Lt F.N. Best SBS Operations in Burma in WW2

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 05/04/2013 18:00:43

I'm looking for help. My father was in the SBS during WW2 and was based in Sri Lanka and later Burma and undertook operations behind enemy lines in canoes.
Sadly he died in 1986 and he never spoke about what he did or what operations he took part in or how he felt about these.
I don't know which unit he was in and would really like to know more about what he did and whether there are people who can remember him and can tell me a bit more about his life.
His name was Frederick Norman Best and held the rank of Lieutenant and later Captain after the war.
I would really like to hear from anyone who new him, unfortunately I don't know which unit he was in and don't know how to find this out.

Hello Bill

Welcome to the CVA forums where I hope between us we can assist you in your research.

I have listed on my research documents the following operations for the SBS in Burma:

1944:Nov 15/16 Op/ Profit Recce of Ugachaung

Nov 20/21 Op/Pitting Donbaik Area Burma

Nov 23/24 Op/Pitting2 Recce Alethangyaw Burma

Nov 25/26 Op/Concert Recce Indin Area Burma

Dec 2/3 Op/Hurry Recce Indin Area

Dec 15/16 Op/Barbarism Recce Indin Area

Also a book you may find helpful is:

SBS in World War Two

The Story of the original Special Boat Section of the Army Commandos.
By G B Courtney
Pub:Robert Hale 1983

Hope this is helpful and good luck with your research.

Please post back in the forums anything new you turn up.

Best regards

John M
CVA Research Group

Thanks John
How do you get hold of the research documents you mention. I really need to find out which unit my dad was in so I can focus the search. Is there a way of doing this?
thanks
Bill

Here are some photos. He is at the back on the top two photos and in the middle right and bottom left. The top photos were taken at a place called Teknaf and the middle left before a trip down the Ganga

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 12/11/2009 16:45:24

Hello Bill

The documents are the results of my own research over the last 8 years or so.

I was fortunate as when I started there were a few more original sources (Commandos) around.

Originaly called the Folboat Section then renamed 1st SBS attached to Layforce with 7,8 and 11 Cdo

101 troop of 6 Commando helped form the original 2 SBS and also some officers from other units were instrumental in its formation.

What would really help is your fathers original Regiment as all WW2 commandos were 'attached' to the Cdo units from their parent regiment.

If you can find out his Regiment you could then apply for his service record which may hold some answers.

Hope this helps a bit more.
Good luck

John M

Bill Best wrote:Here are some photos. He is at the back on the top two photos and in the middle right and bottom left. The top photos were taken at a place called Teknaf and the middle left before a trip down the Ganga

Hi

ref your search..... some of the information you need can be found in 'The Cockleshell Canoes' which is brimming with info of where he was etc and what they got up to... Some of the photos seem very familiar and likely to have been taken at Hammenheil camp.. ( also in book). Also something can be understood when you loke at the canoes used in one of the other photos which are the Mk 1** canoes. small details like this will add to your knowledge pay attention to the Bibliography as this will assist. To get to know about Lt Best himself is going to be a much harder task but may be made easier by the threads found elsewhere. I know of a number of other groups inc sbs in the area and at the same camp.. THEY did NOT talk much to each other, indeed friends often did not know they were stationed in the same place! if require further help email me.. PS i am the author of book.

Are you sure he was in the SBS at the time rather than in another detachment?
even the smallest of detail can reveal a thread to take you on to the next thread.
you may also find inaccuracies within publications or elsewhere.. Anything written by those that were there tend to be spot on.. but they only deal with the immediate knowledge which may not cover what you are after..

its a bit like saying all canoes are folbots .. the name is given by people who dont know the history ..

Q

Hello Q

Nice to have a man such as you aboard the forums.

Your book is fantastic and I can recommend it to anyone who wants to further their knowledge of these specialist vessels.

Congrats on your publication.

Best regards
John m

John M wrote:Hello Q

Nice to have a man such as you aboard the forums.

Your book is fantastic and I can recommend it to anyone who wants to further their knowledge of these specialist vessels.

Congrats on your publication.

Best regards
John m

Hi John.. Thanks for the accolade... glad you liked it... 8 years research and a constant winter full time writing it...! out of interest did you hear about it from the Navy news review in may 09 or somewhere else?

The mk 2's is the important bit as it clears up all the (small amount of ) rubbish previously written.

next book being written as we speak!

Q

Q

This message was edited 6 times. Last update was at 19/02/2012 19:33:04

Bill mentions a place called Teknaf and this location is mentioned in the Combined Operations History of No.5 Cdo and some other units. Here is one small section of that article about 5 Cdo "Their sojourn in Ceylon was short lived. Brigade staff flew to Urma at the end of September 1944 to plan a further operation in Arakan with XV Indian Corp. No.3 SS Commando Brigade moved to Teknaf, via Calcutta and Chittagong, to participate the planned operations. They were joined by the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) who operated against a number of coastal and offshore island targets using small craft including canoes, inflatable boats, paddle boards and swimmers." The whole article can be read on this link :
http://www.combinedops.com/No%205%20Commando.htm
At the present time Bill's pictures cannot display on the forum although can be downloaded. I have attached a couple here of Bill's father for people to download and will include them all when the forum fault is fixed

Thanks for all the replies.
I have some more information. I have a reference " SBS C Group - Small Operations Unit ; Ceylon and Burma 1944-45 " which Dad was in.
His commanding officers were Major R.P.Livingston and Capt J.B.Sherwood.
He joined the Royal Artillery to begin with and certainly trained at Topsham barracks in Devon.
He had always told me the reason that he was sent overseas was because at an inspection a fire bucket handle wasn't straight.
I don't really believe that anyone would be sent out into the jungle in a canoe because of a bent fire bucket handle ! I could be wrong !
Bill

Hi Bill

Dad never did say anything to me either about the war except when Monty said to him - did he come here to die ? and dad replied No I came here yesterdie

No help there then.

Your sister
kim x