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February 25th |
The Battalion entrained at AGRA bound for
KOHIMA.
Our Transport consisted of:
30Cwt Trucks,
Brengun
Carriers,
Mules,
Camels.
We stopped at ETAWAH
for Lunch and CAWNPORE for our evening meal.
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February 26th |
Stopped at MOGAL
SERAL for Breakfast, GOYA for Lunch, and ASANSOL for our evening meal.
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February 27th |
Stopped at ISHUNDI
for Breakfast, PARBATIPUR for Lunch, and LUBMANISHAT for our evening
meal.
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February 28th |
The Bn. embarked on the Ferry at AMINGOAN
to cross the BRAHMAPUTRA River, then continued to MANIPUR ROAD (DIMAPUR),
which was the Railhead for KOHIMA and IMPHAL. We had Breakfast and
Lunch on the Ferry and our Evening meal at MANIPUR ROAD.
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March lst |
At MANIPUR ROAD.
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March 2nd |
After Breakfast at MANIPUR ROAD we
proceeded in local buses to KOHIMA, being played in by the Pipe Band of
the Assam Rifles.
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March 3rd |
I was bitten by a snake, whilst writing
letters home, which was identified as an Assam Viper. A young Medical
Officer with no previous experience of Snake bites, sucked out the
venom, lanced the bitten area and stitched me up.
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March llth |
Stitches removed. Our Regimental Pipe
Band beat Retreat for the first time in Kohima.
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March 17th/l8th |
Recce Patrol. VISWEMA - KID1MA - KEKRIMA
– KIGWEMA, all small Villages around KOHIMA.
I left main Patrol at K1DEMA and went on
to KEKR1MA with 4 Volunteers. An extremely arduous climb.
Arrived 7 p.m. that night and slept with
NAGA family.
The 4 volunteers mentioned above were Cpl
Thrower (now Chairman of Leicester branch Seaforth Highlanders
Regimental Association), Ptes Davison, Bagshaw and Dawson.
During this Patrol met Douglas Matcham
patrolling deeper into ASSAM/BURMA Border.
(Douglas died of
pneumonia when on a Course in Shillong later on in the year. He, along
with David Hughes and myself were commissioned into The Seaforth
Highlanders from 163 O.C.T.U., St Mary's Bay, Dec. 1939.)
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March l9th |
Entry in my diary states - “Rained most
of the day” –“Wind Rising” - “Night Pitch Black.”
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March 24th |
Left KOHIMA for
Company Weapons Course at SAUGAR.
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April 5th |
COLOMBO - CEYLON (now SRI LANKA) bombed
from Japanese Aircraft Carrier in Indian Ocean.
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May 9th |
Left SAUGAR -
Company Weapons Course finished.
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May 13th |
Arrived MANIPUR ROAD
from SAUGAR.
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May 16th |
IMPHAL bombed - Many
Refugees killed.
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May 18th |
Left MANIPUR ROAD
for PALEL.
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May 19th |
Took up post of 23rd Indian Division
Liaison Officer to General Savoury at LEPA.
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June 12th |
Left LEPA to rejoin Regiment at SHENAM
(THE SADDLE).
Spent night at PALEL.
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June 13th |
Rejoined Regiment on
SADDLE.
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June 27th |
Commenced Special Escort Patrol. SHENAM -
KAMPANG. Distance 19 miles.
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June 28th |
Continued KAMPANG to
MINTHA, a distance of 25 miles.
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June 29th |
MINTHA to bank of River YU - making for
MYOTHIT but couldn't cross river because of current. Distance 6 miles.
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June 30th |
Bank of river YU to bank of river TARAT.
Distance 4 miles.
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July 1st |
Bank of River TARAT
to MINTHA. Distance 2 miles.
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July 2nd |
MINTHA to bank of River TARAT, distance 2
miles.
Diary reads: "Tried whole day tot cross
River TARAT with rations for "A" Company, marooned at MYOTHIT but due to
spate of river could not make crossing".
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July 3rd |
Alternative route to MYOTHIT via MINTHA -
HLEZEIK - HTONKEDIN –
NANDALIN (SHIDUMJAR) & PAGWE. Distance 24
miles.
The outward journey to MYOTHIT from
SHENAM took from 27th June to 3rd July during which we
covered just 80 miles. I had a Corporal and 10 men with me, carrying
extra rations for "A” Company at MYOTHIT where Company Commander, Capt.
Battle, was down with malaria and his second in command, Lieut. David
Hughes had gone off with a party to get a boat which would have had to
be carried through the jungle between rivers.
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July 4th |
The return journey to SHENAM commences.
This time consisting of "A” Company and my "Escort" Patrol.
