Lieutenant John Hubert Trigg M.I.D.
John Hubert Trigg.
Taken from a communique sent by the Military Secretary, General Head Quarters, (India) to the Commandant, No. 1 Depot, Indian Engineers (Lahore):
Approval is now accorded to the posting of Lieutenant J. H. Trigg (R.E) Royal Bombay Sappers and Miners (I.E.) Kirkee, to No. 142 Company, 77th Indian Infantry Brigade, Patharia. He should be instructed to report for duty as early as possible.
As far as I can ascertain, John Hubert Trigg was born on the 24th July 1917 at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire. 137570 2nd Lieutenant J. H. Trigg was commissioned from the 141st Officer Cadet Training Unit (R.E.) on the 22nd June 1940. Having previously served in the Italian theatre during WW2, John arrived at the Chindit training camp at Patharia on the 9th November 1942.
As one of around ten new officers attached to 142 Company in late 1942, Lt. Trigg was given command of his own Commando section. This section eventually became the Commando Platoon for Chindit Column No. 7 on Operation Longcloth. Once inside Burma, Lt. Trigg worked in close co-operation with the Burma Rifles section, commanded by Lt. John Musgrave-Wood.
Unlike some of the other Commando Platoons on the first Chindit expedition, Trigg's men had no definite objective or pre-arranged target. They were used to lay booby-traps at locations judged to be frequented by the enemy and often scouted ahead of the main body of the column alongside Musgrave-Wood's men, searching out safe pathways and liaising with friendly Burmese villagers. When the order to return to India was given by Brigadier Wingate in late March 1943, Major Gilkes, the commander of 7 Column, ordered Lt. Trigg to lead one of the main dispersal parties. This group was made up of Trigg's commando platoon, plus some members of 5 Column who had become separated from their own unit after a battle with the Japanese at a place called Hintha. Another party from 5 Column, led by CSM John Cairns also joined up with Lt. Trigg for a short while around the 4/5th April.
From the 7 Column War diary, dated 9th April 1943:
Column was divided today, Major Gilkes (group 1) took half the men east, intending to move out by the northern China route. Lieutenant Heald (group 2) took parties across the Irrawaddy, others went with Captain Cottrell (group 3), Lieutenant R. Walker (group 4), Lieutenant Musgrave-Wood (group 5) and Lieutenant Campbell-Paterson (group 6).
Major Gilkes had always had it in his mind, that if the Chindit Brigade ventured across the Irrawaddy River during the operation in 1943, that he and his column would exit Burma on dispersal via the Kachin Hills and into the Yunnan Province of China. Lt. Trigg and his dispersal party accompanied Gilkes for the vast majority of this journey. Once again, Trigg and his men were asked to blaze a trail and move ahead of the column, often reaching villages and arranging local guides and much needed food supplies for the ailing and exhausted soldiers behind.
From the 7 column War diary, dated 8th May 1943:
Gradually elicited information from our Chinese guides that a forward detachment of Chinese troops were at Gadu, eight miles from Sima-Pa. Lt. Trigg and Sgt. McKenzie went ahead to Gadu announcing the approach of the column. Column arrived after a further three hours march, Chinese troops very hospitable. Stayed the day whilst Column Commander (Gilkes) gathered information. The troops were found to be Chinese irregulars, part of the 5th Chinese Army which had withdrawn from Burma in 1942. Japanese known to be nearby, some 15 miles southeast of the Taping River. Unfriendly Shan tribesmen also in the neighbourhood. Part of column bivouacked outside the village. Column Commander and CSM Cairns and his platoon, slept in village in order to show the Chinese that we trusted them.
Seen below is a Gallery of images in relation to the first part of this story, including a map of the area around Sima-Pa and Gadu villages. Please click on any image to bring it forward on the page.
Approval is now accorded to the posting of Lieutenant J. H. Trigg (R.E) Royal Bombay Sappers and Miners (I.E.) Kirkee, to No. 142 Company, 77th Indian Infantry Brigade, Patharia. He should be instructed to report for duty as early as possible.
As far as I can ascertain, John Hubert Trigg was born on the 24th July 1917 at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire. 137570 2nd Lieutenant J. H. Trigg was commissioned from the 141st Officer Cadet Training Unit (R.E.) on the 22nd June 1940. Having previously served in the Italian theatre during WW2, John arrived at the Chindit training camp at Patharia on the 9th November 1942.
As one of around ten new officers attached to 142 Company in late 1942, Lt. Trigg was given command of his own Commando section. This section eventually became the Commando Platoon for Chindit Column No. 7 on Operation Longcloth. Once inside Burma, Lt. Trigg worked in close co-operation with the Burma Rifles section, commanded by Lt. John Musgrave-Wood.
Unlike some of the other Commando Platoons on the first Chindit expedition, Trigg's men had no definite objective or pre-arranged target. They were used to lay booby-traps at locations judged to be frequented by the enemy and often scouted ahead of the main body of the column alongside Musgrave-Wood's men, searching out safe pathways and liaising with friendly Burmese villagers. When the order to return to India was given by Brigadier Wingate in late March 1943, Major Gilkes, the commander of 7 Column, ordered Lt. Trigg to lead one of the main dispersal parties. This group was made up of Trigg's commando platoon, plus some members of 5 Column who had become separated from their own unit after a battle with the Japanese at a place called Hintha. Another party from 5 Column, led by CSM John Cairns also joined up with Lt. Trigg for a short while around the 4/5th April.
From the 7 Column War diary, dated 9th April 1943:
Column was divided today, Major Gilkes (group 1) took half the men east, intending to move out by the northern China route. Lieutenant Heald (group 2) took parties across the Irrawaddy, others went with Captain Cottrell (group 3), Lieutenant R. Walker (group 4), Lieutenant Musgrave-Wood (group 5) and Lieutenant Campbell-Paterson (group 6).
