F.F.9, Burma Frontier Force
The mobile detachment F.F.9 of the Burma Frontier Force has an uncertain origin due to the many gaps in the records. Mention of an "F.F.9" is made in the war diaries of the 1st Burma Corps and of the 1st Burma Infantry Division at the end of March and early April 1942. Other sources, the accounts of Lt. Colonel G.G. Pryce and the then Captain I.C.G. Scott, describe a "new" or reorganised F.F.9 being formed near Mount Popa sometime on or shortly after 15th April.[1] [2]
The first mention of F.F.9 is on 31st March, when the war diary of the 1st Burma crops recorded that the 2nd Battalion, The Burma Rifles and F.F.9 were on the West bank of the Irrawaddy River and had moved Southwards from Thayetmyo towards Kama. At this time both of these units were under the command of the 1st Burma Division's 2nd Burma Infantry Brigade and there is no mention of F.F.9 in the division’s Operation Order No. 16 dated 29th March or in the 2nd Burma Infantry Brigade war diary for March 1942.[3]
Three days later, on 3rd April, the 1st Burma Division's Operation Instruction No. 8 set out orders for the brigades and units under command for the operation to cover the withdrawal of the 17th Indian Infantry Division from the Prome area. The 1st Battalion, The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers were detached to defend Allanmyo from the time at which the 2nd Burma Infantry Brigade left the town until the 13th Indian Infantry Brigade arrived. The Inniskillings were to take under command the 2nd Indian Field Battery, the 8th Indian Antitank Battery, a detachment of the Burma Military Police and F.F.9. At the time the orders were issued F.F.9 was at Thayetmyo and the detachment was ordered to move to Allanmyo on the night of 3rd/4th April under the command of the 2nd Burma Brigade.[4]
It was also on 3rd April, that the 1st Burma Corps issued orders for the regrouping of the F.F. detachments. These orders set out the assignment of F.F. mounted infantry and infantry columns to Corps’ formations and listed those F.F. detachments which were to go to Yenangyaung for reorganisation. Included amongst the latter was F.F.9.[5]
On 5th April, the 2nd Burma Brigade, now at Allanmyo, recorded that it was short of 100 mules due to the non-arrival of an "FF coln". It seems that this F.F. column was due to hand over its animal transport to the brigade and, if so, the column would then most likely have headed for Yenangyaung to join the general reorganisation.[6]
This might tie in with the account by Major D. Mostert who at the time commanded F.F.2 and F.F.6, forming the "F.F. Group" of the 17th Indian Division.[7] By the time of the withdrawal from Prome, casualties had reduced the size of the F.F. columns under his command to a dangerous level so Mostert organised the men into two columns and a detachment Headquarters. He was reinforced by the addition of three officers from a disbanded column of F.F.9, Captains McClintock[8] and Polglase[9] and Lieutenant Copeman.[10] Unfortunately Mostert gives no dates or locations other than "...we moved back to Prome" and "Whilst here ...".[11]
All of this might explain the existence and subsequent disappearance of F.F.9 from the order of battle in late March and early April 1942. It suggests that F.F.9 existed before the reorganisation in April of many F.F. detachments at Yenangyaung. It is possible that F.F.9 was hastily formed at around the same time or after the formation of F.F.6 and F.F.7 in January or February 1942.
