'Forgotten army': UK Burma vets

Subject: 'Forgotten army': UK Burma vets
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 10:55 AM

I'm posting this 'cause I don't want the "forgotten army" to be forgotten.
From the Wolverhampton Express & Star today:
Forgotten army final march fear
By Dan Slee
War veterans from the "forgotten army" are to stage what could prove to be their last parade.

More than a dozen old soldiers from across the Black Country who served in the bloody Burma campaign during the Second World War will parade along High Street, West Bromwich.

Organisers say it could be the final chance for members of the West Bromwich Burma Star Association to remember VJ Day.

Dwindling numbers and illness among members has prompted a review of the parade.

Mrs May King, secretary of the West Bromwich Burma Star Association, said: "We shall be meeting shortly to see if this is the last parade. We're not 100 per cent but it's more than likely it will be the last time."

Mrs King, of Elm Close, Gornal Wood, Dudley, said Pacific Star medal holders, ex-servicemen and other uniformed groups are invited.

The march starts from the Lidl supermarket car park in High Street at 10.30am on Sunday August 19.

The ex-servicemen then parade along High Street for a service at 11.15am at St Andrews Church in Dudley Street, Carters Green.

The congregation is then invited back to the West Bromwich Working Men's Club in Dudley Street for a reception from 12.30pm.

The Burma campaign started in earnest in 1942 following the Japanese invasion. Allied soldiers retreated more than 1,000 miles through dense jungle, constantly harried by the enemy.

The Japanese advance was turned back on the border with India by one million troops, dubbed the "forgotten army", who then beat back their enemy.

More than 200,000 Allied casualties were recorded during the campaign.

The Burma Star was awarded to servicemen who took part in the campaign.

Anyone interested in attending the parade can call Mrs May King on 01384 832803.

(Express&Star)

Not that I expect many Catters to join this march, but there will be others near you if you're interested. And there are songs on the subject, if you want to make it officially a music thread.

Steve

Subject: RE: 'Forgotten army': UK Burma vets
From: Peter T.
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 11:05 AM

They may have been dubbed the "forgotten army" but I doubt they were much forgotten, except by the ignorant. There were all kinds of campaigns like that (we are talking about a World War here) -- talk to the Merchant Navy sometime about being forgotten. Both my uncles served for years in Burma, god help them, and they never once bitched about being forgotten -- they bitched about Burma! Not trying to start an argument, glad they are still having parades.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: More info
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 11:45 AM

Well, the 14th Army seems to be well-remembered on the Net: try "forgotten army" burma on Google for books, press articles and personal memoirs. As well as British troops, there were Indian and African soldiers too, who are probably even more forgotten.

I think "forgotten" comes from the time when Britain was celebrating Victory in Europe, and the only ones who weren't celebrating were those with men still fighting the Japanese. I think it's the fate of far-away wars to fade from the public consciousness back home; ther were no Japanese bombers to remind us in Coventry or Liverpool.

Steve

Subject: RE: 'Forgotten army': UK Burma vets
From: Little Hawk
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 12:05 PM

Yes, that was a very tough campaign.

- LH

Subject: RE: 'Forgotten army': UK Burma vets
From: smallpiper
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 12:13 PM

The guy who taught me to play the pipes was in Burma wounded twice and still came through - I won't forget them

Subject: RE: 'Forgotten army': UK Burma vets
From: The Walrus at work
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 01:24 PM

I would recommend a book to 'Catters, "Quartered Safe Out Here" by George MacDonald fraser (Yes, the "Flashman" chap), it's an account of his (admittedly shortish) time with the Border Regiment as part of the "Black Cat" Division in Burma (before being posted awat for a WOSB & a commission). The book has the advantage of being an account of an ordinary infantry section's experience of the war written by someone with a gift for words (and an honest approach to subjects such as the Atomic Bomb).

I think the term "Forgotten Army" predates VE Day, IIRC it comes from either D-Day or the earlier "Western Desert" battles whan all the attention (and most of the resources) seemed (to the men of the 14th Army) to be concentrated on these campaigns.

Regards

Walrus

Subject: RE: 'Forgotten army': UK Burma vets
From: DougR
Date: 09 Aug 01 - 01:28 PM

Steve: I think you summed it up with very few words.

DougR

Subject: RE: 'Forgotten army': UK Burma vets
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 10 Aug 01 - 04:18 AM

My Dad was always narked that, after being in Burma and subsequently various parts of India for however long, he found that on V-J day he was transferred to the Indian Army and thus was not eligible for demobilisation. He finally returned in 1948 after 6 years of war service, not including his 2½ years' drafted labour for Daimler in Coventry, but including 2 years spent policing Calcutta during partition, when enlisted men like him were not issued with ammunition. Sheesh, to paraphrase our colonial friends.