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The Burma War 54 years on
Reminiscences of 1945 from two members of B Company, 2nd Battalion the Royal Berkshire Regiment in 1999.
by Col LJL Hill, MC
Written and donated by
The Sphinx And Dragon Regimental Journal
.....In October 1999
I was in my Dorset garden when my ever-present mobile phone bleeped. Still
holding a trowel in my left hand, I answered the phone. This is Leslie Whittingham-Jones
from South Africa,' said the voice. 'Who did you say you were?' said I, remembering
only one such name from the Burma war years. 'Your platoon commander in B Company – Whittingham-Jones,'
came the reply. I dropped the trowel! Almost unbelievable after 54 years to
hear his voice. 'I'll be over next week, can we meet?' Fantastic, yet it all
happened just the other day!
.....One week later Leslie Whittingham-Jones, who retired to South Africa to
live in Johannesburg, met me on Poole station. There was no need of the large
Burma book I carried for us to recognise each other, much to the interest of
several passengers on the platform, as we shook hands warmly. He was the same
as ever. The Leslie Whitlingham-Jones who earned himself a mention in despatches
- and deserved more. He and I spent five spirited hours recounting all the
down to earth experience of his engagement with the Japanese in the torrid
heat and mosquito ridden plains of central Burma.
.....To illustrate just one example of the dedication and gallantry of 'ordinary'
soldiers there follows an, as yet unpublished, account of a patrol led by Leslie
Whittingham-Jones which included Pte Ken Wells, 40 miles north of Manualay
on he banks of the Irrawaddy River.
.....Ken Wells is also alive and well and living in Sussex. Let this account
entitled 'Muddy Waters' speak for itself in illustrating the dedication and
pluck of those who took part in so many similar patrols rewarded by Duty done
in the interests of all. Leslie Whittingham-Jones returned to South Africa
and I to my garden. Each of us the better for reliving some memorable times.
After a superb lunch, hosted by W-J, I asked him if he had enjoyed it. 'Yes,'
he said. 'Very much indeed!' I noticed he had eaten hardly anything! For my
part - where was that trowel?!
.....This contribution to the history of one part of the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment re-emphasises - if emphasis is needed-how
regiments of infantry thrive on the dedication to duty and service by junior
ranks and private soldiers down the years and now on into the peacekeeping
roles of the future.
.....Someone said 'Old soldiers never die.'
How right they were and are.
The Sphinx And Dragon