A Burma Star

A Burma Star

John King, a resident of Frenchay was called up in 1940 when he was 20 years old. He joined the artillery unit protecting the country in Devon. In 1944 he was transferred to the iInfantry to fight abroad. He was sent to Bombay and from Bombay to Doolally where they had to dye all their clothes green for jungle warfare. They were shipped down the Brahmaputra River by paddle steamer to Comilla and then flown to Burma where he joined the 2nd Battalion South Lancashires. They had to cross mountains and jungle carrying heavy kit and weapons and fighting the Japanese all the way. Rations were delivered by parachute and it depended on the wind direction whether they or the Japanese were able to pick up the rations!

They survived two monsoons eventually arriving at Rangoon on the coast 3 months before the end of the war. 8th May 1945 was VE Day for Europe, but the fight went on in Asia. John King was finally released in May 1946 and had a memorable trip home on the Mauritania to arrive in England on 24th May, his wedding anniversary. He was awarded a well deserved Burma Star.