George Alfred Cooper - 1st Battalion Cameronians George Alfred Cooper - 1st Battalion Cameronians. (born - East London 1920)
George transferred to the Cameronians
in January 1943 from the Royal
Artillery. He arrived in Calcutta India in the summer
of 1943 and then was posted at Silchar barracks where his unit was trained
for the LRP units.
During this time, he earned the crossed-rifles
and became a marksman. He was trained by members of the first `Chindit`
expedition.
In 1944 the Cameronians were sent
into Burma as part of 111 Brigade under Lentaigne. During Operation
Thursday, the Cameronians fought at`Blackpool` and it was here that George
was first promoted to Lance Corporal, then Corporal. Having been
involved in the fighting and wandering around the jungle for what he said
"seemed like forever" his health deteriorated, he was evacuated back to
India with malaria, dysentery and jungle sores etc. He felt really
bad about leaving his mates behind, as most of his company were killed.
After his recovery, he was promoted
to Sergeant and trained new Cameronians fresh from Glasgow in 1945 until
the war ended. He remained in India with the Cams until the British
withdrew in 1947, they were one of the last to leave.
George sadly passed away from cancer
in January 1997 and I miss his humour and wit and the stories of his exploits
in India/Burma.
I`ve included a little surprise for
you, please find attached photo files for you to view. These pics were
taken at a WW2 Living History event in Chiba, Japan.
I`ve put together a Chindit living
history/reenactment unit in order to educate the people here tat there
was a war in Burma and that we shouldn`t forget. It`s my way of saying
thanks.
Incidentally, having read your book
recently, it`s incredible how similar your fathers experiences were to
George's. I remember him telling me the story of the sentry and the fruit
bars when I was a kid. It seems those old stories traveled around the units
like wild fire eh!
Chindit living history/reenactment unit, Japan
Contact: Michael A. Yeomans myeomans@plum.plala.or.jp
