Hi
the scan shows a cover from Fiji to Malaya during the BMA period. Posted 9 July 1947.
I know that Fijian troops were there during the Emergency, but in 1947 ?
It is to M.T.D. V. R Singh (Motor transport Driver Volunteer reserve perhaps ?)
G H Q (general HQ ) 2nd Echelon
at SEALF - which is South East Asia Land Forces
at P.O. Nee Soon - which was an Army transit camp in BMA and the Emergency,
Was there a Fijian detachment there in BMA / 1947?
any information would be appreciated.
thanks Susan
Susan,
From what I can find, SEALF was the successor to South East Asia Command, which switched from combat operations to military government in 1945.
SEAC was disbanded in 1946, and became SEALF, which has a part in the military administration.
During the war, the territorial Fijian force was under U.S. command, and used in the Solomon Islands campaign. They were demobilized in September 1945.
The references I looked at in the Command and Staff College library at FT Leavenworth all state that Fijian involvement in the Emergency began in 1952.
A Rand report I looked at (Army Operations in Malaya, 1947-1960) stated that there were approx. 5,784 combat troops and 5,660 service troops in Malaya in 1948.
Based on the above, as well as the scarcity of information, I would guess that there was no organized Fijian force in Malaya at that early date, and that this V.R. Singh was more than likely a Fijian volunteer with another organization, serving as part of SEALF service troops in the BMA.
Al Bump
Hi Almyr
thanks for your reply, that explains it - I knew that Fiji sent troops to the Emergency, but thus man was probably a volunteer at SEALF - perhaps from the Fijian military.
hope the[color=blue] book[/color] has arrived OK
best regards SUsan
sorry somehow the word 'book' got missed
Hi Susan
Do you think that he was part of the Indian Corps serving in SEALF - Indian XV Corps; 5th Infantry Division; 23rd Indian Inf Div. and the letter is from a relative in Fiji.
SEALF becane FARELF on 15/8/47
regards
Robert Duns
[will get back to you re the books].
Hi Robert,
my first thought - given the Indian Community in Fiji - was Fijian forces, but discounted after Al's comment.
your idea - an Indian with the Indian forces at SEALF with a relative, also Singh, in Fiji makes sense. So we now have that he was either with Indian Forces or a volunteer with other BMA forces.
I can write the cover up now,
many thanks to both you and Al.
Hi Susan
Have you checked Proud's book on the Indian Army? let me know if you don't have access to one and i'll check our copy in the Library the next time I am there.
Regards
Robert
Robert
good thought !
I've got one volume, and know where I can access the others easily.
thanks
Susan
Robert,
Proud's Indian Army Vol III upto Aug 1947,
except chapter 7, the Malaya bit is only 1942 - 1945,
Your Indian Corps with SEALF seems likely
thanks Susan