Hello from sgt petts - Page 2

Kyt · 07-10-2007, 01:48 PM

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.

sgt petts · 07-10-2007, 04:45 PM

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.

Kyt · 07-10-2007, 04:59 PM

Oww, goodie - recommending books is my favourite hobby

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.

sgt petts · 07-10-2007, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyt

Oww, goodie - recommending books is my favourite hobby

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

sgt petts

Antipodean Andy · 07-10-2007, 11:28 PM

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:
Squadron Leader Terry O'Brien RIP

Kitty · 08-10-2007, 10:53 AM

Karen, you have made a fatal mistake now. Your bank manager will never forgive you. And your card will look positively annorexic.

Antipodean Andy · 08-10-2007, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitty

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!

sgt petts · 08-10-2007, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitty

Karen, you have made a fatal mistake now. Your bank manager will never forgive you. And your card will look positively annorexic.

Hubby's card

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.

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.

Antipodean Andy · 08-10-2007, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgt petts

Hubby's card

I only have one WW2 book in my library so I need lots more, it's all WW1 so far.

We can certainly help there!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgt petts

Has anyone sent of for their fathers/grandfathers army records?

One of these days I've got to get Grandfather, Great Great Uncles, Grandfather-in-law etc etc!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgt petts

PS Andy have you been to Gallipoli?

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.

Kyt · 08-10-2007, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgt petts

Hubby's card

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.

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.

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/Fourtee...ted_Kingdom%29

That should keep you busy for an afternoon or two