Meanwhile F.F.4, less the No. 4 (Sikh) Infantry Column under Lieutenant Turner, had arrived in Meiktila from the Toungoo front at the end of March.[12] Weakened by casualties, lack of food, sickness and exhaustion F.F.4 was resting at Meiktila where they were reunited with the No. 4 Column shortly after 3rd April. Turner had been evacuated sick and Captain I.C.G. Scott thus found himself the senior officer of the detachment. He was made the commanding officer of F.F.4 and promoted to Major. Scott and his new command then moved to Yenangyaung to take part in the general reorganisation of the F.F. detachments. Scott retained command of Turner's No. 4 Column and following a certain amount of re-equipping moved with the column to Mount Popa on or around 15th April. There the No. 3 (Kumaoni) Infantry Column from F.F.3 was added to his command. It seems Scott was the only British officer of the detachment which now became known as F.F.9.[13]
The first task for the new F.F.9 was to patrol the upper reaches of the Pin Chaung South of the Kyaukpadaung-Meiktila road.[14] There were no British forces between them and the Japanese to the South since the 1st Burma Infantry Division passed through earlier to the North. After a few days, Scott was joined by Captain Milligan, previously of the Kokine Battalion, Burma Frontier Force.[15] They saw no enemy and eventually withdrew through Myingyan to the Irrawaddy River at the point where the Mu River joins the Irrawaddy, close to the location of the Headquarters, 1st Burma Corps (Burcorps). Scott had been given orders to patrol the Irrawaddy either side of the Mu River, to a distance of about 25 miles, and to destroy all boats likely to be of use to the Japanese. Scott felt his orders were impossible to achieve so he went to the 1st Burma Corps Headquarters to get them clarified. He asked the first officer he saw to direct him to "the halfwit who gave me these orders". Unrecognised at first by Scott, this officer turned out to be the Corps Commander himself, General William Slim, who took it upon himself to introduce Scott to the "halfwit" staff officer. Scott's orders were suitably modified.[16]
By the 28th April, F.F.9 was disposed at Nyaungbinwun on the Mu River North of the Irrawaddy and at the ferries at Ngazun and Kyauktalon on the Irrawaddy's left bank. The 1st Burma Corps now ordered F.F.9 to come under the command of the 17th Indian Infantry Division and for the division to concentrate in the Myinmu-Allagappa area on the right bank of the Irrawaddy to the West of the Mu River.[17]
Shortly after this Scott went sick, leaving command of F.F.9 to Captain Milligan. However he recovered sufficiently to rejoin F.F.9 near Shwebo, where F.F.9 became attached to the Headquarters of Burma Army. When the Burma Army H.Q. moved on, Scott was told to rejoin the body of the Army and to head for Kalewa where he would get new orders. En route to Shwegyin a staff officer from the 17th Indian Infantry Division ordered Scott to guard a dry chaung about 4-5 miles from Shwegyin and to keep it clear for approaching transport and tanks. The 17th Indian Infantry Division passed across the chaung with no problems.[18]
From Shwegyin, F.F.9 crossed to Kalewa where orders were received to collect men of the Reserve Battalion, B.F.F. and take them to India. At Tamu, whilst waiting for the Reserve Battalion to catch up, Scott was ordered on to Palel. From there F.F.9 went by lorry to a camp at Milestone 118 on the Dimapur road, After spending a few days at this badly organised camp they moved on to a new one at Milestone 105. Then the rains came and many men went sick and were sent to hospital at Dimapur. Major A.E. Cartmel, Burma Frontier Force, was the Commanding Officer of this camp and Lt. Colonel Cotton, former Commanding Officer of the 6th Battalion, The Burma Rifles, was the Commanding Officer of the Line of Communication Area.[19] [20] After a three week stay at this camp, the move to Ranchi began, with the last party of men leaving on 5th June. Scott went with this last party and after a short stay at Ranchi moved on to Hoshiarpur where all fit men were sent on leave.[21]
22 November 2017
[1] Gordon George Pryce, born, 21st May 1901. Commissioned as 2nd Lt. to the Unattached List, 28th December 1921. Appointed to the Indian Army as 2nd Lt., 17th April 1923. Attached to the 5th Battalion, 8th Punjab Regiment, 17th April 1923. Served Waziristan, 1923-24. Promoted to Lieutenant, 23rd March 1924. Promoted to Captain, 23rd December 1930. Seconded and served as Assistant Commandant with the 2nd Rangoon Battalion, Burma Frontier Force, 1st April 1937. Served as Assistant Commandant, Northern Shan States Battalion, Burma Frontier Force, 1938 to 13th July 1940. Promoted to Major, 23rd December 1938. Formed F.F.1, Burma Frontier Force at Kutkai and became first Commanding Officer, 14th July 1940 to 1st October 1941. Appointed as Commander Corps, Burma Frontier Force, attached to Headquarters, 1st Burma Corps, 29th March 1942. Mentioned in Despatches for service in Burma, attached to the Burma Frontier Force, gazetted, 28th October 1942. Served with the 8th Punjab Regiment, 13th April 1943. Died (buried at Delhi War Cemetery), 8th December 1943 ("War Services of British and Indian Officers of the Indian Army 1941", Savannah (2004); “Burma Frontier Force by Lt. Col G.G. Pryce”, WO 203/5697; “F.F.1’s Part in the Burma Campaign by Lt. Col. W.R.V. Russell M.C.”; British Army List; Commonwealth War Graves Commission; Indian Army List; Burma Army List; London Gazette).
