大象传媒

September 1939. As a member of the territorial army i was called up at the age of 17yrs and posted to Newbury Berks and we were billeted in army tents until Jan 1940 when we went to Liverpool. Eventually we were sent overseas, not knowing where and sailed via Cape Town to the Far East, having been serenaded by The Lady in White on Cape Towns Harbour. We were set for Singapore, which fell 2 days before we arrived, so went back t0 Ceylon, then by train to N. India to joing up with other units ready to fight the Japenese through Burma. We fought our way gradually south after many setbacks including a retreat. But after 4 years of fighting through monsoons, tropical heat, no real rations and a very crafty and clever enemy we arrived at Rangoon. Many of the men went down with Malaria, including myself and we all have vivid memories of Imphal and Kohima. Mr C Charlwood (Charlie) was batman to one of the officers, Mr T Standen, kept notes of all the happenings and wrote about them in later years. Mr W Goodall was another great mate - i was eventually best man at my wedding in 1954. I atill remember the victory parade at Rangoon, where Lord Louis Mountbatten took the salute. We were eventually re patriated in Nov 1946 - arriving home in Battle dress, trousers and boots, which we had carried all through the campaign in our ruck sacks and they were green with mould. It was snowing as we arrived and we froze!! A band was playing on the Quay as the boat docked, but stopped playing halfway through a tune when it was realised we were not the expected arrivals requiring a musical reception. We were sent by train to a school at Woldingham, where we had to sleep on a wooden floor, with one blanket and one pillow. After 4 and a half years in the hell of Burma we felt VERY let down. We can laught at it now but it wasn't very funny at the time, we were certainly part of the forgotton army!!
I have written this on behalf of my husband L.H.T Mumford, who was very proud of his participation in the above - together with Bill (Goodall) (deceased), Tommy(Standen)(deceased) and Vernon Charlwood - still alive at 85 years old. All the holders of the Burma Star Medal and members of the Burma Star Association since it's inauguration many years ago.

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