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REX BLOOR - KING'S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY/BURMA ARMY CORPS OF CLERKS (CONDUCTOR):  Rex is still alive and kicking and living with his wife of 59 years Olive, in Leicestershire.  He would love to speak to his old friends or Olive to her friends from the hospital in Mingaladon in 1941.  Rex was first posted to Burma in 1935 and his story will follow shortly.  If anyone does remember Rex or Olive, please contact the webmaster on paul@loseby.co.uk 

 

ROBERT (BOB) LEARY - KING'S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY/149 RAC:- Bob's daughter Diane, is trying to find anyone who knew her father.  If you can help, can you contact Diane on Diane07514@aol.com 

 

 

Captain B.W.Stedeford REME who fought with the Chindits: - Capt. Stedeford was later killed in 1950 during the Malayan Campaign whilst attached to the 4th Queen's Own Hussars.  If you knew Capt Stedeford at all, could you please contact his daughter Rosemary who is on roskezia@aol.com 

 

GNR ALAN JOHN ELMER - SUFFOLK REGIMENT:- Alan's son writes "I am searching for any information about my fathers participation in the Burma War. He served in the Suffolk regiment (British) and his rank was Gunner. His name was ALAN JOHN ELMER and his date of birth was 05/07/1920.  I would appreciate any advice to aid my search.

Please could you reply by email to either : e.elmer@talk21.com bigboy2000@btinternet.com  Any help would be very much appreciated, thankyou

 

 

BASIL RUSE & BILL TREBLE - RAF REGIMENT:- Basil's son Peter writes "my father Basil Ruse served with the RAF regiment 1942-1946.  I have a detailed diary which he mentioned someone called Bill Treble. any information would be much appreciated"  Peter is on aruse@intonet.co.uk 

 

SGT LEWIS C. LEFTWICH & SGT. HARWELL - USAF ATTACHED TO 36 DIV MOBILE WEATHER TEAM: - Lewis writes "I WAS A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN AIR FORCE IN THE 125TH AACS SQUADRON AND AS A CRYPTOGRAPHER, WAS, IN 1945, ATTACHED TO THE BRITISH 36TH DIVISION AS A MEMBER OF A MOBILE WEATHER TEAM. WE WERE A SMALL GROUP COMPRISED OF RADIO OPERATORS, AND WEATHER MEN. WE TRAVELLED BY ROAD, WITH THE BRITISH FROM BAHE BURMA TO MANDALAY ENDING UP IN LASHIO ON THE CHINA BURMA BORDER WHERE THE UNIT WAS DISBANDED. WE HAD AN AMERICAN LIEUTENANT WHO LED OUR GROUP. ONE OF THE RADIO OPERATORS WAS NAMED SGT HARWELL WHO WAS TRANSFERRED TO SAIGON JUST BEFORE WE BROKE UP. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHOSE MEMORY IS JOGGED BY MY ABOVE DESCRIPTION OF OUR TRAVEL"  Lewis is contactable on lleft@airmail.net 
ONE THING I FAILED TO MENTION IS THAT BEFORE I WENT TO BURMA I WAS STATIONED AT KURMITOLA INDIA IN BANGLADESH.   A CAPTAIN YAKEY WAS THE OFFICER IN CHARGE.   AFTER I CAME BACK FROM BURMA I WAS TRANSFERRED TO MISAMARI WHICH IS NORTH TOWARDS THE ASSAM VALLEY.  (TIGER HUNTING COUNTRY).  THAT IS WHERE I ENDED MY OVERSEAS STAY AND CAME BACK TO A PLACE CALLED KANSHRAPARA, (CLOSE TO DUM DUM AND CALCUTTA) AND FROM THERE I  BOARDED A VICTORY SHIP IN CALCUTTA AND HOME SWEET HOME, JANUARY 1946.

 

CANADIAN CAPT. ROY McKENZIE - SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS/GURKHAS:- Roy's nephew Jack writes "My uncle, Roy McKenzie, is said to have been an officer in the Seaforth Highlanders (British) attached to a Gurkha unit in Burma. Family mythology is that he was decorated, having been awarded the Military Cross.  Canadian officers in the Royal Army in Burma must have been a rarity. Is there anyone who can help me confirm this?"  Jack is on jouellette@ns.sympatico.ca 

 