[2] Ian Campbell Graham Scott, born, 1st October 1915. General Staff, Steel Brothers, 1939 to 1st January 1941. Commissioned as 2nd Lt., ABRO (ABRO 82), 10th November 1939. Served with the Reserve Battalion, Burma Frontier Force at Pywabwe, in charge of infantry training, September 1940 to August 1941. Column Commander, No. 3 Infantry column, F.F.4, Burma Frontier Force, September 1941 to end March 1942. Served with F.F.4, Burma Frontier Force, training at Loilem, September 1941 to November 1941. Served with F.F.4 at Mongpan, November 1941 to February 1942. Promoted to Lieutenant, 6th December 1941. Transferred with F.F.4 to the Toungoo front and took part in operations with the 1st Burma Division, February 1942 to March 1942. Temporary Captain from 14th March 1942. On disbandment of F.F.4, formed and commanded F.F.9, Burma Frontier Force, April 1942 to May 1942. War substantive Captain and temporary Major from 19th June 1942. Served with the 4th Battalion, The Burma Regiment as company commander, training at Hoshiarpur, 1st October 1942 to October 1943. In action in the Kachin Hills against Japanese lines of communications and in the advance on Myitkyina, October 1943 to April 1944. As temporary Major, wounded, 8th April 1944. Commanded SCOCOL in the crossing of the Nsop Hka and the capture of Myitkyina, June 1944 to July 1944. As (temporary?) Lt. Colonel, Commanding Officer of the 4th Battalion, The Burma Regiment in anti-dacoit operations in the Arakan, July 1944 to September 1945. As temporary Major, Mentioned in Despatches, gazetted, 19th September 1946. Rejoined the 4th Battalion, The Burma Regiment as Second-in-command after returning from leave in the United Kingdom, 2nd May 1945. Appointed Battalion Commander, the 4th Battalion, The Burma Regiment and acting Lt. Colonel, 22nd January 1946. As acting Lt. Colonel, relinquished command of the 4th Battalion, The Burma Regiment and left by air for Calcutta en route for UK release, 19th September 1946. Worked for Steel Brothers in Pakistan and Burma, post-war (Burma Army List; Burma Army List 1943; FindMyPast; http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1030006969; Private Papers of Lt. Col. I.C.G. Scott (IWM); London Gazette; Thacker's Directory; War Diary of the 4th Battalion Burma Regiment 1943, WO 172/2656; War Diary of the 4th Battalion Burma Regiment 1944, WO 172/5037 and 10321).
