Recollections
of 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment Chindits.
CHARLES
HENRY TAYLOR
( Usually known as “CHUCK”)
7th Leicesters 47 Column 5260299
Born at Tiddington,
Stratford on Avon, March 1922. Left Tiddington School at
age 14, and became apprentice bricklayer, with Price Brothers,
builders of Stratford on Avon.
In mid 1940 volunteered for “D” (Tiddington) Company,
part of 4th (Stratford) Bn, Warwickshire Home Guard. He
served along side his father, a WW 1 veteran.
During late 1941 called up into 8th Bn Worcestershire Regt,
and allotted Army No 5260299. During his Primary Training
he did not see inside any barracks, as they were billeted
in civilian houses in the areas of Market Rasen, Woodhall
Spa & Cleethorpes. His unit was part of 144 Brigade,
and as well as training they were operational, guarding
RAF bases and the Lincolnshire coastline. The whole purpose
of this Bn was training and providing drafts for overseas.
During this period Charles became proficient on the Lee
Enfield .303, Sten gun, 2” mortar, grenades, Bren LMG
& Vickers MMG, as well as PIAT.
After further training in Devon & Cornwall, early 1943
he joined a convoy sailing from Liverpool, at this time
not certain of its final destination. The routine on ship
consisting of PT, weapon training, lectures (especially
on the medical “dangers” of The East!, and deck
sports. Calling on route at West Africa, great play was
made of the “Crossing the Line”. All this by a
young man who, like so many at that time had hardly left
his own county before his call up. Then onto South Africa,
where they were greeted by the singing of the famous “Lady
in White”. They spent two weeks ashore, during which
time several of his comrades were sent on drafts to North
Africa, and newcomers joined them. This was the story of
Infantrymen in transit at this time, some wearing several
cap badges in a very short space of time. Charles spent
just four weeks with 1st Bn North Staffords before being
posted to 7th Bn Leicestershire Regt. Here he settled in
and was promoted Lance Corporal (however he did subsequently
“loose” this for some military misdemeanor!).
The Bn worked hard on ranges and jungle training. Then came
the news in September 1943 that they had been selected for
Wingate’s Second Chindit Expedition. There were different
terms used for The Chindits, which sometimes cases confusion,
they were at times known as 3rd Indian Division, or Special
Force. The 7 Bn Leicesters were in 14th Infantry Brigade,
commanded by Brigadier Brodie, and also contained 1Bn Beds
& Herts, 2 Bn Black Watch, & 2 Bn York & Lancs,
these three being Regular Bn’s, so 7 Leicesters were
the brigades only war formed unit. Being chosen for the
Chindits meant considerable changes to the Bn orbat, the
unit was split into two equal “Columns”, one of
which was commanded by the CO, and one by the 2i/c. Each
column consisted of Column HQ, a Reconnaissance Platoon,
which included a section of the Burma Rifles. A Support
Platoon equipped with Vickers MMGs and 3” mortars,
these platoons were often commanded by RA officers, and
contained Gunners, who would be capable to use captured
Japanese Artillery. A Commando platoon, all of which were
Royal Engineers, equipped with explosives and tools for
engineering tasks. The backbone of the Column was a strengthened
Rifle Company, with four platoons of four sections, and
a flame-thrower section, a total strength of 225 men. The
HQ also included among its number a Medical Officer and
assistants, R Signals, RAF Liaison Officer and Animal Transport
Officer plus a Quartermaster.
Each Column numbered
approx 400 men, 75 mules and 12 ponies. The ponies were
used to carry casualties and occasionally by officers for
recce’s. The mules were to carry, 3” mortars,
MMG’s, medical kit, PIAT (anti-tank weapon), flame
throwers, radio’s, and hundreds of maps (which only
contained sparse information). Rations and personal kit
were carried on the man. Chuck Taylor was a “Muleteer”,
responsible for Army mule “Queenie”. Back in India
the Bn had asked for volunteer’s to look after the
mules. Chuck’s father had been employed as a Carter
on a local farm, so the young Taylor was used to being around
and handling horses. After a discussion with his “mate”,
they both put their names forward. The training was arduous
and they were led by a Sgt, a former territorial, who had
been a farm worker. “Queenie” appears to have
been relatively well behaved, while some soldiers had terrible
difficulties, and not a few injuries from hoofs and teeth.