ERIC GEORGE CROCKER - CHANGI PRISONER:- George's wife writes "I am trying to obtain details of my deceased husband's incarceration in Burma. His name was Eric George Crocker, born 7/10/1919 in London. To the best of my knowledge he arrived in Singapore shortly before its fall and was imprisoned in Changi jail. Subsequently he worked on the Burma railway until the cessation of hostilities. Unfortunately I do not know his corps/regiment. Any details would be gratefully received."  Doreen is on doreen@fairviewclose.fsnet.co.uk 


ALFRED ADAMS - HORSE ARTILLERY/CHANGI:- Alfred's son Dai writes "I would be grateful for any information on my father Alfred Adams d.o.b 26.5.1910. He was a Welshman who I believe was in the horse artillery as before the war my mother tells me he served with his regiment in India working with horses. My mother believes he was taken prisoner in 1942 and spent time in Changi Pow camp and later in Tokyo. He died in 1955 when I was 6yrs old and I would be grateful to anyone who knew him during this period only my mother has only sketchy recollections of this time one being that on his release from the camps he bribed an American pilot to take him home to south Wales and he was duly dropped of in New South Wales Australia."  Dai is on dai.adams@virgin.net 

 

 

CHARLES CLARK - CHINDIT:- Ian Houston writes "I have an elderly uncle how served with the Chindits but is now in the last stages of his life. His name is Charles Clark and he has both the Burma Star and the Africa star. In his last few months it would be nice for his family, and him, to see him pass peacefully with the dignity that we have always known. If anyone knows him or served with him please contact me." Ian Houston ian.houston@virgin.net 

 

LT. 146148  DIZ (JOHN ALFRED DISRAELI) BEAVEN - 9 COAST REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY: - I have recently discovered that my Great Uncle died in the Burma Campaign. His name was John Alfred Disraeli Beaven, and not surprisingly, he was known as 'Diz'. He died at the POW Camp at Thanbyuz and was buried at the Ayat War Cemetery. All my other family of that generation and the following generation have now passed on and I have little or no information about Great Uncle Diz. Any recollections or information would be most warmly welcomed. I still have my Todays - Deo Gracias.Peter Beaven on pmsnet@argonet.co.uk 

SGT/SGT MAJOR/LT. BILL SMITH (WILLIAM LEWIS RICHARDSON SMITH)  - CHINDITS/77th INDIAN BRIGADE (Commanded by Brig Calvert) :- John Smith writes "brilliant site its took me a long time to find it NO links from second world war sites my interest started with my father he was with Wingate's Chindits he was Sgt Bill Smith then Sgt major then Commisioned in the field to 1st Lt.  then acting Capt.  His commanding officer was Mike Calvert he was stationed at Rangoon at one time crossed the Irriwaddy both ways' could not swim but got across the Barmabutra hanging on to a mules tail i would like to get a copy of his service record or contact anyone who may have known him he died ten years ago thank you j smith" jsljpineprods@hotmail.com 

My fathers full name is William Lewis Richardson Smith.  He was lieutenant acting Capt.  and was allowed to use the rank lieutenant in civvy street I am sure he was with Calverts77th brigade and was at white city  incidentely he never used his rank in civvy street  I beleive he was with Ferguson  at one time as Sgt major  and was one of the original 3000 that went the first time  he was made up to lt in the field and had to go to octwo to become an officer  and a gentleman he was very close to Mike Calvert as I believe they got into one or two scrapes together  i mean when they were back at Rangoon or Calcutta.  I know this is all sketchy but I am doing it off  the top of my head  from the stories I managed to get out of him over the years as he did not like talking about it and I was only six years when he returned.  Any information would be of great help 

 

34 SQUADRON RAF - NOBBY THORN/FRED GORMER;- Fred's son David writes "

my father servered in Burma between 1940 and 1945 he was in the 34 squadron and looking for a Nobby Thorn and any other recruits how servered with him during this period his name is Mr Fred Gormer . Any information you can send us will be much appreciated.please send any information to davidgormer@hotmail .com

 

LT.COL.Zau Gawng m.c. o.b.e. b.g.m. - z force: the Colonel's grandson writes "My Grandfather was served in Z Force ,British Government, as a Major and his commission No was 5108. His name was LT.COL.Zau Gawng. He was awarded medals and they are 
1.O.B.E (Order of the British Empire)
2.B.G.M(Burma Gallantry Medal)
3.M.C (Military Cross) 

I would like to know about that. Also my Great Grand Father was served as Subedar-Major in the British army of Eastern Battalion ( Burma Frontier Force ) His name was Sau La . I just want to know did he attended the Coronation of King George VI at Buckingham Palace in 1937. I was told he was awarded his Majesty's Coronation Medal. Can you please find out it was true or not . Unfortunately , all these documents were loss in fire when Burmese Military took over power. 

