Seaforth Highlanders in WWII, Far East

Hello everyone,

I wasn't sure where to post this query, so I thought I would start here - "Information Requests". I didn't want to post in the wrong group.

I have an Alexander McGregor who served with the Seaforth Highlanders during World War II.

I know (or family says so) he served in Burma, and he worked with mules which I believe would have been used for transport. Alexander was the son of a ploughman, and he worked with horses in the early part of his life.

At some point he returned to the UK, and he then joined the Airborne Forces - this is from talk of a "red beret" - maybe I'm totally out in left-field here.

Is there some source that someone can recommend for researching the Seaforth Highlanders in World War II - websites, books, etc. Particularly the Far East campaigns, or Burma. And were the Seaforth Highlanders there?

I would be greatful for any pointers.

Thank you,
Steven

 

Well they go back past the Great War a fine Regiment. So you should read the Gothic Line. With 25 Battle Honours in In World War II the 1st Bn. went overseas in 1939 as part of 1 Canadian Infantry Division and participated in the Defence of Britain. In 1943 they were part of operation Husky, the invasion on Sicily, and then the invasion of Italy. In 1945 they were moved to Holland along with the rest of the 1st Canadian Corps and reunited with the 2nd Canadian Corps as part of First Canadian Army for the liberation of Holland.http://bcoy1cpb.pacdat.net/seaforth_highlanders.htmhttp://wapedia.mobi/en/Seaforth_HighlandersThe Battle of Ortonahttp://wwii.ca/page44.htmlhttp://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/ww2/allied/seaforthhighlanders.phpIn Holland, on 13th May 1945, 5 days after formal surrender, the Canadian Seaforth Highlanders supplied a German firing squad with captured German rifles. Two German naval deserters were executed. So there was certainly cooperation between Canadian military and German military units and a reliance on German military leadership.The sheer number of German troops presented problems for the allies along with the sudden change of job from soldier to police officer. In fact the Canadians required the German military to remain formationally intact and functional. To achieve this they applied a questionable interpretation of international law. Surendered Germans were held not as POW's but as "Surrendered Enemy Personnel" - this allowed them to largely administer and maintain themselves.To read more about this and the chaotic situation the allies found themselves in along with some interesting photos, try the following link:http://www.wlu.ca/lcmsds/cmh/back ... Control.pdfPeter Marshall Fraser was born in 1918 and educated at the City of London School. Winning a classical scholarship to Brasenose College, Oxford, he took classical mods, but then, with the advent of war, joined the Seaforth Highlanders.Parachuted into Greece in 1943, he spent an adventurous and extremely dangerous two years, which included being drafted for work on fortifications by the occupying forces, unaware that he was a British officer, and leading a raid on a German airfield which won him the Military Cross in 1944. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...cle2640678.ece Canada's last surviving VICTORIA CROSS winner was Private E. A. Smith who won this decoration while serving with the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada. For more info see: Pte. Ernest Alvia Smith - Veterans Affairs Canada
LOOKS LIKE A Problem With Posting on The System can't Space or change letter format or Size??????????? When you Edite

 

Thank you Spaniard and Biak.

Biak, you are right. It is the Scottish Seafoth Highlanders I am interested in, but I will read the Canadian details with interest. There are Candian links within this family too - both WWI and WWII.

I have some photos I have out up in my personal album linked to my profile which show some photos of the Seaforths.

Thanks again.

I'm finding this site a wonderful resource, and I only just joined. Everyone has been so helpful already. I have no idea where I'm going, or where to start with research, so all advice is greatfully received.

Steven
(Thurso, Scotland)

 

OK I just saw your in Scotland Wrong Seaforth Highlanders, Just like The Black Watch. The Links are informative see You. One of the Links has this Picture Led by their piper, men of 7th Seaforth Highlanders, 15th (Scottish) Division advance during Operation Epsom, 26 June 1944.In 1940, the 6th Battalion was sent to France as part of the BEF. The Battalion was involved in the Blitzkrieg of May 1940, escaping through Dunkirk on the 1st of June after suffering significant losses.Some uniform details here>> 15th (Scottish) Division, 7th Seaforth Highlandershttp://www.cameronians.com/15th/useaf.htm

 

If he was in Burma he would have served with 1st battalion Seaforths.