by scully » Tue Dec 26, 2006 1:36 pm
Hi Len,
The 2nd Battalion were in Madras. Below is an extract trom the Regimental History for that time.
Regards, Louis
2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment (Feb. to Apr. 1942).
In February 1942, Singapore fell, and immediately the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment was ordered to Madras to join the Madras garrison. The families remained in Wellington, and in a search for some security the Colours and all mess silver were lodged with the Imperial Bank of India in Ootacamund. If the Japanese landed, "Ooty" appeared to be as remote an immediate hide-out as was available! Later, when the Battalion were to enter 19th Indian Division, one solitary private soldier was left to keep an eye on the bulk of Battalion property left in Wellington.
For the first three weeks in Madras the Battalion was housed in the spacious barracks at St. Thomas's Mount. Camp equipment hardly did justice to the enormous Officers' Mess. Later, various schools and large buildings were occupied in the town.
It was indeed fortunate that the threatened Japanese landing never materialized, for so far as the Madras coast was implicated, by sea, air or land there was nothing to stand in their way. In the local defence plan the Battalion was ordered to construct defences along the line of the Adyar river on the southern boundary of the river. With few stores available, the gardens round the bungalows of Madras merchants were exploited for wire and timber. Later, when the owners returned, the Commanding Officer received an official protest and demand for compensation! An appropriate reply was given.
It was an anxious period. To meet a force which was estimated at three divisions, two British battalions, two Indian Garrison battalions and the Madras Guards, an. auxiliary unit, were available. The Indian battalions had no automatic weapons; while the officers of 2nd Worcestershire, though in possession of revolvers, were without any ammunition and consequently armed themselves with rifles. Bren carriers were issued, but no drivers had yet ever driven them. It was therefore in the belief that the Japanese would invade the Peninsula across the Bay of Bengal that in April, 1942, the new 19th Indian Division was hurried south to the defence of the Madras coast. But the grave threat gradually evaporated and the Division was then free to set about training for a more aggressive role.