THE FORGOTTEN ARMY AUGUST 1945

Saturday August 16th 2025. Chard Museum in partnership with Chard Town Council and organisations participating in the Culturally Chard Networking Group hosted a memory event celebrating the Forgotten Army. Everyone who attended was provided with a copy of this booklet sharing the story of the War in the Fareast but also searching the stories of soldiers from Chard who experienced events at first hand.

Researched and written by Sue Heward.

Due to the immediate German threat to Britain because of the bombing of British cities, the fear of invasion and the U-Boat attempts to starve the nation. The UK and USA agreed that the European Theatre of War was the priority.

As a result, the Far East became a secondary theatre, lacking equipment and resources. The campaigns were overlooked by the contemporary journalists and there were no live radio or filmed broadcasts. The public had very little knowledge of events, beyond the odd newspaper report. Only one radio journalist was at the Battle of Kohima and he only stayed a few days. Hence why many troops regarded themselves as the Forgotten Army.

EARLY DISAPPOINTMENTS

Added to this was a national sense of embarrassment over the large numbers of defeats by the Japanese in the early part of the War. In quick succession in early 1942, Britain lost Hong Kong, Malaya, Singapore and Rangoon.

Churchill described the surrender of Singapore as “the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history.” British troops retreated to India, losing most of their equipment and transport and losing 9,000 dead and 130,000 men to become Japanese prisoners.

Between December 1941 and August 1945 much of the fighting took place in malaria-ridden jungles during drenching monsoon rains and on remote islands in searing tropical heat against a tenacious and often brutal enemy.

PRISONERS OF WAR

The Japanese despised the act of surrender. The lives of the thousands of British, Indian and Commonwealth soldiers that fell into Japanese hands were therefore extremely vulnerable. Prisoners were held in appalling conditions, both in established jails, like Changi in Singapore and in makeshift jungle camps throughout S.E. Asia. Many prisoners died through the brutality of their captors. But the punishing climate, and the lack of adequate food and medicine, meant that thousands more died from diseases such as cholera, dysentery and malaria.

Prisoners were used as forced labour. The most notorious project being the Burma to Thailand railway. Opened in October 1943, it covered 1,250 miles (2000km) and cost the lives of over 15,000 prisoners of war and 80,000 local labourers.

THE FIGHT BACK

Back in India General Slim began to reorganise the 14th Army. He led a million men, drawn from Britain, India, Africa and Nepal. He had to overcome national differences and linguistic barriers to bond as a cohesive and effective fighting force. He retrained his troops for the rigours of jungle warfare and adopted new tactics.

After defensive victories at Imphal and Kohima, on the borders of India, the 14th Army moved forward to clear the Japanese from northern Burma. In March 1945, after crossing the Irrawaddy, the town of Meiktila was taken, followed by Burma’s second city, Mandalay.

These decisive victories were won through the courage and endurance of the troops and the superb generalship of their commander, General Slim. He then moved to Rangoon which fell in May 1945 to a combined land, air and seaborne operation.

The British began planning for new landings in Malaya and for the recapture of Singapore. But these were stalled by the Japanese surrender on 15^th August 1945.

POST WAR CHARD

During the early months of 1945 Chard was already preparing for post-war. Victory in Europe in May had been greeted with many celebrations. But an editorial in the Chard & Ilminster News on 12th May served to remind people that despite Victory in Europe having been justifiably celebrated, “We must not forget the enemy in the East. The Japanese must be beaten as thoroughly as the Germans.”

While the celebrations carried on there must have been mixed emotions for many families who continued to worry about sons, brothers, fathers and other loved ones serving in the Far East.

Unlike the European theatre of war there were very limited communications by letter and little newspaper and film coverage from the Far East. There was little knowledge of the men who became known as the Forgotten Army and the Prisoners of War. Even after the Japanese surrender on 15th August and the celebrations that followed, while ex-prisoners of war were returning from Europe, many families had to wait until December to receive news about those serving in the Far East.

The Chard and Ilminster News reported on how Chard people, and those in surrounding villages, celebrated the end of WW2. After the unconditional surrender of Japan on 15th August 1945 the newspaper reported on two days of spontaneous expressions of joy and relief. As soon as the midnight announcement from the Prime Minister on the 15th, that war was over, a crowd gathered in the centre of Chard and there was singing and dancing to the sound of a gramophone and accordion music.

