hi does anyone know about the defence of the port of rangoon 1914
thanks

At that time Burma was the responsibility of the Government of India, so I would expect an Indian Army regiment and a R.G.A. unit. Apparently according to The Long Long Trail, the 1st Munster Fusiliers were there in 1914.

You will find the full composition of the Rangoon Division here.

Please forgive my ignorance . Was there an attack on the Port of Rangoon ?

i was reading the service papers for one boy and it states defence of the port of rangoon so i assumed that they were attacked,just i hadnt heard of it
barry

seems strange theres nothing on this .cant find anything online either but it must have been important at the time , suppose the war diary if avaliable might throw some light on it

I think there was fear that Rangoon would be attacked by German raiders, as I believe Madras was.

Plus Burma was still a bit dicey, as it had only been annexed in 1885-7, and things were still boiling in 1892. Thus a strong garrison would be kept in the country, although much of it was probably up country.

hi michael,
seems strange that it was added to his service papers if nothing occured,as you know these comments were added if something happend ( look at some of the papers for rorkes drift as an example )suppose ill get to the bottom of it when i can get to NA or india office
cheers
barry

I must explain my interest . My father's uncle set up (I think) the telephone service in Burma . He went in 1911 and came back in 1929 . His children were born there , but his wife did come home for the birth of her 2nd child . I don't have the dates , but I wonder if it was because Rangoon was under attack .

Linden

Rangoon does not appear to have been under attack at any time during WW1. The Emden sailed in Burmese waters but left these to attack the Burmah Oil company oil installations at Madras. The only other German raider to have operated in the Indian Ocean - Wolf concentrated on commerce.

2/5th Somerset Light Infantry served in Burma, arriving in December 1914 until early 1917. Their history 'A Strange War: Burma, India and Afghanistan 1914-1919' notes that they did not see active service during this period.

Robert

But the 2/5th Somersets did go 'up country' to keep potentially troublesome locals under control.

The expedition started with one of their number being eaten by a crocadile.

Brendon

Puts a damper on any trip