Major Gilkes had always had it in his mind, that if the Chindit Brigade ventured across the Irrawaddy River during the operation in 1943, that he and his column would exit Burma on dispersal via the Kachin Hills and into the Yunnan Province of China. Lt. Trigg and his dispersal party accompanied Gilkes for the vast majority of this journey. Once again, Trigg and his men were asked to blaze a trail and move ahead of the column, often reaching villages and arranging local guides and much needed food supplies for the ailing and exhausted soldiers behind.
From the 7 column War diary, dated 8th May 1943:
Gradually elicited information from our Chinese guides that a forward detachment of Chinese troops were at Gadu, eight miles from Sima-Pa. Lt. Trigg and Sgt. McKenzie went ahead to Gadu announcing the approach of the column. Column arrived after a further three hours march, Chinese troops very hospitable. Stayed the day whilst Column Commander (Gilkes) gathered information. The troops were found to be Chinese irregulars, part of the 5th Chinese Army which had withdrawn from Burma in 1942. Japanese known to be nearby, some 15 miles southeast of the Taping River. Unfriendly Shan tribesmen also in the neighbourhood. Part of column bivouacked outside the village. Column Commander and CSM Cairns and his platoon, slept in village in order to show the Chinese that we trusted them.
Seen below is a Gallery of images in relation to the first part of this story, including a map of the area around Sima-Pa and Gadu villages. Please click on any image to bring it forward on the page.
Lt. Trigg was successful in getting his men out of Burma in 1943, eventually leading his party to safety via Yunnan Province and then having the luxury of being flown back to India in United States Air Force Dakotas on the 7th June. There was however, one incident that took place on the 8th April, which must have played on his mind as he began his well-earned period of rest and recuperation.
From a witness statement given by Lt. Trigg after Operation Longcloth:
On the 8th April 1943, L/Cpl. S. Hunt requested that with a compass and a full set of maps, he be allowed to take the following men westwards to cross the Irrawaddy. L/Cpl. Desmond (5 Col. Commando), Pte. Samuel Craig (7 Col. Commando), Pte. William Pearce (7 Col. Commando), Pte. Peter Knight (7 Col. Commando) and Pte. Stephen O’Connor (5 Col. Commando). The request was granted by the Officer commanding the Column. No news has since been heard of these British Other Ranks.
The group had all been wounded to one extent or another and were also suffering badly from the monotonous diet of rice. They felt that the longer route out via Yunnan Province was now beyond them and their only hope was to turn west and head back towards the Chindwin. Sadly, none of these six men made it back to India in 1943. All six were captured by the Japanese over the coming days and weeks. Peter "Rocky' Knight died at the temporary POW Camp at Kalaw, Sidney Hunt and William Pearce survived a little longer, but eventually perished inside Rangoon Jail. Only Gerald Desmond, Samuel Craig and Stephen O'Connor survived their ordeal as prisoners of war and were liberated on the 29th April 1945.
To read more about the capture of the above mentioned soldiers, please click on the following link: Lance Corporal Gerald Desmond
Seen below is a map of the area around the village of Pinlon, located on the western banks of the Shweli River and close to the Nanhlaing Chaung, the scene of L/Cpl. Hunt's request to leave the main body of 7 Column and move west towards the Irrawaddy.
From a witness statement given by Lt. Trigg after Operation Longcloth:
On the 8th April 1943, L/Cpl. S. Hunt requested that with a compass and a full set of maps, he be allowed to take the following men westwards to cross the Irrawaddy. L/Cpl. Desmond (5 Col. Commando), Pte. Samuel Craig (7 Col. Commando), Pte. William Pearce (7 Col. Commando), Pte. Peter Knight (7 Col. Commando) and Pte. Stephen O’Connor (5 Col. Commando). The request was granted by the Officer commanding the Column. No news has since been heard of these British Other Ranks.
The group had all been wounded to one extent or another and were also suffering badly from the monotonous diet of rice. They felt that the longer route out via Yunnan Province was now beyond them and their only hope was to turn west and head back towards the Chindwin. Sadly, none of these six men made it back to India in 1943. All six were captured by the Japanese over the coming days and weeks. Peter "Rocky' Knight died at the temporary POW Camp at Kalaw, Sidney Hunt and William Pearce survived a little longer, but eventually perished inside Rangoon Jail. Only Gerald Desmond, Samuel Craig and Stephen O'Connor survived their ordeal as prisoners of war and were liberated on the 29th April 1945.
To read more about the capture of the above mentioned soldiers, please click on the following link: Lance Corporal Gerald Desmond
Seen below is a map of the area around the village of Pinlon, located on the western banks of the Shweli River and close to the Nanhlaing Chaung, the scene of L/Cpl. Hunt's request to leave the main body of 7 Column and move west towards the Irrawaddy.
For his efforts on Operation Longcloth, John Hubert Trigg was Mentioned in Despatches. I cannot be 100% certain, but this may well have been the second time that he had received this award, the first M.I.D being granted for his service in Italy.
From the documents and paperwork I have discovered in relation to the men that comprised Lt. Trigg's commando platoon and dispersal group, here, in no particular order is the eventual fate of each man:
4690358 Acting Sergeant A. Hayes. This man came across to 142 Commando from the Bush Warfare School in Maymyo on the 31st July 1942. He had been based in Burma from before the war with the 2nd Battalion of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Sgt. Hayes returned safely to India in June 1943.
Sergeant A. Seaton formerly of the Middlesex Regiment. This soldier had come from the Bush Warfare School at Maymyo and joined 142 Commando at the Saugor Camp on the 31st July 1942. Nothing else is known about his experiences in Burma, but it is known that he survived Operation Longcloth.
4690270 Acting Corporal J. Jarvis. This soldier also came over from the Bush Warfare School on the 31st July 1942. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this NCO was lost to his section shortly after crossing the Irrawaddy River on the 29th March 1943. However, there is no record of his demise on the CWGC website and so we must conclude that he survived and made it back to India in one piece.
