashore daily while awaiting sailing orders.  We had forgotten what summer clothes looked like after wartime Britain, but the inhabitants took pity and made us welcome.  

We left Durban, bound for Singapore but at sea we were diverted as the Japs had invaded Malaya.  We heard by radio that two of our battleships had been sunk, the Prince of Wales and I forgot the other, it was again fortunate for us or we would have been prisoners or dead!  After 6 weeks at sea we arrived in Bombay, India.  Thoroughly fed up, little water, little food and no medical supplies, they had been put at the bottom of the ship.  I had 2 carbuncles, size of hen's eggs one for each armpit so I roamed around like a bat, caused by not being sick and little or no toilet. Just my luck I enjoyed sailing to India. 

We marched with bands playing to the rail head and after a week  on the train arrived in Quetta to take over from the First Battalion who had been stationed for years.  It had a volcanic eruption previously and consisted of mud built shacks and hundreds evil looking natives.  When on guard duties you had big fur coats full of lice and  warned that the Afhgans liked to creep up and cut ones throat. 

We had inherited 3 very bad lads who were in prison, awaiting court martial, one expected to get 5 years, he wasn't bothered he said he would escape the war, not so us.  His associate was in for striking an officer!  We had also inherited the previous battalions vehicles all pre 1918 vintage, or so it seemed.  I'd never have believed the British Army in India to be so badly equipped, however, we were sent up to Afghanistan to train in mountain warfare we erected tents on the edge of a desert near small mountains and the tribesmen came to stare and to show us their prowess in shooting, they had Russian rifles and also long native guns firing home made bullets, they were very good at targets in the hills.  

After about 3 months we were sent back to Quetta and entrained for who knows where.  After 7 days going to every town in India it seemed we arrived in Dacca.  After a week or so to Commilla, a port, then steamer to Cox's Bazar, disembarked our carriers and proceeded up the coast road.  This road was really a railway track, the lines and sleepers had been taken away.  The bridges over rivers had no sides just a fifty foot drop into the river, a hair‑raising achievement to cross and as we found out the Arakan is a land of small hills and valleys and covered in jungle and brush almost impenetrable. 

The forward Japanese were somewhere ahead and we had no experience.  No idea of what lay ahead.  We having carriers, i.e. track vehicles were able to go up this ex railway track to scout.  Two or three days elapsed until one morning the leading carrier caught a cold, the crew killed, my pal driving it, had it!  I turned on a sixpence and the last carrier too and came back to report as instructed as we only had light guns.  The battalion advanced and engaged with mortar fire and after weeks and making little headway returned to Cox's Bazar . 

After re‑equipping tried different tactics.  Now all large steamers had been destroyed or sunk to prevent the Japs entering in force to India so we sent patrols by canoe, few came back whilst at Cox's Bazar.  I was put in charge to my amazement of about 50 coolies.  They had a bamboo pole between them on this was hung sacks of flour ‑‑‑  about a cwt. each pair.  They were strung out in line waiting for us.  I had to take them it seemed about 30 miles along tracks in the jungle.  They started at a jog trot, I at the head was soon exhausted, finished up at the back!  

They had stopped at a river crossing.  On the opposite bank was a crowd of coolies coming the opposite way! However they had a large raft about 20 at a time and pulled from side to side with ropes, but confusion prevailed.  They all had poles and sacks and I couldn't tell which was mine and found out later they just went for the ride!  Getting tired of this I had one of my men go across with about 10 and hold our coolies till another group got across.  Eventually all my coolies were over, soon losing sight of the last pair. 

Towards night I arrived at a forward base and was informed we had done well only losing 1/4 of the supplies.  The next day we had to find our way back to base and nobody to show us through the jungle.  I knew the approximate way to the river so made tracks for that.  After various mishaps arrived and followed the river but it was so hot and little food, after a long time came across a native village and persuaded a boatmen by bribery and promises of hundreds of rupees to take us downstream to Cox's Bazar.  So we laid in luxury in the canoe, the boatman demanded payment.  We had no money so sent him to the big chief who would gladly pay!  Poor fellow, he's still waiting. 

Later, we got orders to advance.  Our Major took 4 men in a boat up river to investigate.  He didn't come back.  Having still got our carriers we used them as scouts, lovely beaches hard sand.  I was second carrier, everything lovely, sun shining, then all hell broke loose concentrating on 1st. carrier, the crew wiped out.  I turned on a sixpence hearing bullets hitting the carrier and got away.  I'm so brave, or lucky!  On arrival to report found one of the rubber centre wheels was minus a tire, our adventures had started, and so it went on. 

