We have received a few requests from the general public who have asked to add their family veterans details to our site as a way to remember and honour their service for the British and Commonwealth armies who fought during the Burma Campaign of WW2.
If you would like a relative added to these pages please forward a photograph and as much detail about their service as you can, along with your name and any dedication you may
wish to have included.
These can be sent to us through the contacts page:
If you would like a relative added to these pages please forward a photograph and as much detail about their service as you can, along with your name and any dedication you may
wish to have included.
These can be sent to us through the contacts page:
S/Sgt Douglas Arthur Bailey
S/Sgt Bailey was called up in 1941 and began his service as Private 10548168 where he was posted to REME at Cambridge barracks in Woolwich for his initiaL 6 week training. A series of short training postings to Ashby De La Zouch and Warminster led him back to Nottingham for a three month Vehicle fitters course. The then Private Bailey found this very fortunate as his family home was in Carrington, Nottingham.This was followed by a posting to Blandford camp in Dorset until the summer of 1943.
Private Bailey was to be transferred to join the Kings African Rifles in East Africa. He boarded the Arundel Caste (Part of the Union Castle line- http://smmlonline.com/articles/arundelcastle/arundelcastle.html ) and set sail for Africa. The convoy was attacked by German & Italian planes whilst in the Mediterranian, many of the troops on board including Private Bailey suffered serious hearing problems from the noise of the anti-aircraft guns. The convoy arrived in Nairobi, Kenya after negotiating the Suez Canal where private Bailey amongst others was immediately hospitalised due to burst eardrums.
Upon his recovery he was posted to the Northern Rhodesia Regiment ( possibly the 5th?) as a vehicle fitter \ mechanic. He, like many of his colleagues got into trouble a few times for mixing with the native troops during off duty moments and sharing rations & fags. This was met with the obligatory "Yes Sir - No Sir - Three bags full Sir" approach followed by carrying on as normal once backs were turned.
Towards the end of 1943 he was posted with the regiment to Ceylon to undergo further trainign before entering Burma, he was admitted to hospital once again with ear trouble followed by contracting Malaria whilst posted to the Chittagong.
On his recovery Mr Baileywas posted to # 6 East African Workshops on Ramree Island. He and his unit were flown to Rangoon where they set up camp amongst the Rubber tree plantation, reffered to on the SEAC radio as "The boys in the rubber trees". During his period in the burma theatre he was also detached for a short period to Siam where again they set up camp and carried out repairs & checks on captured Japanese transports.
Private Bailey had worked his way through the ranks to become Staff Sergeant Bailey, although as he puts it he never saw any combat although he and his mates did have a few close shaves. Amongst his memories are those of the local wildlife including giant spiders,centipedes & millipedes, ants that would chew just about everything, leeches "Particularly the Leeches"; overflowing latrines during the monsoons and the taste of tea after using the purification tablets. Being a mechanic, S\Sgt Bailey enjoyed transport and liked to tinker with things, his favourite "taxi" was a Bren Gun carrier that he had twiddled with that used to go like a rocket.
SSgt Bailey returned with his unit back to Kenya where he continued to serve until his number finally came up in 1946, he would once agin board the Arundel Castle for a return trip back home to Blighty arriving at Southampton dock on August bank holiday. SSgt Bailey returned to his home in Nottingham where he found work as a conductor \ bus driver with Notticham Corporation Transport until his retirement in 1984.
Some of S/Sgt Baileys mates- Tommy Thomas; Eric Graham; Dick Arthur (best friend during and after the war); Jack Cole;Joe Davis; Jock Morrow; Jack Sharp; Alec Peden; Howard Wright; Bill Neale; "Bunny Austin"; Jack Fletcher; C J Patterson; Tich, & William an East African.
Our thanks to SSgt Bailey and to his son Phillip & family for sharing his stories and photographs with us.
S/Sgt Bailey was called up in 1941 and began his service as Private 10548168 where he was posted to REME at Cambridge barracks in Woolwich for his initiaL 6 week training. A series of short training postings to Ashby De La Zouch and Warminster led him back to Nottingham for a three month Vehicle fitters course. The then Private Bailey found this very fortunate as his family home was in Carrington, Nottingham.This was followed by a posting to Blandford camp in Dorset until the summer of 1943.
Private Bailey was to be transferred to join the Kings African Rifles in East Africa. He boarded the Arundel Caste (Part of the Union Castle line- http://smmlonline.com/articles/arundelcastle/arundelcastle.html ) and set sail for Africa. The convoy was attacked by German & Italian planes whilst in the Mediterranian, many of the troops on board including Private Bailey suffered serious hearing problems from the noise of the anti-aircraft guns. The convoy arrived in Nairobi, Kenya after negotiating the Suez Canal where private Bailey amongst others was immediately hospitalised due to burst eardrums.
Upon his recovery he was posted to the Northern Rhodesia Regiment ( possibly the 5th?) as a vehicle fitter \ mechanic. He, like many of his colleagues got into trouble a few times for mixing with the native troops during off duty moments and sharing rations & fags. This was met with the obligatory "Yes Sir - No Sir - Three bags full Sir" approach followed by carrying on as normal once backs were turned.
Towards the end of 1943 he was posted with the regiment to Ceylon to undergo further trainign before entering Burma, he was admitted to hospital once again with ear trouble followed by contracting Malaria whilst posted to the Chittagong.
On his recovery Mr Baileywas posted to # 6 East African Workshops on Ramree Island. He and his unit were flown to Rangoon where they set up camp amongst the Rubber tree plantation, reffered to on the SEAC radio as "The boys in the rubber trees". During his period in the burma theatre he was also detached for a short period to Siam where again they set up camp and carried out repairs & checks on captured Japanese transports.
Private Bailey had worked his way through the ranks to become Staff Sergeant Bailey, although as he puts it he never saw any combat although he and his mates did have a few close shaves. Amongst his memories are those of the local wildlife including giant spiders,centipedes & millipedes, ants that would chew just about everything, leeches "Particularly the Leeches"; overflowing latrines during the monsoons and the taste of tea after using the purification tablets. Being a mechanic, S\Sgt Bailey enjoyed transport and liked to tinker with things, his favourite "taxi" was a Bren Gun carrier that he had twiddled with that used to go like a rocket.
SSgt Bailey returned with his unit back to Kenya where he continued to serve until his number finally came up in 1946, he would once agin board the Arundel Castle for a return trip back home to Blighty arriving at Southampton dock on August bank holiday. SSgt Bailey returned to his home in Nottingham where he found work as a conductor \ bus driver with Notticham Corporation Transport until his retirement in 1984.
Some of S/Sgt Baileys mates- Tommy Thomas; Eric Graham; Dick Arthur (best friend during and after the war); Jack Cole;Joe Davis; Jock Morrow; Jack Sharp; Alec Peden; Howard Wright; Bill Neale; "Bunny Austin"; Jack Fletcher; C J Patterson; Tich, & William an East African.
Our thanks to SSgt Bailey and to his son Phillip & family for sharing his stories and photographs with us.