1880638 Lance Corporal Sidney Raymond Hunt of the Royal Engineers. This soldier was posted to 142 Commando on the 8th September 1942 at the Saugor training camp. As already stated, this man asked permission to leave Lt. Trigg's dispersal group on the 8th April 1943. He perished inside Rangoon Jail on the 2nd September that same year and was buried in the first instance at the English Cantonment Cemetery located near the Royal Lakes in the eastern sector of the city.
From the documents and paperwork I have discovered in relation to the men that comprised Lt. Trigg's commando platoon and dispersal group, here, in no particular order is the eventual fate of each man:
4690358 Acting Sergeant A. Hayes. This man came across to 142 Commando from the Bush Warfare School in Maymyo on the 31st July 1942. He had been based in Burma from before the war with the 2nd Battalion of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Sgt. Hayes returned safely to India in June 1943.
Sergeant A. Seaton formerly of the Middlesex Regiment. This soldier had come from the Bush Warfare School at Maymyo and joined 142 Commando at the Saugor Camp on the 31st July 1942. Nothing else is known about his experiences in Burma, but it is known that he survived Operation Longcloth.
4690270 Acting Corporal J. Jarvis. This soldier also came over from the Bush Warfare School on the 31st July 1942. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this NCO was lost to his section shortly after crossing the Irrawaddy River on the 29th March 1943. However, there is no record of his demise on the CWGC website and so we must conclude that he survived and made it back to India in one piece.
1880638 Lance Corporal Sidney Raymond Hunt of the Royal Engineers. This soldier was posted to 142 Commando on the 8th September 1942 at the Saugor training camp. As already stated, this man asked permission to leave Lt. Trigg's dispersal group on the 8th April 1943. He perished inside Rangoon Jail on the 2nd September that same year and was buried in the first instance at the English Cantonment Cemetery located near the Royal Lakes in the eastern sector of the city.
5250536 Pte. Frederick Clyronomides formerly of the Worcestershire Regiment. As far as I can ascertain, Fred was the only soldier of Greek origin to take part on Operation Longcloth. He returned safely to India in June 1943 and continued his career in the military, including serving during the Korean War in the early 1950's.
In August 2015, I was pleased to receive the following email contact from Andy Clyro:
My father was Frederick Clyronomides, who sadly died in 2007, but thankfully left his written memoirs. I was having a re-read of them lately and decided a trip to the National Archives at Kew was in order. I learnt a bit more about 142 Commando there.
He joined 142 Commando from the Worcester Regiment and was in No. 7 Column led by Major Gilkes. A co-incidence in itself as Gilkes was North Staffs and my father, after landing on D Day with 4 Commando, subsequently joined the North Staffs when the Army commandos were later disbanded. I found the passenger list at Kew showing my father and three other members of 142 Commando on the American Ship, Brazil, listed as sailing into New York from India. I also found the page in 142 Commando war diary listing my father's transfer into the this unit at Saugor. I wonder if there is anything you may be aware of that is relevant to him at all and also would you like a copy of his memoirs? Best wishes, Andy.
I replied:
Dear Andy,
Thank you for your recent email contact via my website. I have seen your father's name before in the nominal rolls for the No. 7 Column Commandos. I have mentioned him before on my website on the Did You Know page as being possibly the only soldier of Greek ancestry to take part on Operation Longcloth. Obviously, I would very much like to see all the papers you mention in your email, especially a copy of your father's memoirs. Do you have a photograph of him from the WW2 era at all, as it would be great to add him to the No. 7 Column Gallery page.
Andy then replied:
Dear Stephen, I'll send over a copy of the relevant section of my father's memoirs, he served from 1935 to 1963 so they cover a whole range of military experiences. It will take a few weeks to achieve this as his writing is idiosyncratic and I will need to type it up first. I did notice in the list for No. 7 Column commando, that his name is understandably misspelt, so was then intrigued as to how you have correctly spelt it on your excellent site? Whilst I have photographs post war there are no war-time ones that I'm aware of. I do however, have an excellent one of him en route to serve in Korea at the head of his Company (see above) so will send that shortly.
Andy then replied once again:
Steve, no sooner having corresponded with you, I found myself back in hospital again. I am now out again after a successful operation. I am conscious that I still have to send my father's memoirs of the Burma campaign and will get cracking on those for you. In the interim I have as promised, attached a photograph of him marching out to Korea in 1953. Best wishes, Andy.
Sadly, after sending another email to Andy in December 2015, we lost contact. I would like to thank him again for his original contact and for the information he was able to send me about his father, Frederick Clyronomides.
In August 2015, I was pleased to receive the following email contact from Andy Clyro:
My father was Frederick Clyronomides, who sadly died in 2007, but thankfully left his written memoirs. I was having a re-read of them lately and decided a trip to the National Archives at Kew was in order. I learnt a bit more about 142 Commando there.
He joined 142 Commando from the Worcester Regiment and was in No. 7 Column led by Major Gilkes. A co-incidence in itself as Gilkes was North Staffs and my father, after landing on D Day with 4 Commando, subsequently joined the North Staffs when the Army commandos were later disbanded. I found the passenger list at Kew showing my father and three other members of 142 Commando on the American Ship, Brazil, listed as sailing into New York from India. I also found the page in 142 Commando war diary listing my father's transfer into the this unit at Saugor. I wonder if there is anything you may be aware of that is relevant to him at all and also would you like a copy of his memoirs? Best wishes, Andy.
I replied:
Dear Andy,
Thank you for your recent email contact via my website. I have seen your father's name before in the nominal rolls for the No. 7 Column Commandos. I have mentioned him before on my website on the Did You Know page as being possibly the only soldier of Greek ancestry to take part on Operation Longcloth. Obviously, I would very much like to see all the papers you mention in your email, especially a copy of your father's memoirs. Do you have a photograph of him from the WW2 era at all, as it would be great to add him to the No. 7 Column Gallery page.
