Burma Campaign British slouch hat

[António Fragoeiro]

Hi, this hat is one of the new purchases.
A very beautiful used British Slouch.
Seller has told, have bought the hat directly from the veteran`s family. The original owner was Frederick Johnston, from the North Staffordshire Regiment and he fought in the Burma Campaign and later was captured.

The thing is, there is a Johnston in North Staffordshire Regiment and the 1st battalion of the regiment did fought in Burma by 1943.

It may very well be "buy the item not the story" but most of the details do make sense so far.
And the hat does have the been there look.

[Jerry B]

You got it then and for a good price, cool. A nice salty been there example and with some known history as well. A shame the moths have been at it, but it happens with these and my example has been feasted on by the little blighters as well.

[António Fragoeiro]

You got it then and for a good price, cool. A nice salty been there example and with some known history as well. A shame the moths have been at it, but it happens with these and my example has been feasted on by the little blighters as well.

I did, i could not let it slip away.
Is there a reliable site where i can get his full records?

[Jerry B]

WWII British army service records are hard to obtain if you are not a family member or have his next of kin to sign for you to access them. You can try the London Gazette, but unless he was an officer or won a medal he is unlikely to be listed there.

[António Fragoeiro]

WWII British army service records are hard to obtain if you are not a family member or have his next of kin to sign for you to access them. You can try the London Gazette, but unless he was an officer or won a medal he is unlikely to be listed there.

Thanks Jerry, im searching the gazette for information.

[Jerry B]

You already know that he had to be in the 1st battalion of the North Staffs regiment as that was the only battalion they had in the Far East and he was captured.

When war broke out, the first battalion was stationed at Poona, India. It would be fated to spend the entirety of the war in India and Burma and spent the first 3 years of the war engaged in internal security duties. In 1942, after Japan’s entry into the war the battalion was moved to Andaman Islands. In May 1943, the battalion was posted to the 26th Indian Division and went into action in Burma. The battalion, along with the rest of the 26th Indian Division, was tasked with covering the British retreat from Burma. The North Staffs were assigned the job of holding the Ngakeydauk Pass to ensure that the rest of the army could escape back towards India. After six days of fighting, the battalion followed the rest of their division on the road back to India. Like most battalions, the North Staffordshires suffered more from disease, particularly malaria, than they did from enemy actions. When they returned to India the battalion was well below full strength and was posted to the Bihar province to conduct internal security operations.

North Staffordshire Regiment Living History Association - A Brief History Of the North Staffordshire Regiment in World War II

[VonRiver]

Very nice british campaign hat.

(Nuno, estive a ver a tua colecção, através dos links da tua assinatura, e é espectacular, parabéns. Tens uma colecção digna de se ver. Abraço)

Regards.,

Von River

[António Fragoeiro]

This beauty too has arrived.
My pride and joy.