Kind, Noel Lancaster (Oral history)

British officer served with 1/3rd Gurkha Rifles in India and Burma, 1940-1945

REEL 1 Background in London and Kenton, 1921-1939: family; education; joining Honourable Artillery Company, 1939. Memories of brief period with York and Lancaster Regt. Recollections of voyage from GB to India aboard City of Exeter, 1940: embarking at Liverpool, 10/1940; German Air Force attacks on convoy in Atlantic; use of guns to protect convoy; conditions on board ship during Atlantic storm; ports visited. Recollections of period as officer with 3rd Gurkha in India, 1940-1942: initial impressions of Bombay; rail journey across India; arrival at 3rd Gurkha Depot, Lansdowne; importance of dinner jacket for mess dinner, 12/1940; posting to Agra, 1941; postings to Delhi and Quetta; desert training at Sibi; amusing mishap with regimental thunderbox in Sibi desert; move to Ranchi for jungle training. Recollections of operations with 1/3rd Gurkha Rifles in India and Burma, 1942-1943: drafting to unit. REEL 2 Continues: arrival at Manipur Road, 1942; sight of stragglers and refugees; move to Gauhati; celebration of his twenty first birthday, 1/8/1942; re- forming of unit at Kohima; patrol in Kabaw Valley; march to Imphal from Kohima; road building on Tiddim Road; sight of Japanese build up near Milestone 52 in Tiddim area; cutting off of his unit at Milestone 52; destruction of artillery before withdrawal; withdrawal from Milestone 52; rescue of office mule by Gurkhas from down khud side; bayonet charge by unit on Japanese during raid on hill near Milestone 52. Aspects of wounding and medical evacuation to India, 10/1943-5/1944: wounding by grenade, 10/1943; evacuation by stretcher jeep. REEL 3 Continues: character of wounds; medical treatment he received; recuperation at Dehra Dun. Recollections of operations as officer with 1/3rd Gurkha Rifles in Burma, 5/1944-6/1944: return to unit, 5/1944; move up Silchar Track and capture of hill after Japanese withdrawal; capture of Banana Ridge; appearance of Potsambang; morale of British troops; concern about Japanese tank presence; withdrawal of unit to Ranchi, India. Recollections of operations as commanding officer of C Coy, 1/3rd Gurkha Rifles, 99 Bde in Burma, 1945: flying into Meiktila from Imphal; role defending air bridgehead at Meiktila; Japanese use of artillery in sniping role; actions in Meiktila area; dislodging Japanese forces from nullahs at Meiktila; advance on Pyawbwe; promotion to second in command of battalion. REEL 4 Continues: unit screen to deal with Japanese at Yindaw; role as second in command towards end of campaign; performance of his Gurkhas.