If it is possible to get proof or documents about my great grand father I will very please to hear from you. Sincerely, Zau Nan Laphai 10/2 Child St , Lidcombe NSW 2141,Sydney Australia. e-mail ZAUNAN@aol.com 

JOHN JOSEPH BYRNE - ROYAL INNISKILLING FUSILIERS/P.O.W. Conner Dodd writes "

I am trying get some information about my Great Uncle Fusilier John Joseph Byrne Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers he was a P.O.W in Burma and I was wondering which P.O.W camp he was in for how long or any other information you might have on him. Thanks for all your help

Conor Dodd 12 Dublin

P.S my E mail adress is Conor.Dodd@talk21.com

 

808 Def Squadron/160 Squadron - If you are listed on the Squadron page or know of these men, could you please contact Lofty's friend Tony on ttccrockers@freezon.co.uk or Phone / Fax 01953483088

 

DRIVER F.N. WHATLEY - R.A.S.C/P.O.W on RAILWAY & IN FOKAMA, JAPAN:- Mr. Whatley's gradson Darran writes "

My grandfather served in the R.A.S.C. in the second world war, he was captured at the fall of Singapore, where he was taken prisoner by the Japanese.  He originally worked on the Burma railway and then he was taken to Fokama in Japan. he died as a P.O.W. in Jan 1945.  I am looking for any person who knew my grandfather.
DARRAN WHATLEY who is available on Darranwhatley@btinternet.com 

 

Lionel Edward Grainger - Driver with R.A.F. Lionel's nephew, Alan writes "

I am currently writing a short history of an uncle's involvement in the World War 2 campaigns in Burma as a driver with the R.A.F. He was, I believe, at the time supporting a Hurricane squadron but have yet to identify which one. From a diary which he wrote subsequently, I know that he was given the Burma Star and, indeed, his son here in Clitheroe, still has the medal. This reached him in about January 1944 on his return home for aircrew training at Stormy Downs in South Wales.
Your web site has proved to be of great help but I now wonder if you could possibly supply any more specific information on either him or the unit to which he may have been attached. At the moment, all I can give you is the above and his name and home address at the time which was ;-
Lionel Edward Grainger,
28, Littlemoor Road,
Clitheroe,
Lancashire,
England.
I thank you in anticipation,
alan dixon, clitheroe, lancs.

Alan is on alan@dixon0197.freeserve.co.uk 

 

ARTHUR PAUL GARIEPY - 1875th Aviation Engineering Battlion U.S.- Arthur's son Edward writes "My father served in U.S. Army along with British, Australian, Indian troops in Burma along the Ledo Road. I would be interested to hear from anyone regarding the construction of this road. He was with 1875th Aviation Engineering Battalion U.S. His name was Arthur Paul Gariepy and he passed away in 1982. He had high regard for British troops and spoke fondly of the Australians. He was in Africa, India, Burma, and China. Served 1943-1946. Edward is on egariepy@feblo.com 

PTE 3913968 DAVID (DAI) EVANS - 6th BTN SOUTH WALES BORDERERS / 72nd BDE 36 DIV / 42 VPP SECTION, C.M.P.(1) C/O O/C 7th URBAN INFANTRY I.T.F. NAGPUR
Dai's son David is researching his father's military history in the Burma Campaign and wonders if anyone could help with information regarding his father and the units he was in.

Dai was also an accomplished amateur pianist who died in 1974 after a short illness.  He was greatly affected by the death of a close friend PRIVATE J. HERNE through cerebral malaria.
David can be reached on agneta.evans@virgin.net 

 

 

IAN MALCOLM MACKENZIE 3rd BTN 9th JAT REGIMENT/POW ON BURMA RAILWAY:- Is anyone able to help with information on Ian.  If so, could you please contact Robina Counsel on tworobs2@bigpond.com

Robina is also seeking information on her other Uncle STEPHEN I STRONG who was a POW on the railway.  Again, could you contact Robina if you have any information at all.  Many thanks.  Paul

L/SGT CHARLES SELBY - 9th BTN SUSSEX REGIMENT: Charles was killed on the 6/7th August 1944 at the time of the battle for Hill 60.  Can anyone assist with details of what action he was in at the time of his death?  Could you please forward any replies to pecbsa@btconnect.com and I will pass the information on to the family in a suitable way.

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