Burma Star Association - B.C. Chapter
I had many and varied experiences, but nothing that was of great note. During the blitz I served in the A.A. Artillery on Merseyside which was interesting and hectic at times.
Then I moved south to the A.A. defence of airfields, most notably Duxford which is now an American Museum. A further move took me to West Raynham where Blenheims were the main aircraft in use.
I did my mobile training with Bofors 40mm and finally sailed for India early in 1942. It seemed that the ‘powers that be’ were not certain what our role was to be. The Japs had overrun Burma by then.
At a place called Visagapatam on the east coast of India we had a rather unusual experience.
Evidently the Japs had taken some Catalina aircraft at the fall of Singapore and one afternoon a Catalina flew in from over the bay. A trigger happy detachment on the harbour let fly several rounds. Evidently the pilot gave the wrong recognition colours and all hell broke loose. But, to cut a long story short, all the flack that was sent up did no damage and the aircraft sent out the correct colours and proceeded south to his base at Madras.
Finally I was sent to Dimapur in Assam, then on through Kohima into the Chindwin area. From there I continued down to Rangoon after being involved in various engagements. Then I continued to Swebo - across the Irrawaddy – to the siege and fall of Mandalay. Toungoo was next and I was heading up the Mawchi Road into Siam when ‘the bomb’ was dropped - it was all over.
They were interesting times, the memories of which seem to become clearer as the years go by – but most of the good ones are predominant.