Wartime Experience in Assam and Burma

I had been in the army since April 1939 and spent sometime in the Aldershot area and also Gravesend during various manoeuvres and training, which included a year or so in Northern Ireland in such stations as Holywood, Omagh and Belfast. Volunteers were required for overseas service, destinations not given, and within one month we when to the depot at Leeds. After a measly 4 days embarkation leave and February 1942 we set sail from Gourock (Clyde) and embarked on the XCPR ship, name of Duchess of York. We realised we where going somewhere warmish as we were issued with tropical clothing. And 56 days later via Freetown (West Africa) and Durban (South Africa) we arrived at the Indian port of Bombay.

We were sent to Deolali and from there to Southern India, Hyderabad (the district owned by the Nizam).

In November 1942 I was stationed at a hospital in Kohima.

In late 1943 I was posted to a new unit in New Deli. After further medical training that unit when into Assam and Burma. From there I was posted to a medical unit in the 25th Indian Infantry Division and spent most of my time with 53 Infantry Brigade and 74 Indian Infantry Brigade. Because of the monsoon season approaching us we spent several months in slit trenches where in sometimes very difficult to keep dry. By this time I was promoted first to corporal then sergeant. It is true to say there where some hairy times, when some of my comrades were killed. That unit was named Field Hygiene Section and consisted of a commissioned officer, usually either a captain or a major, a QMS, 3 sergeants and 3 corporals.

In May 1944 the whole Division withdrew from Burma and we took a ship from Akyab to Madras in India. We caught up with our vehicles that came overland from Burma/Assam/Bengal to Coimbator (Southern India).

On reflection I must say that the service I had in the infantry division was very rewarding. Certainly because it was mobile and apart from the long stint in the monsoon we had travelled great distances, which appealed to my sense of doing something worthwhile.

From Madras/Coimbator we went back to Deolali where the QMS and myself waited patiently for the troopship home. Eventually we got our orders. He went to Madras for his ship and I went to Karachi and sailed home on the good ship Andes.

The QMS, named Holland, commonly known as Dutchy. He was a very fair warrant officer and had a good sense of humour.

During the next 12 months I was posted to various units in the UK including back to Northern Ireland. In August 1945 I was demobbed.

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