Royal Engineers Burma WW2

[MargeW]

Hi

My great uncle Sidney Kendall was a sapper in the RE during WW2. He died in service in Burma on or around the 17/18 March 1944. I understand that he was working on a bridge that came under attack and he was presumed drowned. (Although I can't confirm this). There is a memorial at Rangoon cemetery.

I would like to try and find out a little more about the incident. Sadly I work full time and live a long way from London so I am unable to visit the national archives. I have looked at their web site, but just felt confused!!

Can anyone advise me if it is worth getting Sidney's service records - or will I get very little for my £30. Also, would there be any organisation that might hold some piece of information that might help me pin point the actual place of death and to get an idea of what was happening at the time.

Many thanks

Marge 

[Pete Keane]

Marge

Would go for the service history, always of value.

It will tell you his unit - there will be a War Diary for that unit which will show where they were on that date.

There is another file at the NA that relates to enquiries into missing men - if he's on the memorial then his body was not recovered.

Regards

Pete

[Pete Keane]

Little bit of luck, his cwgc entry contains his unit:

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2514057

67 Field Co., RE.

Pete

[Pete Keane]

Armed with what you have so far, see if these folks can help:

http://www.remuseum.org.uk/

Regards

Pete

[MargeW]

thanks for the post's Pete, I will contact the RE museum and see if they can help me at all. I have just posted off my application for his service records, if nothing else it will be nice to have a copy. I really must try and get to London and visit the NA, especially if they might have something about him missing. It is all very interesting. Thank you.

Marge

[bamboo43]

Hi Marge,

The 67 Coy War diary for 1944 is held at the National Archives. Its file reference number is WO172/5078. I hope this will eventually be of use to you?

Best wishes and good luck.

Steve.

[ScouseBoy]

What was his date of birth?  Can anyone work out his enlistment date from either his DoB or his Army serial number?

[MargeW]

Thanks for the ward diary information Steve, I will get to London one of these days.

Sidney was born on the 17 June 1924. Like so many others, very young when killed.

Thanks to you both

Marge

[Pete Keane]

his service number looks to have been issued in summer/autumn 1942, so called up when he was 18?

Probably posted abroad after his 19th birthday.

Records will reveal all.

Pete.