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This was submitted by Ronald Rae, and was added to the website by the staff of Blackpool Central Library.

Over the years I have campaigned many times for a belated award for the 2nd Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment for their service in riot-torn India 1945-47. I have had many letters stating that it is the policy of the Committee not to give or consider belated awards, although a belated award of General Service Medal and Clasp was made in 2003 to the troops who served in Egypt 1951-54.

In 1945 I was 14965975 Corporal R. Rae M/T Section 2nd Battallion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment when the Battalion came out of Burma. It moved to India and was put on internal defence duties owing to riots breaking out all over India. The Battalion was fully mobile and was able to cover all over India including frontier stations. These patrols continued until Independence Day in 1947.

The late Lord Mountbatten gave the Battalion the honour to bring to an end over 200 years of British rule in India. At the dockside Lord Mountbatten thanked our C.O. officers and other ranks for the good work the Battalion had undertaken. With other high dignitaries and massed ranks of Indian troops he took the salute as we boarded the 鈥淢.V. Georgic鈥� troopship and left India bound for Liverpool.

Every year we hold a 2nd Battalion reunion at the Union Jack Club in London. We are now (2005) down to about 25 members (that is 25 known members) and getting less every year. I would have thought that a campaign medal should have been struck for the battalion to record a part of history that ended over 200 years of the British Army in India.

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