Hello all,
I’m really sorry to bother you all, but – having seen someone else's appeal for help earlier this year, and the vast know-how that was given in return – I was wondering if anyone might be able to help me bring some clarity to my own grandfather's service record.
I've been trying to build up a timeline and idea of where my late grandfather went during WWII. He served in India and Burma, but it's the latter that's of most importance to me at the moment, as earlier this year I quit my job to go travelling, and – at last – I hope to be in Burma next week. My aim is to visit some of the places he'd have been to – I'm still not quite sure why.
He served first in the Royal Artillery in the 95th Regiment, as part of the 204th HAA Battery, before being transferred to 1 East Yorks. The archivists at each regiment have been an incredible help, and have provided me with whichever logs and reports they can.
With that detail to hand, I now have a good idea where he might've been and when. I’m just concerned I might be misinterpreting the information, or missing chunks out.
I've come up with a vague timeline (skipping quickly to when he was transferred to East Yorks, which served in Burma. Prior to that, he was based in India with the RA), based on the attached records (apologies for the low resolution – I had to reduce the file size to make sure they uploaded):
13 March 1941 - 25 September 1944: part of the 95th HAA regiment, 204th Battery (if anyone has any relatives who were part of this, I’d be happy to share any information I have)
13 March 1944: with the 95th HAA regiment placed in suspended animation, he transferred to 13 Bn Sherwood Foresters, along with 357 other BORs (British Other Rank)
26 September 1944: his records say: “Transferred to British Infantry (1 East Yorks Regt) and [not sure what these letters are] 7 S Lancs Reg
His own record of service, which he kept throughout his life, lists only the Royal Artillery and East Yorks, which is why I’ve only asked for information from East Yorks, and not South Lancs.
There's also reverence to X-II India Comd. 23/10/1944 – does anyone know what this means?
29 September 1944: he sustained an accidental injury, detailed elsewhere (he had a fall and hurt his rest), for which he was sent to India.
30 October 1944: date on his report about his injury, from Wellington. Perhaps this is when he was released?
2 May 1945: “To 2-Wing BBRC” British Base Reinforcement Camp, I think, but any idea whether this may have been Burma or India?
15 September 1945: he was sent to (or arrived at?) HBTD (Homeward Bound Trooping Depot, I think)
4 October 1945: ‘Embarked Bombay HT [Hired Transport] “Georgie” for UK’. Is there any chance this could be the SS George Washington? One line of interest on Wikipedia is: ‘In January 1944 George Washington began regular service to the United Kingdom and the Mediterranean, again carrying troops in support of the Allies in Europe from. She made frequent stops at Le Havre, Southampton, and Liverpool.’
6 October 1945: according to his own notes, this is the day he left Bombay, and arrived in Liverpool docks on 26 October
What’s confused me most so far – and I’ve spent a lot of time being confused – is that there’s no reference to Burma. However, he talked about Burma (although, very little – like many, he kept most of it to himself), we still have his medals, and they’re mentioned in his records.
So, really, I just want to check: am I on the right lines? Any and all help is hugely appreciated.
Peter
PS. If anyone has any relatives who were either in 204th HAA Battery or 1 East Yorks, I'd be happy to share any information I've gathered so far.