Andy then replied:
Dear Stephen, I'll send over a copy of the relevant section of my father's memoirs, he served from 1935 to 1963 so they cover a whole range of military experiences. It will take a few weeks to achieve this as his writing is idiosyncratic and I will need to type it up first. I did notice in the list for No. 7 Column commando, that his name is understandably misspelt, so was then intrigued as to how you have correctly spelt it on your excellent site? Whilst I have photographs post war there are no war-time ones that I'm aware of. I do however, have an excellent one of him en route to serve in Korea at the head of his Company (see above) so will send that shortly.
Andy then replied once again:
Steve, no sooner having corresponded with you, I found myself back in hospital again. I am now out again after a successful operation. I am conscious that I still have to send my father's memoirs of the Burma campaign and will get cracking on those for you. In the interim I have as promised, attached a photograph of him marching out to Korea in 1953. Best wishes, Andy.
Sadly, after sending another email to Andy in December 2015, we lost contact. I would like to thank him again for his original contact and for the information he was able to send me about his father, Frederick Clyronomides.
5575640 Pte. Samuel Craig formerly of the Wiltshire Regiment. This soldier was one of the men with L/Cpl. Hunt and was captured by the Japanese on the 19th April 1943, close to the banks of the Chindwin River. Samuel survived just over two years as a prisoner of war inside Rangoon Jail. He was liberated on the 29th April 1945 at a village on the Pegu Road named Waw.
Update 30/01/2021.
I was delighted to receive the following email contact back in November 2020:
Hi, I came across this site while looking for something else in relation to my Great Great Uncle Samuel (Sammy) Craig who was a Chindit and ended up as a prisoner of war in Burma. Regards, Sandra McManus.
I replied:
Dear Sandra,
Thank you for your email contact via my website. Samuel was a commando in No. 7 Column on the first Chindit expedition in 1943. He originally enlisted into the Wiltshire Regiment before being attached to the King's Liverpool Regiment in India. He was posted to the 142 Commando unit at the Saugor training camp on the 1st July 1942 alongside nine other soldiers formerly with the Wiltshire Regiment.
He was eventually captured by the Japanese on the 19th April 1943 and spent the next two years as a prisoner of war in Rangoon Jail. On his POW index card (shown in the gallery below) he is stated as being a cook by profession and was given the POW number, 363. He was liberated in late April 1945 by British Forces driving the Japanese from Burma at a place called Waw near Pegu. I would very much like to learn more about Samuel, especially his early life and what he did after the war for work etc. If you or the family have a photograph of him that you would be willing to share, I would be honoured to add this to the website.
Sandra replied:
Hi Stephen,
Sammy Craig was my grandfather's brother. Sammy was born on the 8th June 1914 and was the youngest of five sons born to John and Elizabeth Craig (née Ball). I have a family picture of him as a baby with his father in uniform, John was killed in the Great War on I think, the 16th August 1916. Sammy's mum remarried a man called Robert Knox, hence the name on Sammy's POW index card.
I have attached a photograph of a newspaper article that was done on Sammy a while back, but the resolution of the image is poor and the text is not readable I'm afraid. This is what I was searching for when I came across your website. The piece was originally up on the Whiteabbey (Northern Ireland) Royal British Legion page and I have tried to contact, Brian McCaldren who wrote the article, but to no avail.
As far as I know Sammy was first married to a girl from the Shankill Road and when she passed away he remarried Agnes Butler and they lived all their lives in Whiteabbey. They had quite a large family most of whom still live in Whiteabbey. I have just recently made contact with Sammy's son who lives in England, so I am hoping this will lead to more information and hopefully some photographs. Sammy died in 2006 at the age of 92 and was given a full Royal British Legion funeral. Thank you again for all your help, if I find out anymore, I will get back to you.
Regards, Sandra.
Seen below is a small gallery of images in relation to Samuel Craig, including his POW index card and the newspaper article image mentioned by Sandra. Please click on any image to bring it forward on the page.
Update 30/01/2021.
I was delighted to receive the following email contact back in November 2020:
Hi, I came across this site while looking for something else in relation to my Great Great Uncle Samuel (Sammy) Craig who was a Chindit and ended up as a prisoner of war in Burma. Regards, Sandra McManus.
I replied:
Dear Sandra,
Thank you for your email contact via my website. Samuel was a commando in No. 7 Column on the first Chindit expedition in 1943. He originally enlisted into the Wiltshire Regiment before being attached to the King's Liverpool Regiment in India. He was posted to the 142 Commando unit at the Saugor training camp on the 1st July 1942 alongside nine other soldiers formerly with the Wiltshire Regiment.
He was eventually captured by the Japanese on the 19th April 1943 and spent the next two years as a prisoner of war in Rangoon Jail. On his POW index card (shown in the gallery below) he is stated as being a cook by profession and was given the POW number, 363. He was liberated in late April 1945 by British Forces driving the Japanese from Burma at a place called Waw near Pegu. I would very much like to learn more about Samuel, especially his early life and what he did after the war for work etc. If you or the family have a photograph of him that you would be willing to share, I would be honoured to add this to the website.
Sandra replied:
Hi Stephen,
Sammy Craig was my grandfather's brother. Sammy was born on the 8th June 1914 and was the youngest of five sons born to John and Elizabeth Craig (née Ball). I have a family picture of him as a baby with his father in uniform, John was killed in the Great War on I think, the 16th August 1916. Sammy's mum remarried a man called Robert Knox, hence the name on Sammy's POW index card.
I have attached a photograph of a newspaper article that was done on Sammy a while back, but the resolution of the image is poor and the text is not readable I'm afraid. This is what I was searching for when I came across your website. The piece was originally up on the Whiteabbey (Northern Ireland) Royal British Legion page and I have tried to contact, Brian McCaldren who wrote the article, but to no avail.
As far as I know Sammy was first married to a girl from the Shankill Road and when she passed away he remarried Agnes Butler and they lived all their lives in Whiteabbey. They had quite a large family most of whom still live in Whiteabbey. I have just recently made contact with Sammy's son who lives in England, so I am hoping this will lead to more information and hopefully some photographs. Sammy died in 2006 at the age of 92 and was given a full Royal British Legion funeral. Thank you again for all your help, if I find out anymore, I will get back to you.
