Peter Goode wrote:My father, Corporal Frederick Charles Goode, 5108868, DCLI, No.8 Commando and POW Rangoon Jail, was one of only 5 known survivors of the 100 officers and men who formed Middle East Detachment 2 [subsequently 2nd Special Service Detachment (SSD 2)], based, in late 1941, at the Bush Warfare School in Maymyo (Pyin-U-Lwin), Burma (Myanmar); under Lieutenant Colonel Henry Courtney Brocklehurst, 135896, for training for 204 British Military Mission to China.

After attacking Thai military positions on two occasions in Thailand on the outbreak of WW2, SSD 2 escorted a large, valuable consignment towards India, but had to bury the consignment and split into four groups when they reached the Irrawaddy River - sometime in early June 1942 - and found Japanese advance troops on the other side.
Lt Col Brocklehurst decided that they would each go their own way to try to make it back to India or China. They still hoped at this time to pass the advancing Japanese.
It was a little later that month that Brocklehurst was drowned whilst fording this river further upstream.

The first group was led by Lt Col Brocklehurst. There was only one (unidentified) survivor from this group.

The second group was led by Captain Green [?] Capt Green was the sole survivor of the group and became a POW in Rangoon Jail.

The third group was led by Sergeant McAteer, 6976837. There were no survivors from Sgt McAteer's group.

The final group was led by Sergeant John Francis Friend who, along with Corporal Frederick Charles Goode and Private William Bland, survived.
Sgt Friend and Pte. Bland escaped making their way to Kunming in China and from there back to India via assistance of British military officials based in China to assist in the war against the Japanese.

My Dad was eventually captured after being betrayed by Burmese villagers near the India/Burma border in the small village of Sadon for a reward of 100 rupees.
Dad had carried and assisted a fellow soldier from SSD2, Leonard Lacey, who had developed beriberi and could not walk. Dad only knew the date of his capture whilst being interrogated and tortured by the Kempitai a few days later on October 25th 1942, as they did not believe that British soldiers could have survived the tribulations of the jungle for nearly ten months - which my Dad had.
Lacey died whilst they were held in the town of Myitkina under interrogation. He was buried by the Japanese in an unknown grave. His name appears on the Rangoon Memorial along with others who died along the way, without a known grave.

Capt Green's group included C.S.M [WO II] Arthur Richardson, 5381845 (No.8 Commando); Trooper Arthur Lockington, 324447 (No.50 Commando), and Trooper Donald Ross Sharp, 323789.

Sgt Friend's group also included Corporal Robert Johnston, 2931826 (No.11 Commando); Lance Corporal Alexander A. Ballantyne, 2934334 (No.11 Commando); Private Thomas Morgan, 4977740; Private Harry Hancock, 4748143; Trooper William James Smith, 7909151; and Private Leonard Frank Lacey, 5669104 (No.8 Commando).

Other members of SSD 2 were Lance Corporal Richard Edward Homans, 5948673 and Trooper Lewis Ralph Scanes, 321274.

Fusilier Patrick Murray, 6976770 and Private John Miller, 6139215 (No.8 Commando) may also have been members of SSD 2.

I am trying to put together the story of my father and SSD 2 from his draft book, photographs, notes etc and would welcome any corrections and further pertinent information.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0WkG_fgMec

My father and I think Captain Green are at 06:52/7 to mention only one spot...


See also the book The Long Trek by John Francis Friend, published in UK 1957

I am trying to locate relatives of Sgt. John Friend and Private Bill Bland who were with my father and later made their way to Kunming in China and from there back to India via assistance of British military officials based in China to assist in the war against the Japanese and also a Captain Green who was Adjutant of SSD2 and was also a POW in Rangoon Jail with my Dad.

Are there any Military records you know of which lists all the members of SSD2 who were posted to the Bush Warfare School in 1941?

Peter Goode wrote:Are there any Military records you know of which lists all the members of SSD2 who were posted to the Bush Warfare School in 1941?

Peter Goode wrote:During my research, I have not come across Corporal Cornec. My research revealed that SSD2 (all were volunteers who came from the Middle East initially, after their Commando training.)
My understanding is there was one survivor only, from Col. Brocklehurst's group, this may well be Corporal Cornec as someone from his group did make it through and reported his death in India.
Of the other groups, they perished in the jungle or were killed when ambushed by Japanese soldiers or Chinese guerillas.

"The second, a fading weather beaten plaque, is an epitath to Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Courtney Brocklehurst, the lines beneath written by and in the handwriting of his brother Sir Philip Brocklehurst:

LT COL HENRY COURTNEY BROCKLEHURST 10TH ROYAL HUSSARS
AND PILOT IN THE ROYAL FLYING CORPS 1916-1918
GAME WARDEN OF THE SUDAN
BORN AT SWYTHAMLEY MAY 27TH 1888
KILLED ON ACTIVE SERVICE IN BURMA
ON COMMANDO JUNE 1942

"Horses he loved and laughter, the sun, with spaces and the open air.
The trust of all dumb living things he won and never knew the luck too good to share.
His were the simple heart and open hand and honest faults he never strove to hide.
Problems of life he could not understand but as a man would wish to die, he died.
Now though he will not ride with us again, his merry spirit seems our comrade yet,
Freed from the power of weariness and pain, forbidding us to mourn or to forget....

Erected by his devoted brother 1949"

alanlw wrote:Thanks Nick,

I am at present composing an email to Peter Goode, so thanks very much for the email address.

Re War Office: Directorate of Staff Duties: Papers WO 260/8
Special training centre at Inverailort War Office.
Date: 1940

I have that down for my next visit to Kew, though I'm not sure it will reveal what I'm looking for.

Steve R wrote:I came across some references to Lt.Col Brocklehurst whilst transcribing the War Diary of the 14th Burma Rifles, WO 172/986.

It seems Brocklehurst and 2 SSD were in Taunggyi in April 1942 when the time came for British troops to evacuate the town, handing over responsibility to the Chinese. A Rear Party was formed under Brocklehurst, consisting of 2 SSD, 14th Burma Rifles and the Southern Shan States Battalion, Burma Frontier Force, Brocklehurst assuming command on 17th April 1942 (approximately). At 2000 hrs on 20th April, Brocklehurst ordered the evacuation of Taunggyi. This party stuck together as they withdrew until 30th April when it split into four parties, one of which was Brocklehurst with two other British officers and 20 British Other Ranks.

I can PM an extract from the diary or you will find the full transcript at my web site at www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/burmaweb. The pdf is at http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/burmaweb/images/13th%20Burma%20Rifles%20WO%20172%20986%20-%20transcript.pdf

Just putting the finishing touches to the transcript and it will be up 19th or 20th September 2014.