Buried Battles & Veterans' Voices
The Second World War in the Far East
In the Far East, much of the British Empire was overrun by Japanese forces, all defences proving hopelessly inadequate. Singapore surrendered in February 1943 and the remnants of the 2nd Battalion, the East Surrey Regiment, were among those taken prisoner, to see out the remainder of the war in Japanese prisoner of war camps. Both regular battalions of the Queen's Royal Regiment were involved in the fightback in Burma, the 2nd Battalion as part of the famous 'Chindits'. The jungle and climate made for extraordinarily hard conditions and the war continued for a further 3 months after it had ended in Europe.
Members of 2nd Battalion, the Queen's Royal (West Surrey) Regiment, advancing through Burma.
(Click to enlarge)
Sergeant Cliff Martin Cliff Martin, 2nd Battalion, the East Surrey Regiment, recalls being overwhelmed by the Japanese. |
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Regimental Sergeant Major H 'Tommy' Atkins 'Tommy' Atkins, 2nd Battalion, the Queen's Royal Regiment, remembers the terrible conditions in Burma. |
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Lieutenant Colonel Mike Lowry Mike Lowry, 1st Battalion, the Queen's Royal Regiment, remembers the difficulty of obtaining supplies and the battle of Kohima, in North West India, 1944. |
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Company Sergeant Major Charles Sharp Charles Sharp, 1st Battalion, the Queen's Royal Regiment, recalls the challenges and privations of fighting in the jungles of Burma. |
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Company Sergeant Major Charles Sharp Charles Sharp, 1st Battalion, the Queen's Royal Regiment, recalls the end of the war in the Far East. |
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