Regards, Sandra.
Seen below is a small gallery of images in relation to Samuel Craig, including his POW index card and the newspaper article image mentioned by Sandra. Please click on any image to bring it forward on the page.
2574617 Pte. Harold Evans was the son of Samuel Evans and of Ada Rose Evans, from Brampton in Derbyshire. Harold was also a commando in Lt. Trigg's platoon, but had accompanied Lt. Musgrave-Wood on dispersal and had chosen to remain behind with another man, John Masland, who had developed a sceptic foot and could no longer march with the group. Nothing further is known about Pte. Evans, other than his recorded date of death, which was the 1st August 1943 and that he had been buried originally at the Mandalay Military Cemetery, before being moved after the war to Taukkyan War Cemetery, situated on the northern outskirts of Rangoon.
4468945 Pte. John Masland formerly of the Durham Light Infantry Regiment, was the son of Joseph and Ann Masland, from Blyth in Northumberland. He was also a commando in 7 Column during the first Wingate expedition. He is mentioned in a statement given by Lt. Musgrave-Wood as having developed a sceptic foot on the march out via the Chinese Borders and was left behind in the village of Sima on the 6th May 1943. He died sometime in late July 1943, probably in some form of Chinese Hospital. Sadly, his grave was never recovered after the war and for this reason he is remembered upon Face 5 of the Rangoon Memorial.
7381858 Pte. Alan Frederick Forth of the Royal Army Medical Corps. From a witness statement given by Pte. Tom Worthington of the 13th King's:
This man was with 142 Company on Operation Longcloth and attached to No. 7 Column. He was a regular soldier and a medical orderly and was left in a village near the Irrawaddy River. His party under Lt. Rex Walker were informed several days later that he had died on the 9th April, suffering from appendicitis and malaria.
Alan is remembered upon Face 5 of the Rangoon Memorial at Taukkyan War Cemetery.
4469219 Pte. Thomas Harrison formerly of the Durham Light Infantry Regiment. A member of 7 Column Commando on Operation Longcloth, this soldier returned safely to India in June 1943.
4466861 Pte. James William Redpath formerly of the Durham Light Infantry Regiment. Another member of 7 Column Commando on Operation Longcloth, this soldier also returned safely to India in June 1943.
4467217 Pte. Absalom Woolley was another former member of the Durham Light Infantry Regiment. Absalom, another commando from 7 Column succeeded in returning to India in June 1943.
4466920 Pte. Nicholas Brady Walton was with 7 Column on Operation Longcloth and returned safely to India after the expedition. He gave at least one witness statement on his return in relation to Pte. Alan Frederick Forth (see above).
5184234 Pte. A. Rees formerly stationed with the Gloucestershire Regiment in Burma, was posted to the 13th King's on the 13th November 1942 at the Saugor Camp. This soldier was posted to the Commando Platoon for 7 Column returned safely to India in June 1943.
4468945 Pte. John Masland formerly of the Durham Light Infantry Regiment, was the son of Joseph and Ann Masland, from Blyth in Northumberland. He was also a commando in 7 Column during the first Wingate expedition. He is mentioned in a statement given by Lt. Musgrave-Wood as having developed a sceptic foot on the march out via the Chinese Borders and was left behind in the village of Sima on the 6th May 1943. He died sometime in late July 1943, probably in some form of Chinese Hospital. Sadly, his grave was never recovered after the war and for this reason he is remembered upon Face 5 of the Rangoon Memorial.
7381858 Pte. Alan Frederick Forth of the Royal Army Medical Corps. From a witness statement given by Pte. Tom Worthington of the 13th King's:
This man was with 142 Company on Operation Longcloth and attached to No. 7 Column. He was a regular soldier and a medical orderly and was left in a village near the Irrawaddy River. His party under Lt. Rex Walker were informed several days later that he had died on the 9th April, suffering from appendicitis and malaria.
Alan is remembered upon Face 5 of the Rangoon Memorial at Taukkyan War Cemetery.
4469219 Pte. Thomas Harrison formerly of the Durham Light Infantry Regiment. A member of 7 Column Commando on Operation Longcloth, this soldier returned safely to India in June 1943.
4466861 Pte. James William Redpath formerly of the Durham Light Infantry Regiment. Another member of 7 Column Commando on Operation Longcloth, this soldier also returned safely to India in June 1943.
4467217 Pte. Absalom Woolley was another former member of the Durham Light Infantry Regiment. Absalom, another commando from 7 Column succeeded in returning to India in June 1943.
4466920 Pte. Nicholas Brady Walton was with 7 Column on Operation Longcloth and returned safely to India after the expedition. He gave at least one witness statement on his return in relation to Pte. Alan Frederick Forth (see above).
5184234 Pte. A. Rees formerly stationed with the Gloucestershire Regiment in Burma, was posted to the 13th King's on the 13th November 1942 at the Saugor Camp. This soldier was posted to the Commando Platoon for 7 Column returned safely to India in June 1943.
Nominal Roll, 7 Column Commando Platoon.
5571466 Lance Corporal W. Phelps formerly of the Wiltshire Regiment. This soldier was posted to 142 Commando on the 1st July 1942, whilst the unit was still stationed at its original barracks in Jubbulpore. He was a member of Lt. Trigg's commando platoon and returned safely to India after Operation Longcloth.
3856940 Pte. Joseph Moran formerly of the Loyal Regiment, was transferred to the 13th King's on the 30th September 1942 and was posted to the commando section for 7 Column under the leadership of Lt. J. Trigg. He was captured by the Japanese on the 29th June 1943, having previously been left in the Burmese village of Uma on the 8th April, suffering from a gun-shot wound to his side. Joseph was liberated on the Pegu Road, alongside 400 other POW's from Rangoon Jail in late April 1945.