All of the Army mules were operated on prior to going into
the jungle, to remove their voice box’s, lest the loud
braying gave the position away. Chuck told me that the mules
varied tremendously in size, from little ones not much bigger
than an Old English Sheepdog, to monsters almost the size
of a shire horse. At night they were hobbled via a back
leg in lines, should one get loose pandemonium broke out.
The mules by reputation were very, very stubborn, but gradually
all the soldiers came to recognise the sterling qualities.
With tremendous powers of endurance and they would go on
until they dropped. Chuck reports that the saddles to carry
the loads were well designed, and his mule carried a Vickers
MMG, but became used to that amount and that was what it
was “happy” with. He also told me that the cardinal
sin for a Muleteer was to put some of his own kit on the
mule, this would bring severe punishment. The mule is the
product of a male donkey and a female horse, and this entire
batch was imported from Australia. They were told that all
mules could swim, and was infact true, but they would not
always swim when they wanted them to. A great deal of effort
was used on some river crossings. All of the men allotted
to caring for mules became very fond of their charges, and
in turn “most” mules came to know their handlers.
When some of the mules later died or were killed their Muleteers
were heartbroken.
Chuck with his mule flew by Dakota, during early April 1944
to a prepared landing strip, “Aberdeen”. The Bn
activities are well documented, in Ian’s account. But
like many Chuck found the jungle a difficult environment
to operate in, one of his abiding memories is of being attacked
by ants, all this during a Japanese air attack! Chuck had
the misfortune to become a casualty, but had to soldier
on until he could be flown out. He recuperated back in India,
and subsequently flew on several missions in Dakotas, dropping
supplies, which was the “lifeline” to those in
the jungle.
Perhaps the most
contentious part of The Chindit Story as related to me by
Chuck Taylor was of the punishments that could be meted
out for serious military crimes. He told me that the ultimate
punishment was to leave a soldier alone in the jungle, but
he never knew of such a case. The other extreme punishment
was that if a man was found guilty of an offence and the
CO deemed it necessary he could be lashed! Chuck told me
of one such occurrence, but never told me the man's name.
In all of my reading and research of the campaign I have
never seen this story in print.
With the 7 Bn withdrawn from the operation the battalion
was in a poor state and so they were disbanded and most
of the men transferred to the 2nd Bn Leicestershire Regiment.
They were earmarked for Operation "Zipper", the
invasion of Malaya (now Malaysia). However before this could
take place the Japanese, to the great relief of many had
surrendered. The Bn were used on Internal Security duties,
and were in constant demand, such was the volatility of
the region with discussions about partion going on. This
was not any easy time for the forces trying to keep the
peace. Chuck reports that the Royal Indian Navy had threatened
to mutiny, at Calcutta, however with the arrival of a Royal
Navy cruiser this was short lived after a tense confrontation.
Chuck did not return home until 1946, and was then posted
to an OCTU in North Wales, where he carried out maintenance
work on the camp. He brought home several "treasures",
including a real leather football for me, and a slab of
candied peel, riches indeed after the wartime frugality.
When demobbed he returned to his trade at Price Bros as
a bricklayer. He was very proud of his service, and I think
talked to me about it more than anyone else. He wore an
original Chindit badge on his blazer (which I still have
today).
He married Mary Goode in 1947 at Holy Trinity, Stratford
on Avon, and they lived in the same house, on which he carried
out extensive work, all of their married life.
He was a skilled, versatile and adaptable tradesman, he
learnt from my father the skills of making oak chests, and
made his own chest complete with carved Chindit badge, which
my aunt uses to this day. He eventually became self-employed
carrying out many building and maintenance tasks and was
well known in the Stratford on Avon area. He became a leading
light in the Rover Sports Register car owners club, and
won many prizes for the car's immaculate turnout. One such
Rover he made a metal Chindit badge which had pride of place
on the bumper. Like many Ex-Servicemen, he had never sent
for his medals, his argument being that "they"
should have sent them to him. When my father died in 1974,
I belatedly sent for his medals, this prompted Chuck and
he got me to send for his, I have them now. These were mounted
and he did for the first time wear them for a few parades
and services.
While carrying out a full and active life he always claimed
that his health was never the same after his spell in Burma.
Chuck died in October 1994, and I was proud to read the
lesson at his funeral, he like so many had done his duty
for his country, and never forgot his time with the Chindits.
