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Auction: 25112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 543

A fine 'Chindit operations' group of five awarded to Private A.E. Forbes, King's Shropshire Light Infantry, late Wiltshire Regiment attached 1st South Staffordshire Regiment, a casualty of Operation "Thursday", Orde Wingate's second foray behind Japanese lines in 1944

1939-1945 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal E.II.R., Territorial (22557657 Pte A. E. Forbes. KSLI), mounted as worn, contact marks, very fine (5)

Albert Edward Forbes was born at Shifnal, Shropshire on 9 November 1920. He enlisted as a Bugler in the 1st K.S.L.I. in 1938, and allocated number 4032775, seeing service with the Battalion at Dunkirk which played a prominent role in rearguard actions to delay the German advance. Indeed, 1 K.S.L.I. was the last Regiment to be evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk on 2 June 1940. Transferring to the Wiltshire Regiment he was attached to the 1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment for service in Burma.

The 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment came under Orde Wingate's command in the 3rd Indian Division. The South Staffs were designated as 77th Indian Brigade under the legendary Brigadier 'Mad Mike' Calvert. It was the spearhead of the Chindit Brigades and was landed at 'Broadway' by glider on 5 March 1944. Twenty-three men were killed and as many again injured in the landing, mainly from incoming gliders colliding with those that had already landed. A rough landing ground was quickly cleared and defended from Japanese attack while the other Chindit Brigades were flown in over the next few days.

The Brigade counterattack at Kayin was against the main Japanese H.Q. in the area. The attack started on 17 April with the Lancashire Fusiliers, 45th Reconnaissance Regiment and 3/6th Gurkhas attacking. Initially good progress was made but it was later discovered that the main Japanese position was outside the village and was protected by almost impenetrable plantain scrub. After a trying day of indeterminate fighting, Brigadier Calvert decided, reluctantly, to withdraw westwards and consolidate at the village of Thayaung, about two miles away. In the fighting the Chindits lost 16 killed and 35 wounded; Forbes was one of those wounded on 24 April 1944.

The 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment was prominent in the action at Pagoda Hill, a ferocious hand to hand struggle during which Lieut. George Cairns won his posthumous Victoria Cross.

After the war Forbes joined the Territorial Army and was with the 4th Battalion, K.S.L.I. until 1967. In civilian life he was employed mainly in the building trade and died on 19 October 1996 at Shrewsbury; sold together with copied research, a copy of his obituary taken from the Regimental magazine and a copied old comrades reunion photograph which includes Forbes.

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Sold for
£260

Starting price
£170