[3] War Diary of the 1st Burma Corps, WO 172/403; War Diary of the 1st Burma Division, WO 172/447; War Diary of the 2nd Burma Brigade, WO 172/548
[4] WO 172/447
[5] WO 172/403
[6] WO 172/548
[7] Derrick de la Grange Mostert, born Cape Town, South Africa, 26th July 1900. Commissioned to the Unattached List as 2nd Lt., 29th January 1920. Appointed to the Indian Army as 2nd Lt., attached to the 20th Lancers, 5th February 1920. Attached as Squadron Officer to the 15th Lancers, 1921. Promoted to Lieutenant, 29th January 1921. Promoted to Captain, 29th January 1927. As Captain, seconded as Assistant Commandant to the Burma Military Police, 25th October 1932. Served as Assistant Commandant, Mandalay Battalion, Burma Military Police, 25th October 1932 to 1938. Married Vivien Louise Howell Cooke, Rangoon, 1933. Attached to the 13th Lancers from 31st August 1937. Promoted to Major, 29th January 1938. Transferred to the Special Unemployed List, 1st April 1939. Attached to the 13th Lancers from 18th October 1939. Served with the Burma Frontier Force from 27th December 1941. Appointed Commanding Officer, F.F.2, Burma Frontier Force, succeeding Major Love (killed in action), around 15th January 1942 to May 1942. As Major (temporary Lt. Colonel), Indian Armoured Corps, Mentioned in Despatches for service in Burma, gazetted, 28th October 1942. Promoted to Lt. Colonel, 3rd July 1946. As Lt. Colonel (IA 364), Special Unemployed List, retired, 3rd July 1947. As Lt. Colonel (ex Indian Army retired), appointed Lt. Colonel (408604), 15th/19th Hussars, Regular Army Reserve of Officers, 1st January 1949. As Lt. Colonel, 15th/19th Hussars, Regular Army Reserve of Officers, having reached the age limit of liability for recall, relinquished his commission, 26th July 1955 ("Notes on B.F.F.", F.F.2, by Major D. Mostert, WO 203/5700 (Notes on B.F.F., F.F.2, WO 203/5700); "War Services of British and Indian Officers of the Indian Army 1941", Savannah (2004); British Army List; FindMyPast; Indian Army List; Indian Army List 1921; Indian Army List July 1942; London Gazette; South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Registers (familysearch.org)).
[8] Nigel Stanley McClintock born, 31st December 1915. Educated at St.Columba's College, Rathfarnham, dates unknown. Worked with Messrs. T.D. Findlay & Sons, 1939-41?. Commissioned as 2nd Lt., ABRO, 7th March 1940. Served with the Burma Frontier Force, 1940. Listed as "Lt. E. McClintock", Column Commander, No. 4 Column (Shans), F.F.3, Burma Frontier Force, March-May 1941. Promoted to Lieutenant, 9th September 1941. As Captain, Column Commander, No. 4 Column, F.F.3, Burma Frontier Force, was ordered with his column to come under direct command of 17th Indian Infantry Division, near Pegu, 23rd February 1942. As Captain, described as "previously belonging to F.F.9", came under command of F.F.2, Burma Frontier Force, at Prome, from mid-April 1942. While serving with F.F.2, killed by a sniper, between Yeu and Shwegyin, 8th May 1942 ("Notes on B.F.F.", F.F.2, by Major D. Mostert, WO 203/5700 (Notes on B.F.F., F.F.2, WO 203/5700); “Short History of F.F.3” by Major J.H. Turner, WO 203/5702 (Short History of F.F.3, Wo 203/5702); Anglo-Burmese Library - Vivian Rodrigues; Burma Army List; Commonwealth War Graves Commission; Turtle Bunbury).
[9] Edward Basil Julian (Julyan) Polglase born, Falmouth, 18th August 1905. Educated St. Peter's College, Radley, March 1920 to February 1924. Worked for Steel Brothers, general staff, 1926 to 1941?. As a "merchant's assistant", travelled to Rangoon from Liverpool on the SS "Oxfordshire", 10th September 1926. Served as Captain, The Rangoon Battalion, Burma Auxiliary Force, Summer 1940 to 25th October 1941. Emergency Commission as 2nd Lt. to the General List (217659), 26th October 1941. War substantive Lieutenant, temporary Captain from 4th April 1942. Served with F.F.9, Burma Frontier Force, April 1942. As temporary Captain, attached to F.F.2, Burma Frontier Force following disbandment of F.F.9, April 1942. As Captain, served with the Kokine Garrison Battalion, Burma Frontier Force, from April/May 1942. Served as Adjutant of the Kokine Garrison Battalion, Burma Frontier Force from 25th May 1942. After the war, returned to work for Steel Brothers, 1st September 1945. As war substantive Lieutenant, relinquished his commission with the honorary rank of Captain, 7th March 1946. Editor of the Steel Brothers house magazine, post-war. Died, Hove, East Sussex, 13th November 1976 ("Calling to Mind, Being Some Account of the First Hundred Years (1870 to 1970) of Steel Brothers and Company Limited", Braund H.E., Pergamon (1975); "Notes on B.F.F.", F.F.2, by Major D. Mostert, WO 203/5700; (Notes on B.F.F., F.F.2, WO 203/5700); War Diary of the Kokine Garrison Battalion, WO 172/691; Burma Army List; Burma Army List 1943; FindMyPast; British Army Officers 1939-45; London Gazette; St. Peter's College, Radley - Register (St. Peter's College, Radley Register); Thacker's Directory; FindMyPast).