We soon found out that the Japanese well entrenched, we lost too many men so we were forced to retreat!  We were so badly equipped.  The push was known as the battle of the Arakan. 

Then followed a period of equipping and re‑reinforcements.  We went farther back to the mainland.  Daily visits from the Air Force (Japanese),  but this time there were no carriers, just your own two feet and a great big knife to slash your way through the undergrowth.  The thorns were making it almost impossible to advance.  The monkeys enjoyed watching us and the Japs too.  They were everywhere, especially in the high trees, but we learned.  They used to shout to us in the night "Come on Johnny" or "Give up Johnny".  After weeks of this it was decided that I and others return to bring carriers up and meet at the junction of a railway which we came across (note the railway was non existent, just an embankment, no sleepers, no rails) it had been dismantled earlier.  

The idea was that we could follow this "line" and match the Jap's miniature tanks with heavier weapons than we had so back I went the way we had come.  I was loaded with heavy mortars, shells, etc., and set off back up or on this embankment.  Coming to bridges there were no rails, nothing to guide me and very high. 

All I had was a little slit for viewing.  Anyway I was young, little fear, and crossed frequently, safely.  We camped once, this side of a tunnel, being daylight you could see the end in the distance.  Suddenly it vanished, got back in our carrier for safety and to our surprise a herd of elephants came charging out.  They used this tunnel to get to water and we were in the way.  Wasn't it lucky we were in the carrier. 

We eventually met up with the main crowd.  They were able to make headway with mortars and shells.  We were then sent scouting in the carriers, always us, to report any activity up front.  Later, much later, we had been sent on a track that had been quiet!  It was lovely low hills, gentle valleys, we decided to hide the carrier behind a cutting on a bend in the track.  

Next morning, beautiful, and in the valley a pool.  Being a Sergeant, went first to wash and shave, stripped off, washed my shirt, had a shave and went back to the carrier and just then several trucks came and 100 yards away the first went up in an explosion.  The following trucks just kept on coming till a huge pile up with explosions to follow.  The Japs knew that these trucks came at a certain time and laid preparations.  They had watched me go down to the pool, watched me doing what I did but they wanted bigger game.  As I came back to the shelter, the other carrier that had been sent up ahead came back. 

In the meantime a family of natives had found shelter with us.  The carrier crashed right into them, killing most.  I with others sprayed the trees with Bren gun fire seeing one or two bodies fall out, then all went quiet.  I sent one man to the rear of us with a message for assistance but he only went 100 yards, so sent another one.  He got through and an officer came up on a motor bike.  He said "now then, what's happened? I can't see anything" climbed up on the carrier and immediately fell down with a hole in his head.  

About an hour after, mortar fire started coming from our base.  They must have sent someone to report by radio the results and the first shell fell short of target, the next one just in front of us.  They were trying for 50 yards ahead and we were right in the way.   

Anyway they managed to find the range but the Japs had gone.  I got back again and later was detailed to destroy the dump we had worked so hard to build.  I took my crew and found there were thousands of tins of bully beef, biscuits (hard) 6 inch square, etc. and best of all stacks of tins of tobacco (officers for the use of) and whisky.  We loaded the carrier with this lovely loot, well the tobacco mainly, and poured petrol on the rest and left in a hurry with a blazing rag as a parting gift.   

Another time, 3 carriers, me in the middle (my favourite spot) had been sent scouting and ran into heavy fire the leading carrier taken by surprise swerved, probably driver killed, went down a ravine overturned with crew inside.  We could see a hand and an arm sticking out, obviously trying to attract notice quietened off.  We crawled down to help and on the sheltered side, scraped a hole in the soil and gradually was able to free a man, badly hurt but alive, nobody else.  We got back into the carriers and in the 3rd. one sent the injured man back.  We later heard that the recovery lot salvaged the carrier and bodies and received a medal for their efforts, but not us.  You have to be seen by an officer.  That's probably why I disrespect medals.   

These were just everyday happenings.  Towards the end of the campaign in Burma we were free of the jungle but badly decimated, the old 10th. Battalion was now composed of army, RAF and even sailors, and in the final push in the rice fields I lost sight of my old mates and my carrier.  I was sent to GHQ in Delhi to recuperate.  I found some accounts in magazines later.  I saved a few, hope they'll be of help but I didn't relate the bad things, whose interested in death, especially someone elses!