3779356 Pte. James King. From a witness statement given by Pte. Tom Worthington of the 13th King's:
This soldier's hometown was Liverpool (Litherland). He was originally with A’ Company of the 13th Battalion, the King’s Regiment. He was somehow separated with a number of other men from No. 5 Column, sometime in late March 1943. He became attached to No. 7 Column. During an incident with the Japs, he was, along with twenty-one other men, separated from the main body of No. 7 Column.
This party, of which I was a member, was led by Lieutenant Trigg of the Royal Engineers and officer commanding of 142 Commando detachment for No. 7 Column. King was found missing from the line of march. He was in a very weak condition and was suffering from malaria. I would say this was a matter of two or three days before No. 7 Column had it's first ration dropping in the Kachin Hills and I think, the last dropping before I too fell out from the line of march sometime in April.
Another report in regards the missing men from Operation Longcloth, states that James King was last seen on the 24th April 1943, on the Si-U-Sikaw Road, possibly in the same general area described by Pte. Worthington in his witness statement above. According to the CWGC records, James King died on the 24th April 1943. His grave was recovered after the war from Mandalay Military Cemetery and he is now buried at Taukkyan War Cemetery, located on the northern outskirts of Rangoon. A photograph of his grave can be viewed in the gallery immediately below this written section. Please click on any image to bring it forward on the page.
2617400 Lance Corporal H. Lineker. This soldier was a former Grenadier Guardsman and a member of the Commando Section for 7 Column in 1943 (see nominal roll above). L/Cpl. Lineker became part of Lt. Musgrave-Wood's dispersal group in early April 1943 and exited Burma with this officer. After his return to India he gave witness statements in relation to Harold Evans and Leslie Peace.
3856940 Pte. Joseph Moran formerly of the Loyal Regiment, was transferred to the 13th King's on the 30th September 1942 and was posted to the commando section for 7 Column under the leadership of Lt. J. Trigg. He was captured by the Japanese on the 29th June 1943, having previously been left in the Burmese village of Uma on the 8th April, suffering from a gun-shot wound to his side. Joseph was liberated on the Pegu Road, alongside 400 other POW's from Rangoon Jail in late April 1945.
3779356 Pte. James King. From a witness statement given by Pte. Tom Worthington of the 13th King's:
This soldier's hometown was Liverpool (Litherland). He was originally with A’ Company of the 13th Battalion, the King’s Regiment. He was somehow separated with a number of other men from No. 5 Column, sometime in late March 1943. He became attached to No. 7 Column. During an incident with the Japs, he was, along with twenty-one other men, separated from the main body of No. 7 Column.
This party, of which I was a member, was led by Lieutenant Trigg of the Royal Engineers and officer commanding of 142 Commando detachment for No. 7 Column. King was found missing from the line of march. He was in a very weak condition and was suffering from malaria. I would say this was a matter of two or three days before No. 7 Column had it's first ration dropping in the Kachin Hills and I think, the last dropping before I too fell out from the line of march sometime in April.
Another report in regards the missing men from Operation Longcloth, states that James King was last seen on the 24th April 1943, on the Si-U-Sikaw Road, possibly in the same general area described by Pte. Worthington in his witness statement above. According to the CWGC records, James King died on the 24th April 1943. His grave was recovered after the war from Mandalay Military Cemetery and he is now buried at Taukkyan War Cemetery, located on the northern outskirts of Rangoon. A photograph of his grave can be viewed in the gallery immediately below this written section. Please click on any image to bring it forward on the page.
2617400 Lance Corporal H. Lineker. This soldier was a former Grenadier Guardsman and a member of the Commando Section for 7 Column in 1943 (see nominal roll above). L/Cpl. Lineker became part of Lt. Musgrave-Wood's dispersal group in early April 1943 and exited Burma with this officer. After his return to India he gave witness statements in relation to Harold Evans and Leslie Peace.
From a witness statement given by L/Cpl. Gerald Desmond on the 11th March 1946:
5335616 Pte. Peter Edwin Knight. Formerly with the Royal Berkshire Regiment before being transferred to 142 Company 13th King's in July 1942. I met him whilst a prisoner in a place called Kalaw, he died after being there for about two weeks, the cause of his death I could not say for sure. However, the Japanese had been experimenting on us all the time and I saw them give him about six needles and the next morning he was dead, he was called 'Rocky' Knight to his friends.
Peter Knight's body was never recovered after the war and for this reason, he is remembered upon Face 5 of the Rangoon Memorial, located at Taukkyan War Cemetery. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2514707/knight,-peter-edwin/
4976615 Pte. William John Pearce was formerly of the Sherwood Foresters, before being posted to the Commando Platoon for 7 Column in the early autumn of 1942. William was one of the breakaway group led by L/Cpl. Hunt on the 8th April 1943 and was captured a few weeks later on the 4th May near the village of Kindat on the east bank of the Chindwin River. He sadly perished inside Block 6 of Rangoon Jail on the 17th September 1944, suffering from the diseases beri beri and dysentery (acute colitis).
He was buried originally in grave number 206 at the English Cantonment Cemetery located in the eastern sector of Rangoon, close to the Royal Lakes. After the war, all burials from the Cantonment Cemetery were moved over to the newly constructed Rangoon War Cemetery, with William's remains making the journey on the 14th June 1946. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2261074/pearce,-william-john/
Update 24/02/2020.
I was extremely pleased to receive the following email contact from Mike Holdsworth, the great nephew of William John Pearce:
Hi, I've recently stumbled upon your website while doing some research on my great uncle Pte. William John Pearce, I've found him on a couple of your pages and wonder if you have any more information about him? I also might be able to help with some personal information on him and I have a picture of him if you would like to add this to your site.
William was my great grandfather's older brother. My great grandfather Albert Pearce was a Private in the Royal Artillery during WW2 and served in Italy. Their father, Frederick Pearce was gassed in WW1 during the battle of Ypres and was sent home to recuperate and then re-enlisted. When WW2 came around Frederick served in Norway I believe. William was not married as far as I can tell and never had any children. He was a handsome man and before the war my Nan entered him in a Errol Flynn look-alike contest and he won. Hopefully, you may have some more details about his time in Burma. Regards Mike.
