- Contributed by听
- mcleanmuseum
- People in story:听
- Bernard Duffy
- Location of story:听
- Greenock
- Background to story:听
- Army
- Article ID:听
- A2426041
- Contributed on:听
- 15 March 2004
This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Vincent Gillen of the McLean Museum on behalf of Bernard Duffy and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions
My first few years of the war were spent as a spectator, as I just turned 15 by 3rd Sept 1939; Greenock and Gourock became busy with troop movements, for example I saw the 1st Canadian Division arrive Sunday 7th 1939, the GI's arrive June/July 1942, and the 'Torch' convoy assemble October 1942.
Then came my 'call up', 20th May '43 to Fort George followed by further infantry training at Dalton-in-Furness October '43; in December '43 to King George V dock in Glasgow. For three days lay off my home town of Greenock. Arrived Bombay January '44. Joined the 1st battalion Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, part of British 2 Division just in time for jungle training near Belgaum; moved to Ahmadnagar, for only two weeks, and were rushed across India when the Japanese invaded the sub-continent, and had surrounded Kohima, capital of Nagaland. There I first saw the Nagas, witha spear in one hand, umbrella in the other. On 14th April '44, cleared a road block; here spotted first enemy who thankfully did a 'u-turn'; I was 19, he looked younger. Later crossed Chindwin river, via Kabaw Valley, notorious for typhus. After jungle came open plain. On 24th February '45 I was slightly wounded crossing the river Irrawaddy in a rubber dinghy. Battalion doctor was killed in front of me. Eventually reached Mandalay, already taken by 19th Indian Division,
After rest, moved 70 miles south-west of Mandaly to Mount Popa, an area reputed to be full of King Cobra snakes. Did not meet any.
Eventually I was flown out, in an RAF plane, to prepare for invasion of Malaya. A wonderful sight looking down on the green jungle through which I had recently walked. At this point I landed in hospital with heat exhaustion, and was posted to the staff of the leave centre at Darjeeling in February '46. December '46 I sailed from Bombay, arriving back in the Clyde January '47. At regimental depot in Inverness, till demobbed at York on July 4th '47. Was classified as a 'Z' Reservist, but services were no longer required.
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