Act of Remembrance: Indian Signals WWII

Remembering Signalmen who served in Imphal, Kohima, Chindits and Burma War

On Sunday those members who were able travelled by car to the National Memorial Arboretum to attend the 1100am Act of Remembrance. At the end Lt Col Pat Soward told the congregation about the ceremony to follow and invited those not in our party to join us if they wished. He explained the
significance of the day, 65 years almost to the day (2 Sep 45) since the signing of the ‘Instrument of Surrender’ aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay which formally ended the Second World War.
Led by L/Cpl Samir Rai, a piper from 22 Sig Regt, standard bearers carrying the AFSA, Indian Signals Association and Birmingham Branch standards processed to the Far East Air Force Grove where Rev Jim McManus, Chaplain to the AFSA, blessed a tree and dedicated it to all those who had served in 19 (Air Formation) Sig Regt. It appeared that most of those in the chapel had taken up the offer and a goodly number followed to watch. A wreath was laid by Mr Charles Little MBE, who had served in India and Burma with the Regt and after the Exhortation a bugler signalled a silence.
The procession then continued to the Far East area to the tree ‘Planted for all ranks, Royal Signals and Indian Signals, lost in Burma in WW2’ where a new plaque had been installed. The tree was re-dedicated and wreaths laid by Maj Tom Bewsey OBE, chairman of the now disbanded Indian Signals Association, and Lt Col Pat Soward, on behalf of Lt Col Robin Painter in memory of his comrades in the Chindits and at the siege of Imphal who
didn’t return.
After the Exhortation and Kohima Inscription the bugler signalled a further silence after which the parade dismissed. The Indian Signals Association Standard was carried by Mr George Hedge for its last outing before being laid up in the Blandford Garrison Church. George’s father had served in Burma in WW2 and George proudly wore his Burma Star and other medals.
Extracted from: The Wire of Royal Signals