Seen below is a gallery of images in relation to William Pearce, including the photograph mentioned by Mike and a more recent image of William's grave plaque at Rangoon War Cemetery. Please click on any image to bring it forward on the page.
5335616 Pte. Peter Edwin Knight. Formerly with the Royal Berkshire Regiment before being transferred to 142 Company 13th King's in July 1942. I met him whilst a prisoner in a place called Kalaw, he died after being there for about two weeks, the cause of his death I could not say for sure. However, the Japanese had been experimenting on us all the time and I saw them give him about six needles and the next morning he was dead, he was called 'Rocky' Knight to his friends.
Peter Knight's body was never recovered after the war and for this reason, he is remembered upon Face 5 of the Rangoon Memorial, located at Taukkyan War Cemetery. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2514707/knight,-peter-edwin/
4976615 Pte. William John Pearce was formerly of the Sherwood Foresters, before being posted to the Commando Platoon for 7 Column in the early autumn of 1942. William was one of the breakaway group led by L/Cpl. Hunt on the 8th April 1943 and was captured a few weeks later on the 4th May near the village of Kindat on the east bank of the Chindwin River. He sadly perished inside Block 6 of Rangoon Jail on the 17th September 1944, suffering from the diseases beri beri and dysentery (acute colitis).
He was buried originally in grave number 206 at the English Cantonment Cemetery located in the eastern sector of Rangoon, close to the Royal Lakes. After the war, all burials from the Cantonment Cemetery were moved over to the newly constructed Rangoon War Cemetery, with William's remains making the journey on the 14th June 1946. www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2261074/pearce,-william-john/
Update 24/02/2020.
I was extremely pleased to receive the following email contact from Mike Holdsworth, the great nephew of William John Pearce:
Hi, I've recently stumbled upon your website while doing some research on my great uncle Pte. William John Pearce, I've found him on a couple of your pages and wonder if you have any more information about him? I also might be able to help with some personal information on him and I have a picture of him if you would like to add this to your site.
William was my great grandfather's older brother. My great grandfather Albert Pearce was a Private in the Royal Artillery during WW2 and served in Italy. Their father, Frederick Pearce was gassed in WW1 during the battle of Ypres and was sent home to recuperate and then re-enlisted. When WW2 came around Frederick served in Norway I believe. William was not married as far as I can tell and never had any children. He was a handsome man and before the war my Nan entered him in a Errol Flynn look-alike contest and he won. Hopefully, you may have some more details about his time in Burma. Regards Mike.
Seen below is a gallery of images in relation to William Pearce, including the photograph mentioned by Mike and a more recent image of William's grave plaque at Rangoon War Cemetery. Please click on any image to bring it forward on the page.
4467185 Pte. Leslie Simnet Peace died on the 25th August 1943 and is now buried at Taukkyan War Cemetery, located on the northern outskirts of Rangoon. He had been with Lt. Musgrave-Wood's dispersal group that had attempted to reach Fort Hertz in the far north-eastern corner of Burma in late April 1943, but had to drop out of the line of march. One witness statement suggests that he, much like Harold Evans had chosen to remain with Pte. John Masland when this soldier could no longer walk.
To read more about Pte. Peace, please click on the following link: DLI Commandos
4462834 Pte. Stephen O'Connor was originally with 5 Column Commando on Operation Longcloth. He was one of the 100 or so men from this column to be separated from the main body of Major Fergusson's force on the 29th March 1943, after a battle with the Japanese at a place called Hintha. He later joined up with 7 Column, but chose to leave Lt. Trigg's dispersal party alongside L/Cpl. Sidney Hunt on the 8th April and was captured by the Japanese on the 4th May. Stephen survived his time as a prisoner of war and was liberated on the 29th April 1945 at the Burmese village of Waw.
3779560 Pte. Thomas Worthington was born in Liverpool on the 18th April 1920. He was a member of 7 Column on Operation Longcloth and was allocated to Lt. Trigg's dispersal group in early April 1943. Thomas became exhausted during the march out towards the Chinese borders and fell out of the line of march near the Kachin village of Panghok around the 3rd May. He was captured by the Japanese on the 28th June and spent the next two years as a prisoner inside Block 6 of Rangoon Jail. Thomas was liberated on the 29th April 1945 and returned home to Liverpool. After the war, he assisted the Army Investigation Bureau in their quest to discover what had happened to many of the Chindit casualties from Operation Longcloth. Sadly, Thomas died in Fazakerley Hospital (Liverpool) from pneumonia on 6th March 1949. To read more about his story, please click on the following link: Tom Worthington's Letter
4278348 Lance Corporal Gerald Desmond was born in Dublin in 1917 and was formerly a soldier with the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. Gerald was a commando with 5 Column on Operation Longcloth, but was separated from the column after the battle at Hintha on the 28th March 1943. He was allocated to the dispersal party led by Lt. Trigg, but was one of the men who chose to leave this group with L/Cpl. Hunt and the other men on the 8th April. Gerald was captured by the Japanese on the 14th April and spent the next two years as a prisoner of war. He was liberated alongside 400 other POW's from Rangoon Jail at a village named Waw on the 29th April 1945. Gerald worked hard after the war to assist the Army Investigation Bureau, as they attempted to piece together what had happened to the many Chindit casualties. To read more about this soldier, please click on the following link: Lance Corporal Gerald Desmond
Bossom the Cockney. This last soldier was a member of Lt. Trigg's dispersal party and probably a commando from No. 7 Column on Operation Longcloth. He is mentioned only once in a diary entry for April 1943 and nothing more is known about this man. Looking through the Burma Star Association memberships, which are now available on line, I found this entry:
Ralph Percy Bossomair a Royal Artillery Gunner from Lewisham in southeast London. Could this be Bossom the Cockney? I guess we will never know.
