Units

[David Cochrane]

As a pet project, I've been trying to work out the specific unit that each WWII VC was serving with at the time of his action. I've been able to find almost all of them up to Divisional level, but there are three for which I've had no sucess: Major Le Patourel, Corporal Sukanaivalu and Jemadar Parkash Singh. For these three I've been able to find their Battalion but no higher.
Does anyone know what Brigade and Division they were serving with (if indeed they were attached to one) at the time they earned their VCs? I would greatly appreciate any information.

[Les]

I know Le Patourel was 2nd Btn Hamps Regiment but I can't find anything immediately that gives more info. Have you tried contacting the respective regimental museums? They may well know the answer.

Les

[roberthenry]

Hello David I see you have been busy on here today.
To reply to your above post, after a look I found

Major Herbert Le Patourel
2nd Battalion
Hampshire Regiment
!st Infantry Brigade
78th Infantry Division
V Corps
Eight Army

Corporal Sukanaivalu of the 3rd Btn Fijian Infantry Regiment was I believe under the control of the United States 37th Division who had complete control of the Solomon islands after the departure of the New Zealand defence force from June 1942 until the arrival of the Australians in 1945.

Parkash Singh I am not sure about but I think he was
5th Battalion
Punjab Regiment
6th Indian Infantry Brigade
11th Infantry Division
Indian Army

[David Cochrane]

Thanks very much for the info - I assume that 3 Fiji was under the Fiji Infantry Brigade which was in turn under the US 37th?

I don't think that Jem. Parkash Singh was with the 5th Punjab - he was with the 4/13th Frontier Force Rifles. At any rate, the 11th Indian Division surrendered at Singapore, so he couldn't have been with them in Burma in 1945.

[David Cochrane]

There were fourteen ground VCs not assigned to a Division, while the remaining 115 were (including these three). The 9th Australian & the 17th Indian have the most, with seven apiece. Four of the seven Australians were in the same Battalion (2/48th), another record for the war. The 1st UK and the 2nd NZ got six each, while the 7th Australian, 4th Indian & 8th Indian got five each. Nearly one third of all of the ground VCs were serving with one of these seven Divisions.

I've now finished up the list (with the exception of the Jemadar) - is it possible to attach a file to a post here

[Les]

David,

I haven't found any way of having files downloadable, only pics. If you e-mail me the file, I'll host it on a hidden page on the main site.

Les

[David Cochrane]

Thanks very much - I've just sent it to you.

[roberthenry]

Sorry David I was looking Parkash Singh, Haviidar 8th Punjab Regiment awarded a VC 6th Jan 1943 on the Donbaaik Mayo Peninsula in Burma and it should have been the 14th Divison not the 11th.

A further look and I think Parkesh Singh Jemadar awarded VC 16/17 feb 1945 was
14th Battalion
13th Frontier Rifles
Indian 100th infantry Brigade
20th Infantry Division

But check these anyway

[David Cochrane]

That checks out; thank you very much.

[Les]

Got it - Thanks David.

If anyone would like to view David's work, click here --> (It's in .pdf format)

www.eviltaxman.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ww2/ww2.htm

Les

[anthony]

David

I am at Singapore on my way to Tel Aviv for Anzac Day and the dedication of the Park of The Australian soldier at Be'er-Sheva on 28 April. I have done lists of higher formations for both world wars and will have a close look at this question when I am home in be early May. For instance 17th Indian was the only division with seven awards. The 9th Australian had 6. The Taraken award to Mackey of the 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion should be credited to 1 Australian Corps. Although the infantry in this campaign were from 26th Brigade, they had been detached from 9th Division and were operating under orders of 1 Australian Corps.

Anthony

[anthony]

David

Congratulations on some excellent work.

Ervine-Andrews - officially 126th Bde was with the 1st Divison between 30 May to 2 June 1940. All other times it was the 42nd Division.
Brig Campbell commanderd the 7th Support Group
Pte Wakenshaw was 9th DLI
Jemadar Parkash Singh was 14/13 FFR, 100th Ind Bde, 20th Ind Div
Corporal Sukanaivalu not sure but I suspect the Fiji Bde reported to XIV US Corps.

Anthony

[anthony]

David

Pte Frank Partridge, the last Australian VC of WW2 served with the 8th Battalion, 23rd Australian Brigade. However, 23rd Bde was not part of the 5th Division but under II Australian Corps on Bougainville. The 5th Division in 1945 was in New Britain and was not involved in Bougainville. The 23rd Brigade headquarters had originally been the headquarters of one of three brigades of the 8th Australian Division. The battalions of the 23rd Brigade had been sent to Rabaul, Ambon and East Timor and all were overrun in 1942. The 23rd Brigade headquarters stayed in Darwin and was reconstituted with militia battalions. Pte Frank Partridge was the only Australian conscript soldier ever awarded the Victoria Cross.

Anthony

[anthony]

David

You have listed Fazal Din's unit 7/10th Bal R with 63rd Indian Brigade. The Official History lists the 7/10th Bal R as the Divisional Recce Battalion of the 17th Indian Division.

Anthony

[anthony]

David

Hav Parkash Singh served with the 5/8th Punjab not the 3/8th Punjab. The 5/8th were part of the 47th Indian Brigade of the 14th Indian Division.

Re Jem Parkash or Prakash Singh, 14th/13th FFR. He is incorrectly listed in both the 1997 edition of the Register of the VC and Monuments of Courage as 4th/13th FFR. Although most modern references spell the name Jem Prakash Singh he was gazetted as Jem Parkash Singh and is commemorated by the CWGC as Jem Parkash Singh. And Monuments of Courage uses a photo of the commemoration for Jem Parkash Singh for both him and Hav Parkash Singh!

Umrao Singh was with the 33rd Mountain Battery, 30th Indian Mountain Regiment

I should say that I have found out that you are more correct than I am in a number of my entries. But I can fix mine in secret!

Great work.

Anthony