The going was hard, particularly as we
had a number of Stretcher cases to carry, including a 13 year old Indian
girl who had been found by "A” Company sitting by her dead family, all
of whom had trekked from RANGOON. She had Malaria and Dysentery and was
in a very bad state, but was very useful as she spoke 7 native languages
including Burmese.
We travelled just
the 4 miles back to PAGWE on this day.
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July 5th |
We travelled under very heavy going
conditions just 6 miles to NANDALIN where the locals were extremely
helpful, in complete contrast to the locals of PAGWE.
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July 6th |
The river TARAT had overflowed its banks
to a depth of 2 - 3 feet but Burmese guides from NANDALIN bridged
streams for us and blazed a trail through the jungle. Unfortunately Pte
Campbell died from Malaria at 0611 hrs just outside NANDALIN. Distance
covered 12 miles.
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July 7th |
Got lost in jungle for one and a half
hours with Piper Sutherland so distance from MINTHA to KAMPANG was 30
miles!!!
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July 8th |
Completed journey from KAMPANG to rejoin
the Regiment on the "Saddle" - distance 19 miles. The total distance on
this Patrol was 151 miles in 12 days but we got “A” Company back safely
but much the worse for wear.
The little Indian Girl unfortunately died
in the Forward Field Hospital just 6 weeks later.
The length of time it took to do this
Patrol was mainly due to the difficulty in crossing the Rivers YU and
TARAT, both tributaries of the River CHINDWIN as these and many of the
smaller "chaungs" we also had to cross were all in spate and it rained
and rained and rained.… |
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July 17th |
Healthwise this Patrol took its toll on
me as I went down with Malaria and was admitted to 24 Field Ambulance in
SHENAM.
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July 18th |
Was transferred to Casualty Clearing
Station IMPHAL.
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July 20th |
Moved to 37 Field
Ambulance IMPHAL |
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July 24th |
Moved into Accommodation used by fellow
Officer Douglas Matcham who had got himself a "cushy" job with H.Q. 23
Indian Div.
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August 6th |
Rejoined Regiment on
"Saddle". Recuperation period over.
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August 8th |
Sent to WAITHOU on a "Watermanship"
Course. As if I hadn't experienced enough water already!!!
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August 10th |
Rejoined Regiment on
"Saddle".
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August 20th |
Diary reads "PALEL
bombed".
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August 21st |
Regiment moved from
"Saddle" to PALEL.
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September 5th |
Once again took up post of Liaison
Officer to General Savoury, 23 Indian Div.
From this date to 17th October , when I
returned to the Regiment, then in SHENAM I carried out Liaison duties,
visiting KOHIMA - DIMAPUR - TANGNUPAL - DAMPOL – JORHAT and TORBUNG.
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October llth |
General Wavell
visited H.Q. 23 Indian Div.
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October 17th |
Rejoined Regiment in
SHENAM.
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October 25th |
Left SHENAM for "leave" to OOTACAMUND.
Arrived MAO 1800 hrs.
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October 26th |
Left MAO 0700 hrs. Arrived DIMAPUR 1730.
Left DIMAPUR 2300
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October 27th |
Arrived GHAUHATI
1130 hrs. Left GHAUHATI 2100hrs.
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October 28th |
Arrived DHUBRI 0830 hrs. Left DHUBRI
2030hrs.
Arrived GOLANGANJ
2130 hrs. Left GOLANGANJ 2350 hrs.
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October 29th |
Arrived PARBATOPUR 0530. Left PARBATOPUR
0600
Arrived CALCUTTA
1340 hrs.
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October 30th |
Left CALCUTTA 1510
hrs.
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November 1st |
Arrived MADRAS 0930 hrs. Left MADRAS
2000 hrs.
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November 2nd |
Arrived OOTACAMUND
1220 hrs.
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November 2nd to 13th |
On leave in
OOTACAMUND.
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November 13th |
Left OOTACAMUND 1435
hrs.
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November 14th |
Arrived MADRAS 0630 hrs. Left MADRAS
1715 hrs.
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November 16th |
Arrived CALCUTTA
2130 hrs.
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November 18th |
Left CALCUTTA 1200
hrs.
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November 20th |
Arrived DIMAPUR (MANIPUR ROAD) 0230 hrs.
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November 21st |
Left DIMAPUR 0600
hrs
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November 22nd |
Arrived back at SHENAM 2000 hrs.
The outward journey from SHENAM to
OOTACAMUND had taken 9 days and the return journey 10days.
Individual train times have been given
above to illustrate the immense distances that have to be covered on the
Indian Continent.
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December 25th |
Spent at Sergeants’ mess at KAKCHING
where a good time was had by all!!! |
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December 26th |
Spent at "Rest Camp" at KANGLATONGBI
recovering from the 25th!!!
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