To read more about Pte. Peace, please click on the following link: DLI Commandos
4462834 Pte. Stephen O'Connor was originally with 5 Column Commando on Operation Longcloth. He was one of the 100 or so men from this column to be separated from the main body of Major Fergusson's force on the 29th March 1943, after a battle with the Japanese at a place called Hintha. He later joined up with 7 Column, but chose to leave Lt. Trigg's dispersal party alongside L/Cpl. Sidney Hunt on the 8th April and was captured by the Japanese on the 4th May. Stephen survived his time as a prisoner of war and was liberated on the 29th April 1945 at the Burmese village of Waw.
3779560 Pte. Thomas Worthington was born in Liverpool on the 18th April 1920. He was a member of 7 Column on Operation Longcloth and was allocated to Lt. Trigg's dispersal group in early April 1943. Thomas became exhausted during the march out towards the Chinese borders and fell out of the line of march near the Kachin village of Panghok around the 3rd May. He was captured by the Japanese on the 28th June and spent the next two years as a prisoner inside Block 6 of Rangoon Jail. Thomas was liberated on the 29th April 1945 and returned home to Liverpool. After the war, he assisted the Army Investigation Bureau in their quest to discover what had happened to many of the Chindit casualties from Operation Longcloth. Sadly, Thomas died in Fazakerley Hospital (Liverpool) from pneumonia on 6th March 1949. To read more about his story, please click on the following link: Tom Worthington's Letter
4278348 Lance Corporal Gerald Desmond was born in Dublin in 1917 and was formerly a soldier with the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. Gerald was a commando with 5 Column on Operation Longcloth, but was separated from the column after the battle at Hintha on the 28th March 1943. He was allocated to the dispersal party led by Lt. Trigg, but was one of the men who chose to leave this group with L/Cpl. Hunt and the other men on the 8th April. Gerald was captured by the Japanese on the 14th April and spent the next two years as a prisoner of war. He was liberated alongside 400 other POW's from Rangoon Jail at a village named Waw on the 29th April 1945. Gerald worked hard after the war to assist the Army Investigation Bureau, as they attempted to piece together what had happened to the many Chindit casualties. To read more about this soldier, please click on the following link: Lance Corporal Gerald Desmond
Bossom the Cockney. This last soldier was a member of Lt. Trigg's dispersal party and probably a commando from No. 7 Column on Operation Longcloth. He is mentioned only once in a diary entry for April 1943 and nothing more is known about this man. Looking through the Burma Star Association memberships, which are now available on line, I found this entry:
Ralph Percy Bossomair a Royal Artillery Gunner from Lewisham in southeast London. Could this be Bossom the Cockney? I guess we will never know.
Some paperwork and medals belonging to John Hubert Trigg. These were seen for sale on line in 2011.
The silk escape map reputedly belonging to Lt. Trigg on Operation Longcloth.
On the 10th May 1947, a supplement to the London Gazette announced that 2nd Lieutenant (War Substantive Captain) John Hubert Trigg, was to move from his status of Emergency Commission (WW2) to that of full Lieutenant, with seniority from the 1st October 1941.
In September 2009, some of John Trigg's WW2 militaria came up for sale on eBay. The auction was separated into four lots: his RAF escape map, issued to all Chindit officers before the expedition in 1943, some papers and letters, including a M.I.D. certificate, some miniature medals, including a Burma Star medal and an album of photographs depicting his career in both the British and Indian Armies. All four lots sold for substantial sums of money. Some two years later in August 2011, other items appeared for sale. On this occasion they included a greater number of personal letters, photographs and paperwork pertaining to Lt. Trigg's service during WW2. Added to this were a set of full-sized medals which included the Italy Star, but no Burma Star medal and a medal ribbon bar. Once again the lot included a M.I.D. certificate, this time presented in a brown wooden frame. Sadly, on neither occasion was I in a strong enough financial position to bid on any of these items.
John Hubert Trigg passed away in 2002, his death was registered at Eastbourne in the county of Sussex, he was 84 years old. In September 2018, I received a contact email via the Chindit Society from Elizabeth Veitch, the daughter of John Trigg:
I have just found details about my father on your website, his name was John Hubert Trigg, but was known to his family as Tim. My Dad did not talk about his wartime experiences, which seems very common and so the information you have put together is very interesting for my brother and I to see. Dad was a lovely gentle man who possessed a great sense of humour and a passion for chocolate. My late mother's paperwork is kept in boxes at my house, so I will take a look through to see if there is anything which might be of interest to the Chindit Society and the website. Best Regards, Liz Veitch.
Copyright © Steve Fogden, September 2017.
In September 2009, some of John Trigg's WW2 militaria came up for sale on eBay. The auction was separated into four lots: his RAF escape map, issued to all Chindit officers before the expedition in 1943, some papers and letters, including a M.I.D. certificate, some miniature medals, including a Burma Star medal and an album of photographs depicting his career in both the British and Indian Armies. All four lots sold for substantial sums of money. Some two years later in August 2011, other items appeared for sale. On this occasion they included a greater number of personal letters, photographs and paperwork pertaining to Lt. Trigg's service during WW2. Added to this were a set of full-sized medals which included the Italy Star, but no Burma Star medal and a medal ribbon bar. Once again the lot included a M.I.D. certificate, this time presented in a brown wooden frame. Sadly, on neither occasion was I in a strong enough financial position to bid on any of these items.
John Hubert Trigg passed away in 2002, his death was registered at Eastbourne in the county of Sussex, he was 84 years old. In September 2018, I received a contact email via the Chindit Society from Elizabeth Veitch, the daughter of John Trigg:
I have just found details about my father on your website, his name was John Hubert Trigg, but was known to his family as Tim. My Dad did not talk about his wartime experiences, which seems very common and so the information you have put together is very interesting for my brother and I to see. Dad was a lovely gentle man who possessed a great sense of humour and a passion for chocolate. My late mother's paperwork is kept in boxes at my house, so I will take a look through to see if there is anything which might be of interest to the Chindit Society and the website. Best Regards, Liz Veitch.
Copyright © Steve Fogden, September 2017.