Happy Birthday to Neville Jacobs - 92 today.

Neville Jacobs – A brief outline of his Burma Campaign

In June 1940, I went to India by ship via Cape Town on the "Strathaird". We docked in Bombay in September 1940 and proceeded to Mhow. There I remained until February 1942. During this time,I had basic training and became an instructor. This included training for would be officers for the Signals.

I was posted to Jubbelpore and from there, I and my friend Charles Hunt were posted to Banaglore where we became part of the 20th Indian Signal Division. After a period of time, we were sent to Ceylon were we trained for jungle warfare.

I was sent back to India for a wireless course for the "Number 9 set". A very powerful device. In fact, as I had been using this radio for a number of weeks in Ceylon, I was asked to take the class! I then returned to Ceylon (where I spent the best part of 18 months) where we took part in two mock battles against another division (we won).

In September 1943, the whole unit was sent to Ranchi, Northern India (at that time I was a sergeant in the 20th Indian Division) from there we proceeded into Burma. Also, around this time, I had a brief and interesting assignation with Flight Officer Jackie Coogan! After facing a determined Japanese advance, we repeatedly retreated, initially from Imphal, until we found ourselves at Kohima in March 1944.

After the battle at Kohima we rested, re-grouped ready for the offensive. After several months we had pushed through into Burma, crossed the Chindwin and eventually routed the Japanese. My friend Charles Hunt CQMS and I took two truck loads of prisoners to Yeho airport where we handed them over to the Military Police. Then I flew to Calcutta and then repatriated. I disembarked at Gourock in April 1945.

He is also Jeremy's father. Which has no doubt been far more harrowing than his wartime service!!

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