Commando Veterans Forum

Does anybody recognise anybody here. I'm trying to find out more about my father's time in the SBS in Burma during WW2. He is Lt F.N.Best and is in the far right at the back on the top two photos, in the middle right and bottom left photo.
The top two are at a place called Teknaf and the middle left is just before a trip down the Ganga. Would really like to hear from anyone.

I have some more information about my Dad after spending hours rooting round in his old metal trunk found in the back of my mum's wardrobe . This contains all sorts ; his beret, staff, sam browne, exercise reports, operation reports, instructions, sketches of possible enemy positions, postings, call up papers, release papers.
He was on operation with SBS C Group as part of the 15th Indian Corps between 29th Dec 1945 and 20 May 1945 and carried out reconnaissance missions on the Arakan coast in Burma ( now known as Rakhine State

.

There are a couple of operation reports " Catwhisker " and " Corona " .

Operation ' Corona ' was to prevent the enemy escaping via Chaung .

One report talks about local men being taken away by the Japanese for labour and if they didn't go their wives and children would be taken.

Previous to this I think he carried out training exercises from Hammenhiel Camp, Jaffna, Ceylon. There is one particular amusing report where Lt Best is reported to have answered in an unknown foreign language when challenged by a bridge sentry. I know this because he told me what he said ;
" 1H, 1E, 1R,1E , 1F, 1O, 1R, 1D Banana ". if I try to say this quickly I can't recognise the language either !

His colleagues in C Group were :
Major R P Livingstone, Captain J B Sherwood, Lieut S T Weatherall, Sgt L Bates, Sgt S R Smith, Sgt H H V Penn, Sgt D L Roberts, Cpl R W Moore, Cpl R E Lovell, Cpl E C Palmer, Cpl J Summers, Cpl H Smithson,
Cpl I Lawson, Cpl D C Toogood, Cpl D S Burns, Cpl M Smithson,
Cpl F Swain, Cpl F Swain, Cpl H Wright, L/Cpl McKenzie, Pt R Bridges and Pt A Britain.

I have a 10 rupee note signed by some. His partner was Cpl Toogood who I understand has a daughter Bonny Mary Ann Toogood.

Would be fascinated to hear from anyone who is familiar with any of this.

I meant to attach some files. I have alot more of this but don't know whether this is of interest.
Bill

Hi Bill

I have put a link here on this message to your original forum post so that others are aware of the information on there :

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/1192.page

Also at the time of your original post in November we had a problem on the forum and gallery and as a result your pictures could not display. I have broken down the collage you sent to individual pictures and hopefully they will display here

and some more of your pictures

and finally the collage picture which did not display on this message and the group picture

Just had a look at the book Commandos and Rangers of WW2 by James Ladd and on page 213 there is a picture of Stan Weatherall of C Group SBS whom you mentioned, and a little bit about their raid on Law's island. The only other name mentioned from your list above was that of a Captain Livingstone.

Hope others find more for you

Does anyone have or know how to get hold of detailed maps of the Arakan Coast, Burma with all the wartime names and spellings. A trip to Stanfords in London is my first thought. Its so I can tie up the names on Dad's reports with the actual places .

I don't know if these maps will be detailed enought for your requirements, however they are contemporary versions which were produced in 1946 and published as fold out supplements to the Sep 1946 souvenir edition of the The Third Jungle Book. This was a regular publication produced by men of 3 Commando Brigade which was comprised of No's 1 & 5 Army Commandos and 42 and 44 RM Commandos, as you can see the maps are only a hand written, but they may be of some interest. Unfortunately one of them is too large to fit on the platen of my scanner, however if you would like a full sized copy of both maps I would be more than happy to run these off and post them out to you.

Cheers Andy

Check out the book I referred to in my previous message which has a detailed map and index of the principal raids and operations by Special Forces in that area

Thanks for the maps Andy and thanks for the offer to send the copies . I will check all the places against my dad's reports and notes. The maps are clear so unless you have other information there would be no need to send these.
Thanks
Bill

Hi Bill,

I believe my grandfather, E.L. 'Dick' Palmer, Army Number 6216113, Royal Ulster Rifles attached to 6 Special Boat Group, No 2 SBS, served with your Father in Burma.

He is the blond haired soldier seated in the front row on the extreme right of your picture 'Dad in Burma 1', next to the soldier in the cap comforter and is one of the signatories on your rupee note.

I believe both men were part of 'C' Group, Small Operations Group serving in Ceylon and Burma in 1944 and 1945, under the command of Major Livingstone.

My grandfather was killed in a blue on blue returning from an operation on Ramree island on the 8th of February 1945.

I have several pictures and letters from the time, all of which I can scan and upload if they are of interest.

unidentifiedbones wrote:

Hi Bill,

I believe my grandfather, E.L. 'Dick' Palmer, Army Number 6216113, Royal Ulster Rifles attached to 6 Special Boat Group, No 2 SBS, served with your Father in Burma.

My grandfather was killed in a blue on blue returning from an operation on Ramree island on the 8th of February 1945.

I have several pictures and letters from the time, all of which I can scan and upload if they are of interest.

Hi unidentifiedbones,
Welcome to the CVA.

I'm sorry to hear your grandfather was killed as a result of a blue on blue ('friendly' fire) incident.
I'm guessing you've already seen the CWGC records on your grandfather?
If not follow this link:

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2262111

with regard your photos and letters, yes they certainly are of interest, I'd certainly be pleased to see them.

regards,
Nick

Hello unidentifiedbones
Yes I would be very interested in any information no matter how insignificant it may appear. The smallest fragment can sometimes put someone in a time and a place .
Thanks for getting in touch. I will certainly dig around and see if your grandfather's name is mentioned in any of dad's documents but I don't recall his name. I do know dad's partner in his canoe was Cpl Toogood but I haven't put a name to a photo yet.
What your information tells me is that sometime before 5th Feb 1945 'C' Group all signed the 10 rupee note.
Why did they do this ? Did everyone sign one for each other ? Was this just before an operation ? It clearly wasn't as I had thought this was something they'd all signed before parting company at the end of the war.
What I do know is that dad took part in an operation called 'Op Corona' between the 5th and 10th Feb 1945 which was to prevent the enemy escaping via Chaung. You can see dad's report downloaded in my 3rd message if you scroll up. Your grandfather was more than likely part of this operation.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Bill

Hi Bill,

Yes, if you look at the dates of your father's report, it looks very much as if my grandfather was killed in the course of the operation described therein.

Cpl Toogood's name appears in a letter of condolence written and signed by unit members addressed to my Grandmama.

Do you know if it is possible to directly upload files to this site?

If so, I will scan and upload what I have here.

I'm working at the moment, so will try to do something this evening if I get home soon enough.