Genealogy Chat

WW2, Argylls, Commandoes, Burma, desertion, ozzies, commendation- help needed I have just been told the story that my uncle Jack joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in WW2. He became a Commando and fought in Burma but apparently he went awol and joined the Australian troops; whether this was in Burma or not I don’t know. He was commended at some point, for bravery I presume, and his previous peccadillo was quietly shoved under the carpet. I’ve googled the Argylls but got a bit lost between Regiments and Battalions. How can I find his service records as I have only his name and birth-date. I will have to leave PC for a while and will return later. Rita

See below RIta

With only his name and birth date you have no way of getting his service record. Basically he could have become a Commando by volunteering from the Argylls. Army Commandos fought in Burma. I'm not sure if the Cdos fought alongside the Aussies in Burma - I don't think so. If he as in the Australian forces and they did not know he was AWOL from the British Army then there would not be a question of 'brushing it under the carpet' How he got there sounds like the start of a very interesting story. Good luck with it. Regards Keith

Rita, If he was in the Australian Defence force, you can obtain his records on http://www(.)ww2roll(.)gov.au You can search by name and knowing his birth will quicken the process. You will then be able to obtain the following info. Name Service Service Number Date of Birth Place of Birth Date of Enlistment Locality on Enlistment Place of Enlistment Next of Kin Date of Discharge Rank Posting at Discharge WW2 Honours and Gallantry Prisoner of War there is a link to request a full service record from the National Archives of Australia Hope this helps Helen

Hi Keith and Helen - My abject apologies for such a delayed acknowledgement to your responses. Keith - I agree with you that is must be an interesting story but I don't know how on earth I can unravel it. I remember uncle Jack as being a quiet and inoffensive man but I was told recently that he had an explosive temper which surprised me somewhat as it was his wife who was the 'kill 'em and eat 'em' type. Perhaps his temper got the better of him and his departure from his unit was as unofficial as his joining the Ozzies. After the war he and aunt Nell opening a cafe in South London called The Commando Cafe but I don't know whether this was before or after he lost a leg in a dock-side accident. My sister remembers a day when she was in a pub run by Jack and Nell when a man came in seeking uncle Jack and thanked him for saving his life. Apparently Jack just shrugged and carried on drying a pint glass. Helen - I have searched that web site but can't find my partiular John Collins so I assume that he was a fellow traveller with the Ozzies rather than an an official member. But thanks for your suggestion, anyway. Regards RIta

Go to the website regiments.org and you will be able to find out plenty about the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.

Thanks Paul Regards Rita