Chindits

[bessingby]

THIS IS SOMETHING NEW REGARDING THE CHINDITS------CHATHAM 1937
EVEN WINGATE WASNT AROUND THEN AT LEAST NOT IN THE FAR EAST.  BESSINGBY

[Pete Keane]

Hi Bessingby

For the first Chindit op. each Column had attached to it a party of Royal Engineers & Commandos who were trained in demolition practices.

Some of these guys were from either 142 Commando Company, or had been staff at the Jungle Warfare Training School at Maymyo.

The Royal Engineers would have undergone their own RE training at Chatham upon joining, prior to being assigned to their own unit. This would have been prior to the Chindit Ops.

I believe that this is what occured with the chap above, he underwent his RE training in 1937, prior to the war.

Pete

[bessingby]

HI PETE
I DIDNT THINK THERE WOULD BE A REPLY TO MY POKING MY NOSE IN
BUT COME ON 142 COMM COMP...JUNGLE TRAINING AT MAYMYO
WHY WOULD THE R.ES BE TRAING LIKE THAT.THE WAR HADNT STARTED.

[Pete Keane]

I think the training he did in 37 was his RE basic training in Chatham.

The RE's were heavily involved in the jungle warfare training school, but if memory serves me (I've passed my copy of its war diary on) it was started up in 1942.

pete

[daisynook]

I now have some paperwork in my hand which I am trying to decipher.  Does anyone know what SOS Struck of Strength mean please?

[Pete Keane]

It meant he left a unit.

The next entry will be TOS ? Taken on strength.

Shows a change in unit.

Pete

[daisynook]

Thank you Pete, I will probably be asking more questions!

Just reading back, you were right, my father-in-law did his training at Chatham.  The only mention in his records of Burma is that he was awarded the Defence Medal Burma Star.  I am still trying to decipher the records.

[daisynook]

Another question - Medals and Decorations reads:

1939-43 Star Pt II SF/49/44 Micro Pad (could be Miero) R200 126A.L.F.
Defence Medal Burma Star. RERO DIV3 MB/32/47  MB/128

Can you tell me what all that means?

[Pete Keane]

The 39-43 Star was for serving in the forces for a min period during those years (it later became the 39-45 Star).

The Burma Star was awarded for serving in Burma for a minimum period of time between two set dates - cant remember wht they were offhand.

Look for attachments to brigades, or names of places. Also he would have disembarked in India first.

If you want to post it here we can decipher it for you.

Pete.