1/8th Battalion Assam India 1943

Bn Cross Country team, Divisional winners 1943. Juhu Leave Camp 1942, On left is Lt Michael Peake and he is chatting to Lt John Crisford (moustache and cig ) snt in by Andy Watsom GM

C Company 1/8th Bn, taken Minden Day 1942 at a place called Ahmednagar Look at the second row of seated Officers,left to right wearing Sam Browne's The chap with the specs is John Taylor, next to him with tash is Gordon Pratt,next is Phillip Pearse,next is Sam Caloe and then Reg Leveson-Gower. 5th from left front Cpl Harold Ford. D Company Minden Day Ahmednagar 1943. this photo sent in by Andy Watson GM

Captain Gordon Pratt Minden Day 1943 Captain Gordon Pratt Signals Officer 1/8th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers I'm attaching two pictures of my father, both (we think) taken in 1943. As you'll see, one is a group photo taken on Minden Day, and the other of him. My mother thinks that by the time of the photos he was a Captain. Prior to Kohima he was in Dimapur in India. From Dimapur they went to relieve the Kohima Ridge troops.There was a fierce battle, but 2 Div. helped stop the Japanese and opened the road to Imphal. They then pushed on and relieved that. My mother thinks that the Royal Norfolk regiment was also involved at Kohima - she remembers meeting some veterans at reunions. After Imphal 2 Div Lancs Fusiliers went on into Burma, where my father became the Signals Officer and had to maintain the communications. Apparently the Japanese used to call out to them at night although neither could see each other - and the mules added to the strange noises ! Apparently the Naga tribesmen were very friendly, and my mother thinks that it was here that he played his violin. She doesn't know how far they got into Burma, but it was not as far as Mandalay. My father returned to England in November 1945 and went to Morpeth for a while on extended leave, and was finally demobbed in May 1946. He, John Taylor, Tom Kershaw and Geoff Page always remained close at met at reunions in Bury every year. I have childhood memories of him dressed up in his DJs going off for this - I'm not sure how they travelled - it was before we had a car ! They also joined the 2nd Division Officers Club and met in London once a year for lunch, usually at the Army and Navy Club. So, the history of Gordon Pratt (born 3rd Jan 1918 died 24th November 1991) prior to the above is : Sept 1939 to Officers' Training Unit, Dunbar, Scotland Nov 1939 Commissioned into 1st Batt. Lancs Fusiliers 1940 (late) Severely injured while on manoeuvres in Patrington, Yorks. In Beverley base hospital for some months March 1942 Embarkation leave April 1942 -April 1943 Assam India. 15th April 1943- November 1945 Burma (Battle for Kohima ) Professor Stephen Pratt ( Son of Captain Gordon Pratt ) Head of Music Artistic Director, The Cornerstone Festival Liverpool A letter from Stephen Mother since we put this on site Click to enlarge

Click here to see John Reid's photos

Some of these photos will not enlarge Harold Bottomley Joe Gallagher and Les Penkethman LT Henry Hall, Capt Tom Kershaw, and Capt Geoff Page Sgt Fred Dearden Medical Sgt Tim_Healey. Tom_Finnigan John McCann, Jimmy Campion and Jimmy Crane Lt Col M L West, Lt R Elkin Lt A P Watson GM. Ca

Lt Andy Watson GM 15 Platoon C Coy Aug 1943   1. 3448311 Fus Finlay, 2. Fus Salt, 3. 129474 Lt Watson GM, A P Wounded 26.4.1944 4. 3458612 ? Fus Coates Wounded, 5. Fus Fuller, 6. Fus Tattersall 7. 3442796 Sgt Mayo Tom Wounded 26.4.1944 8, Cpl ? Priestley, 9. Unidentified, 10. 3452028 Sgt Shepherd, John Wounded 11. 3444031 Cpl Hancock Wounded, 12. 3450965 Cpl Penkethman, 13. Fus Henthorne Killed 26.4.1944 14. Unidentified, 15. Unidentified, 16. Fus Donnelly, 17 ****688 Fus Benson Wounded, 18. Fus Murray Wounded 19. Unidentified, 20. 3873792 Fus Noel, 21. 3507123 Fus Clancy Wounded, 22. 3456770 Fus Scarisbrick Killed 23. 3443883 Fus Reid Killed, 24. 3712483 Fus Abbott Killed, 25. 3654472 Fus Wilkes , 26. Unidentified 27. 3455763 Fus Barwick Killed Cant find Greenwood, Foster R, Guest P, Nuttall