Hello

[Ole Gunnar]

Hi everyone, I'm Alan from Shaw nr Oldham and i'm hoping that you'll be able to help me with some information.

I'm looking for as much information as possible about my maternal grandfather.

His name was Noel Stockdale, he lived in Ashton under Lyne.

In his later years he got back involved with the British Legion and used to go to the Legion club in Droylsden, i've attached a picture incase any of you recognise him. At a guess i'd say that the picture dates to about 2000/01 ( ? ).



He spoke very little about his time during the war. I believe he was a range finder and I do know that he was involved during Dunkirk and following that he went to Poona ( Pune ) before going on to Burma, he spent the time towards the end of the war as POW in Burma.

This is where I need the help, i'd like to know where in India he may have fought, where in Burma he fought before his capture, and the main thing is whereabouts he would have been held during his time as a POW.

I'm planning on going away late in 2013 to visit as many places as possible where he would have been, your assistance will be greatly appreciated.

[harribobs]

Hi Alan

and welcome to the forum

we are a little thin on the ground due to the time of year but i hope we'll be able to help

chris

[Robert Bonner]

Alan.
We may be a litle thin on the ground this week but definately a warm welcome to you.

I certainly recognise his face as having been one of the Regiment's Old Comrades, probably from the Ashton branch or possible the Manchester one.  If I am correct then we should  be able to fill in a few gaps.

Are you sure about his being a PoW at the end of the war?  Everything else - Dunkirk, Poona, India & Burma points to his having been in 2nd Manchesters throughout the war and they are well recorded.

[Ole Gunnar]

Hi Chris & Robert

He was a member of the Ashton branch, my mum used to take him to the club on a Sunday lunch I believe.

He was definitely a POW.

[Ole Gunnar]

Is it OK if I bump this thread for anyone who may have missed it due to the seasonal festivities ?

It looks i'll be traveling to Burma at the end of October / beginning of November this year, i'll be sure to take in as many places of interest to the Manchester Regiment as possible. This may also be including Singapore if that fits in with any Regiment records.

[pete th]

Hi Alan, welcome to the forum. The 2nd Manchesters were a machine gun battalion. They were involved in the Battle of Kohima. There is a little info on the below thread,including a link to an MOD booklet on the battle, and a search on the forum using the word Kohima will throw up more info.

http://themanchesters.org/forum/index.php?topic=6484.0

After Kohima, they went to relieve Imphal and then took part in the advance through Burma.

Hope this helps

Pete

P.S. Good to have another Red on the site

[Ole Gunnar]

Many thanks Pete .. it's Alan by the way, not Dave 

I've downloaded the PDF to read tomorrow.

I've had a quick google for the book that is mentioned but it may be a little tough to find now. No harm in searching for it though while working out where i'll be traveling to. India has always been a place that has fascinated me so it would be no problem to add that to my intinerary.

Grandad always wanted to go back to that part of the world, politics in the area obviously made it impossible. The least I can do is make the journey for him.

Numquam Moribimur 

[mack]

hiya alan.
did you know your great grandfather and his brother were also in the manchesters.

signaller 1373 noel,williamson stockdale
pte 2639 frank stockdale
sons of john,williamson+elizabeth stockdale.56 oldham rd,waterloo,ashton
both were listed in the nominal roll of the 1/9th manchesters in july 1914,both went to gallipoli,your gt grandfather was one of those who went out between the lines to dig a new trench under the noses of the turks
your great uncle frank was invalided home with enteric fever and admitted to netley hospital on 18-9-15,his health took a serious turn in the next four weeks,the stress of the gallipoli campaign and the enteric fever drove him insane and he was discharged as physically unfit,the doctors advised permanent asylum treatment,his condition has no cure[dementia praecox]he died on 5th may 1919 aged 24,hes buried in ashton[hurst]cemetery,his name is on the waterloo+taunton war memorial,ironically located at the corner of his street,he worked as a cotton spinner prewar as well as serving 3yrs with the 9th manchesters

your gt grandfather was invalided home sometime during the gallipoli campaign and transferred to the RDC as pte 75316,married miss florence slack in 1917 at ashton,your grandfather was born in 1921

grandfather noel,frederick stockdale passed away at the royal infirmary,manchester on 1st july 2006 aged 86,he was cremated at dukinfield crematorium on monday 10th july,his ashes are in rosebed 1 along with his beloved wife jessie,who died on 17th july 2001 at tameside gen hospital,lived at 69 downshaw rd,ashton.

mack

[pete th]

Many thanks Pete .. it's Alan by the way, not Dave 

Sorry Alan, I was having a 'Trigger' moment. I've corrected the post

[Ole Gunnar]

Hi Mack

That is fantastic info, thank you very much indeed.

Apart from the last paragraph concerning my Grandad I had no idea at all about the rest of the family history. My Mum will be amazed when I phone her later to tell her. I'll bet that she has walked past that Waterloo war memorial 1000's of times and yet didn't know she had a relatives name on it.

If you happen to know of anything concerning my Grandad Noels movements during the war it would be great if you cold pass them on to me.

Alan

[Ole Gunnar]

Many thanks Pete .. it's Alan by the way, not Dave 

Sorry Alan, I was having a 'Trigger' moment. I've corrected the post

No probs Pete.

I've just bought a copy of Forward From Kohima - A Burma Diary November 1944 - May 1945, at the very least i'll learn a little about my Manchester Regiment heritage, at best i'll find some locations to visit later this year.

I've spoken to my Mum and she's positive that Grandad had a copy of the book that is now out of print, unfortunately it was lost after his death. It is available online but at nearly $100 a copy i'll wait to buy unless it seems that I must have it.

Thanks for your help.

[Ole Gunnar]

Righty-ho

Just been having a chat with my Mum and it's come to her that there may have been some crossed wires with whether or not Grandad was infact a PoW.

As he rarely spoke of his army time, he may have just said that he ( and the company ? ) entered one or more camps during his time in Burma, and that if there was a misunderstanding he simply didn't correct the family.

Hopefully this will help with anyone who can confirm or correct the info.

Oh, the Forward From Kohima book was delivered yesterday. I'm looking forward to some Manchester Regiment history.

Alan

[Robert Bonner]

I think you'll find that your mother is quite correct.
I don't think that there is any doubt that your grandfather served with 2nd Manchesters both in India and Burma.   They did not lose any men as prisoners.

[Ole Gunnar]

I think you'll find that your mother is quite correct.
I don't think that there is any doubt that your grandfather served with 2nd Manchesters both in India and Burma.   They did not lose any men as prisoners.

Many thanks for the clarification Robert, and my most profuse apologies for any duff information that I posted ( unknowingly obviously ).

My plan is to still keep my promise to my Grandad and go to Burma later this year, and my promise stands to photograph any places of interest to the Manchester Regiment.

If my post saying that he was a PoW is in anyway unhelpful for future searches of the site please feel free to edit / delete as you see fit.

Alan