Local streets were illuminated, flood lighting and other brilliant external lighting was now permitted for the first time since 1939 and there were searchlight and firework displays. Headlines were “Victory and Peace”, “Thanksgiving and Revelry” and “Hilarious Crowds”.

The next day several hundred people gathered at 11.00 am outside the Town Hall for a Service of Thanksgiving conducted from the balcony by the Mayor’s chaplain, Rev. J. V. Twigg. A fun fair, run by Mrs. F Symonds & Sons, opened at the recreation ground on 16th August. The Mayor and the Victory Committee attended and presented each child with sixpence and a bottle of mineral water. Though the weather was not at its best, nearly 500 children received the gifts and enjoyed the fair.

The Chard and Ilminster News reported on 25th August that parties and celebrations had continued. 100-year-old pensioners were given a grand tea in the British Restaurant, followed by entertainment in the Corn Exchange. Men received gifts of tobacco and women one shilling each.

On Saturday night (18th) a large bonfire was built in Chard School field by council workmen and local firms. It was lit by the Mayor, Mr E T Phelps.

The Parish Church was filled on Sunday, with others gathering outside the church.

Dances were held in the Corn Exchange on Wednesday and Saturday. There were street parties at Victoria Ave., High Street, Holyrood Street, Boden Street, Mill Lane and Church St., Cambridge Street, Combe Street and Touchstone Lane.

On 1st September the paper reported more street parties had been held at Furnham Rd., Crimchard, Forton Rd, and Fore Street. Bonfire Close had an outing to Lyme Regis.

On 15th September, 2 families heard that 2 ex Japanese POWs had safely arrived in India, and on 29th September 9 more POWs and internees were known to be safe.

However, on 27th October Mr & Mrs Rockett received news that their son, Ronald, was known to have died after being taken prisoner during the fall of Singapore in 1942.

On 10th November John Vincent, an ex POW from Borneo returned home. He reported that "conditions at the surrender were appalling. As soon as the Japs began to lose the war it was their policy to slowly starve and exterminate us…..the atomic bomb saved us”.

On 22nd December, news arrived that Flight Sergeant A H Player, had died of malnutrition in Hong Kong.

The information we have details the death and burial of 7 men of Chard in the Far East. There is a map in Chard Museum locating their burial sites.

THOSE FROM CHARD WHO WE KNOW SERVED IN THE FAR EAST

Those who died:

Norman Brister - Private, 2nd Battalion Welsh Regiment. Died 3rd January 1945 aged 34. By this time, the Battalion had been attached to the 19th Indian Division as part of the Chindits. Buried in Imphal War Cemetery, India.

Ernest Hodge - Corporal, Royal Air Force. Died 19th September 1942 aged 23. Buried in Jakarta War Cemetery, Indonesia.

Edward Alfred Long - Gunner, 240 Battery, 77 HAA Regiment, Royal Artillery. Died 24th June 1944 aged 33. On Singapore Memorial.

Robert Edward John Norris - Gunner, 239 Battery, 77 HAA Regiment, Royal Artillery. Died 16th May 1942 aged 31. Buried in Jakarta War Cemetery, Indonesia.

Arthur Howard Player - Signalman, Army. Died 26th August 1942 aged 23. Buried in Stanley Military Cemetery, Hong Kong. Reported that he had died of malnutrition.

Leading Seaman Prior - of Ilminster died in captivity. Reported on 13th October.

Ronald William Rockett - Signalman, Royal Navy, HMS Jupiter. Died 3rd October 1944 aged 22. Survived the sinking of HMS Jupiter on 27th February 1942 but was taken prisoner at the fall of Singapore in 1942.

Those who fought in the Far East and were reported as being safe in 1945:

15th September - 2 ex Japanese prisoners arrived safely in India

29th September - 9 more POWs and internees known to be safe.

John Vincent – ex-POW returned home from Borneo on 10th November.

F Dade - returned to Ilminster. He was released by the American forces near Tokyo on 17th November.

Our research will go on. If you or your family have memories shared by family members please do share them with us.

Many thanks to Sue Heward, who dug deep to write these stories about people from Chard who participated as part of the Forgotten Army.