[10] George Harvey Copeman born, 20th January 1914. Worked as a clerk for Burmah Oil Company, travelled to Rangoon on the SS "Prome", 14th May 1937. Emergency Commission from Cadet to the General List as 2nd Lt. (189650), 28th April 1941. Served with F.F.9, Burma Frontier Force until or just before, 10th April 1942. Joined F.F.2, Burma Frontier Force at Prome on or just after, 10th April 1942. War substantive Lieutenant, 1st October 1942. Temporary Captain, 9th April 1943. Relinquished commission as war substantive Lieutenant and granted the honorary rank of Major, 27th May 1946. Company Director whilst living in Dawlish, Devon, 28th June 1991 to 14th May 1998. Died, 2002 ("Notes on B.F.F.", F.F.2, by Major D. Mostert, WO 203/5700 (Notes on B.F.F., F.F.2, WO 203/5700); British Army List; Burma Army List 1943; FindMyPast; London Gazette; www.companiesintheuk.co.uk).
[11] "Notes on B.F.F.", F.F.2, by Major D. Mostert, WO 203/5700
[12] Ian Henry Turner, born, 22nd May 1909. Emergency Commission to the General List as 2nd Lt. (189635), 28th April 1941. Served with the Reserve Battalion, Burma Frontier Force; assisted Lt. I.C.G. Scott with infantry training, May? 1941 to August 1941. Column Commander, No. 4 Column, F.F.4, Burma Frontier Force, September 1941 to March 1942. Temporary Captain (war substantive Lieutenant), 14th March 1942. Evacuated sick, end March/early April 1942. Temporary Captain from 28th August 1943. As war substantive Major, relinquished commission and granted the honorary rank of Lt. Colonel, 11th October 1946 (British Army List October 1945; Burma Defence Services List July 1941; Burma Army List 1943; London Gazette; Private Papers of Lt. Col. I.C.G. Scott (IWM)).
[13] Private Papers of Lt. Colonel I.C.G. Scott (IWM); “Short History of F.F.3” by Major J.H. Turner, WO 203/5702
[14] “Burma Frontier Force by Lt. Col G.G. Pryce”, WO 203/5697
[15] David Kennedy Milligan born, 1917. Sailed to Rangoon from Liverpool on S.S. "Prome", profession listed as Burma Forest Service, 7th October 1939. Commissioned to the General List from Cadet at OCTU as 2nd Lt. (189612), 28th April 1941. Promoted war substantive Lieutenant; promoted temporary Captain, 14th March 1942. As Captain, commanded a company of the Kokine Battalion, Burma Frontier Force, guarding the satellite airfield one mile North of Kyungon, North of Toungoo, 16th March 1942. Second-in-Command of F.F.9, Burma Frontier Force, April-May 1942. As temporary Major, served with the Chin Hills Levies, September 1942 to 9th November 1943. Died on "the withdrawal from Falam", possibly buried by the Japanese near Mangkheng, near Falam, 9th November 1943. "Sadly burned alive by the Japanese in Burma" whilst a POW in an unknown POW camp, 9th November 1943. As Major, Indian Army Unattached List, died in Burma, 9th November 1943. From a memorial in Dunscore Churchyard, Dumfriesshire; "Major, Burma Frontier Force, Younger son of Fergus Milligan of Merkland. Killed in Action in Burma 9th Nov. 1943, aged 28 years.", 9th November 1943 ("Distinctly I Remember", H. Braund, Wren (1972); British Army List; Burma Frontier Force; Short History of F.F.3 by Major J.H. Turner, WO 203/5702; Scott papers; CWGC; FindMyPast; ancestry.com; Rhodesian Services; London Gazette).
