SUFFOLK REGIMENT 1928-1946

The Suffolks have been fortunate in their choice of authors to record their history of which this is the third volume, one which maintains the high standard of the earlier two (1685-1913 and 1914-1927). This volume covers all the battalions that existed during WWII, and while space does not permit a detailed account of every action in which the battalions were involved, nevertheless this history does give a good, well-written narrative describing the Regiment’s part in the war.The first chapter is devoted to the years between the wars and of the remaining nine the 1st Battalion takes the lion’s share, three chapters. The Battalion, which had just returned from Malta in July 1939, was in Devonport when war broke out, part of 8th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division of which Montgomery was GOC. They went to France in October and in due course were taken off at Dunkirk. The Battalion remained in the UK till D Day when, still in 8th Brigade, 3rd Division, it landed in Normandy and from then on was engaged in the NW Europe campaign. The 2nd Battalion was at Mhow, in India, and in November 1939, moved up to the Razmak on the NW Frontier and from then to the beginning of 1942 they were engaged against the tribesmen in the Tochi Valley and in internal security. In October 1943 the Battalion joined 123rd Indian Infantry Brigade and took part in the Burma campaign including the Arakan and Imphal. The 4th and 5th Battalions were sent to Singapore and in the ensuing battle they were taken prisoner. Their total dead numbered 763 of whom 124 died in battle and 615 in Japanese captivity – most on the Burma-Thailand railway.
The 7th Battalion was converted to the 142 Regiment, RAC in November 1941 and served in N Africa and Italy; in all they lost eleven officers and 76 other ranks dead. There was a number of second line battalions – 6th, 8th, 9th, 30th, 31st and 70th – none of which served overseas other than the 8th which served in the West Indies from March 1946 to February 1947. The activities of all these battalions are described in brief and the lists of officers serving with them are given. The Home Guard Battalions (11th Suffolk, Isle of Ely and 2nd Cambridgeshire and Suffolk) along with the Army Cadets and the ATS get a chapter to themselves. Finally there is a chapter on the two battalions of the Cambridgeshire Regiment, both lost in Singapore. Appendices include Honours and Awards and succession list of COs of all battalions.