Hi Guys I am new here and registered today. My name is Karen. My user name is sgt petts, after my grandad. I have been researching WW1 for the last year, and made a trip to Somme and Ypres in May. Where I paid my respects to my great grandfather, and his four brothers who died in the Great War. I now would like to research WW2 and find out more. My grandfather served in Nigeria and Burma, and survived the war. My other grandad served in Italy and North Africa and also survived the war. I am interested all all aspects of WW2. And have a lot to learn. Regards sgt petts
Hello, and welcome to the forum Sgt Potts, your family certainly made a lot of sacrifices. For that we thank them. Do you have any more details about your two grandfathers that you'd like to share - units? Was your grandfather part of the 81st West African Division (you mentioned Nigeria and Burma)?
G'day Sarge. Welcome to the forum, I hope you enjoy it here. Lots of good people and a fair bit of ribbing in between the fascinating stuff we post about! You're in luck. We've got a "Burma specialist", an Italian theatre veteran and a few guys keen on North Africa.
Welcome Sgt Petts. Glad to have you on board. You will have to put up with a couple of Aussies on here however we like to concentrate a bit more on those forgotten theatres like Burma. Forgotten branches like Coastal Command and Merchant Navy/Marine and those who were not in the forefront. Without these ground crews, mechanics, logistical support, everything would have ground to a halt. How did you find us? Look forward to your posts! Cheers Geoff
Hi and thank you all for your welcomes. I just spoke to my dad and got some info. My grandad Petts started with the TA (1934-1957) He was with the London Irish Rifles. Nigerian Regiment Indian Div British Army......... Dad mentioned 14th Army. He was with the 81st Div in India for jungle training (there is mention of him on a film leading his men into the jungle) Grandad spoke of a battle, in White City and Broadway where gliders came down, for a Chindit raid into enemy territory.30 men and a mule!!! Chindit 3rd Indian Div. Grandad swift. Was with the 1st Army, North Africa (Tunisia?) with the R.A Then onto Sicily, to main Italy southern end into Europe. Because he was almost 40 years old, he ended up driving the Officers and American Officers about with the R.A.S.C He never spoke much about the war, we don't even know what he did with his medals!!! sgt petts
Sgt Petts, let us know what you'd like to know, and we'll help you find it. My interest is the Indian forces, and Burma (though I tend to concentrate on the air war). So as not to duplicate what you may already know/have, I'll await your question(s). Hope you enjoy it here.
Hi Kyt To tell the truth I know nothing of Burma at all. I would be grateful if you could recommend a good book. All my research and reading so far has been WW1, and a small bit of the Battle of Trafalgar, I found on of my rellies from Scotland in the Muster Book, for the Leviathan. I hope to send of for both my grandfather's army records, but I know if will take a while to receive them. The medals Sgt Major Petts received were Victory Medal, Burma Star, 1939-45 Star, Defence Medal and T.A Medal. I am glad to say my dad has them, I have one of his Chindits Flashes, dad has the rest.
Oww, goodie - recommending books is my favourite hobby :clapping: If you really want to know about Burma I would recommend the bible: Burma: The Longest War, 1941-45 by Allen And for the Chindits: Signal Honour: With the Chindits and the 14th Army in Burma There's a lot of info available on the net and a good place to start is: http://www.burmastar.org.uk/ http://www.chindits.info/ As for service records, make sure to ask for photocopies of the originals - otherwise you get a typed summary which isn't always very useful.
Thank you now I know what to put on my Christmas list Oh I am glad you said to ask for photo copies of originals, I never knew they would send typed version :noidea: sgt petts
You've done it now, Karen. You've asked Kyt about books and Burma books at that! Also keep an eye out for Terence O'Brien's Out of the Blue - Pilot with the Chindits and The Moonlight War, two of a trilogy. These should give you another personal view. We discussed O'Brien (RIP) here: http://ww2chat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=355
Karen, you have made a fatal mistake now. Your bank manager will never forgive you. And your card will look positively annorexic.
Yes, just ask me! Credit card unhealty, library healthy and full of Beaufighters and Beauforts and Mossies, oh my!
Hubby's card :mosking: I only have one WW2 book in my library so I need lots more, it's all WW1 so far. I am hoping to find out more about the 81st Army my grandad was with in Africa and Burma. I need all the help I can get. Has anyone sent of for their fathers/grandfathers army records? What info did you get? I guess there are no photo's, pity as we have no photo's of mums dad in uniform, it seems he destroyed the lot. :noidea: sgt petts PS Andy have you been to Gallipoli? I know it's WW1, but I have it on my list to visit. We lost two guys there too.
We can certainly help there! One of these days I've got to get Grandfather, Great Great Uncles, Grandfather-in-law etc etc! Sure have Karen. We went on our honeymoon in Oct 2005 as we got married in Greece so it was an easy trip to do. The most moving place I have been too and marvellously kept by the Turks. Hoping to visit many more sites in the future including old airfields used by the Aussies in particular.
Hi SP, Just a couple of things. The 81st was the Division, and if your grandfather was in that then this book is the best. War Bush: 81 (West African) Division in Burma 1943-1945 It really is excellent, and covers a very forgotten unit in the forgotten war. Even Allen, in the book I recommended earlier, only has 2 or 3 lines on them!! And you should have a look at: http://www.burmastar.org.uk/81stwa.htm The 81st Div was part of the 14th Army. A good intro to the 14th Army can be found at the Burma Star Society, and wiki can set you in the right direction: http://www.burmastar.org.uk/land.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteenth_Army_(United_Kingdom) That should keep you busy for an afternoon or two