[16] Scott papers
[17] WO 172/403
[18] Scott papers
[19] Alfred Edward Cartmel, born 11th May 1893. Served as Private, the Hertfordshire Yeomanry, Territorial Force, before 1914. Served in the ranks, Mobilised with the Territorial Force, three years 339 days, August 1914 to 9th July 1918. Served Egypt, January 1915 to April 1915. Served Gallipoli, July 1915 to December 1915. Served Egypt, December 1915 to March 1916. Served Iraq, April 1916 to August 1918. Mentioned in Despatches, gazetted, 15th August 1917. As Serjeant (105084 (formerly 1471)), 1/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry (St. Albans), awarded the Military Medal, gazetted, 22nd October 1917. Temporary 2nd Lt., from IATC, Indian Army, attached to the Burma Military Police Mounted Infantry, 10th July 1918 to 9th July 1919. Served Afghanistan, North West Frontier, 1919. Served Waziristan (Burma Military Police Mounted Infantry), 1919-21. Temporary Lieutenant, IATC, Indian Army, 10th July 1919 to 28th March 1920. Promoted to Lieutenant, 29th March 1920, with seniority from 20th December 1919. Transferred to the Indian Army as 2nd Lt. (IA 362), attached to the Burma Military Police Mounted Infantry, 29th March 1920, with seniority from 10th April 1919. Squadron Officer with the Burma Military Police Mounted Infantry, 1921. Served as Captain (provisional), 20th December 1924 to 31st August 1925. Served North-West Frontier of India, 1930. Served North-West Frontier of India (Mohmand), 1933. Assistant Commandant, Burma Military Police, 1933. Promoted to Captain, 29th March 1936. Promoted to Major, 20th December 1936. Served with the 20th Lancers, which ceased to be an active regiment, becoming the permanent training regiment for the 3rd Indian Cavalry Group, 23rd April 1937. Transferred to the Semi-Effective List and seconded to the Burma Defence Force as Commandant, Northern Shan States Battalion, Burma Frontier Force, 24th April 1937. Awarded the C.I.E. (Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire), gazetted, 11th May 1937. Commanding Officer of the Burma Frontier Force reception camp at Milestone 105 on the Dimapur Road, May-June 1942. Staff Officer, Assistant Director of Remounts, Eastern Army, India, 14th June 1944. Promoted to Lt. Colonel, 20th December 1944. Retired, 15th April 1948 (“War Services of British and Indian Officers of the Indian Army 1941”, Savannah (2004);British Army List; Indian Army List; India Office List; London Gazette; WO 372/4/41517; Private Papers of Lt. Colonel I.C.G. Scott).
[20] John Colson Cotton, born, 13th April 1899. Commissioned to the Unattached List as 2ndLt. (81054), 27th October 1917. Appointed to the Indian Army as 2nd Lt., 3rd November 1917. Served Iraq, 1918. Promoted to Lieutenant, attached to the 24th Punjabis, 27th October 1918. Served Waziristan, 1920-21. Acting Captain from 7th May 1920 to 14th January 1922. Served with 2nd Battalion, 21st Punjabis, 1921(?). Attached 14th Punjab Regiment from 1922. Promoted to Captain, 27th October 1922. Served Waziristan, 1923. Mentioned in Despatches for service in Waziristan, gazetted, 12th June 1923. Promoted to Major, 27th October 1935. Seconded to the Burma Army, Company Commander, 1st Battalion, The Burma Rifles, 15th June 1937. As Major (temporary Lt. Colonel), Commanding Officer of the 6th Battalion, The Burma Rifles from formation, 15th February 1941 to January 1942. Administrative Commander of the Line of Communication Area providing reception camps for the Burma Army, May-June-1942. As Major (temporary Lt.Colonel), attached to The Burma Rifles, Mentioned in Despatches, gazetted, 28th October 1942. Promoted to Lt. Colonel, 27th October 1943. Acting Colonel from 23rd September 1944. Retired, 1947. As Lt. Colonel (399007) Special List (ex-Indian Army) retired, granted the honorary rank of Colonel, 26th November 1948 ("War Services of British and Indian Officers of the Indian Army 1941", Savannah (2004); British Army List; Burma Defence Services List July 1941; Indian Army List; London Gazette; Private Papers of Lt. Colonel I.C.G. Scott).
[21] Scott papers