Account by Peter Steyn of the changes which had taken place in Digboi in the ten years since the lst Battalion was there. Also account of the changes in the Abor district in 1950 due to the earthquake: Missionaries and Naga troubles..
Newsletter No. 12 May 1954
Account of Shillong newspaper of the History and achievements of the Assam Regiment at the unveiling of their War Memorial in Shillong. The writer, D. Lloyd Jones, mentions his trek in 1943 with Gyles Mackrell – quotation from The Daily Telegraph, 24 February 1954 about his rescue work for refugees in the Chaukan Pass. (See Mackrell: FILMS).
Newsletter No.13 December 1954
Quotations from Daily Telegraph about trouble among the tribes of the N.E. Frontier of India, and also about the British patterns preserved in the Indian Army. Quotation from The Times about Kohima.
Newsletter No.14 May 1955
Appendix 8:
‘The Rhino and Running Water’ – an account of an amusing war incident by Major Amar Sen of the Assam Regiment.
Newsletter No.15 November 1955
Newsletter No.16 June 1956
Quotations about the Maharaja of Manipur and the Indian National Army Memorial.
Newsletter No.17 November 1956
Appendix 9:
Regimental Newsletter from Assam and letter from P.B. Singh, The Palace, Imphal, Manipur State. (Brother of the Maharajah).
Newsletter No.18 May 1957
Brief account of P. Steyn’s visit to the Battalion in Shillong, and other letters.
Newsletter No.19 December 1957
Newsletter No.20 June 1958
Newsletter No.21 November 1958
Newsletter No.22 June 1959
Description of Regimental Reunion in Assam
Newsletter No.23 November 1959
Obituary notice from The Times of Major-General T. Wynford Rees.
Newsletters No.24 June 1960 to No.33, June 1964
Newsletter No.34 December 1964
Obituary from The Times of Sir Robert Reid.
Newsletters No.35 June 1965 to No.37, June 1966
Newsletter No.38 February 1967
Book Review of Kohima by Arthur Swainson and ensuing correspondence in the Kentish Gazette.
Newsletter No.39 June 1967
Reproduction from the Arny list of the Assam Regiment, Part 2 of October 1945.
Newsletters No.40 March 1968 to No.42, April 1969.
Newsletter No.43 January 1970
Brief extract from Mr. Eric Lambert’s diary of siege of Kohima.
Newsletters No.44 June 1970 to No.46, June 1971.
Newsletter No.47 February 1972
Account of the unveiling of the memorial to the Indian Allied Forces 1946 – 1947 in St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Newsletter No.4 July 1972
Newsletter No.49 February 1973
‘Return to India and the Assam Regiment’, 1972 by D.E. Lloyd Jones. 15pp.
Detailed diary of a month’s tour of India and Assam by Mr and Mrs. Lloyd Jones, visiting friends, and battalions of the Assam Regiment, where they were welcomed very warmly.
Newsletters No.50 July 1973 to No.51, January 1974
Newsletter No.52 June 1974
‘India and Nepal 1973: a sentimental journey’ by Lt. Colonel E.H.M. Parsons.
Detailed diary of Colonel Parsons’ return trip to India, at the invitation of the Commandant of the Assam Regimental Centre in Shillong. 14pp.
Newsletter No.53 February 1975
Newsletter No.54 – June 1975
Mentions the Centre of South Asian Studies’ activities, in particular the films.
Newsletters of the Assam Regiment Reunion Club No.l, 19.
Including ‘Return to India and the Assam Regiment: 1972’ by Colonel D.E. Lloyd Jones, and ‘India and Nepal, 1973: a sentimental journey’, by Lt. Colonel E.H.M. Parsons. TS appendices to Newsletters Nos.
Photograph of memorial plaque to the Assam Regiment in the parish church of St. Andrews, Whittlesey – Dedicated 1950.
Pamphlet:
David Edward Evans: a Welshman in India, by D.E. Loyd Jones, M.C., B.A, Reprinted from the Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, Session 1967, Part 1.
Short biography of D.E. Evans 1885. Joined Indian Navy – 1888; Indian General Steam Navigation and Railway Co. of Calcutta; joined Ralli Bros. as consulting engineer: became Superintendent Engineer – 1931.
Lloyd-Jones (D.E.) Papers: Box 4
Assam Regimental Newsletter written from the lst Battalion. The Assam Regiment in Shillong.
Christmas 1946 by Lt. Col. Hugh Parsons
March 3, 1947 by Captain Peter Steyn
May 1947 by Lt. Col. Hugh Parsons
Christmas 1947 by D.H. Mappin.
Copy of The Rhino: Silver Jubilee Number of the Assam Regiment’s publication. (1941-1966).
Photograph of Memorial Tablet to Lt. Col. W.F. Brown, D.S.O., O.B.E., Commandant of lst Battalion Assam Regiment, in the parish church at Whittlesey. Unveiled 1950.
13 December 1947 Preliminary letter from D.E.L.J. about Reunions.
Assam Regiment Re-Union Club.
Newsletter No.l, December 1948 (written by D.E.L.J.)
Appendix 1: With the Second Battalion, N.W. Frontier and Ambala 1946-47, by Lewis Collinson. 4pp.
Conditions and attitudes of Pathans towards Assam Regiment in 1946-47; tensions, incidents. Description of terrible plight of refugees seen during journey to Ambala. State of refugee camps. Attitude of the men of the Assam Regiment.
Newsletter No.2, June 1949.
Appendix 2: ‘From a Subaltern’s Diary’ by G. Mackenzie. Short memoir of December 1941 – assembling and training new recruits at Digboi.
In Burma 1947′ by Peter Steyn. Short memoir of the lst Battalion’s anti-dacoit operation in Mandalay.
Newsletter No.3 10 December 1949
Newsletter No.4 1 May 1950
Newsletter No.5 2 December 1950
Appendix 3:
‘Dacoit operations in Burma, 1946’, by Peter Steyn. Anecdotes of the Battalion in Burma.
Newsletter No.6 18 May 1951
Appendix 4:
‘With the 2nd at Ranipet’ by R.E. Jenks. Incident of camp flooding.
Newsletter No.7 December 1951.
Mentions collection of photographs of the Naga Hills compiled by Mr. Kiernan (over 500) which he wished to increase and complete.
Newsletter No.8 17 May 1952
Appendix 5:
‘Incident during Independence arrangements in Sylhet’ by J.S. Collicut.
Newsletter No.9 December 1952.
Contains account of returning to Assam as a tea-planter by Peter Steyn, 1952. Conditions in Bombay, Calcutta and from the tea-garden in Assam. Comments on Nehru, Naga situation and state of Assam.
Also included in a newspaper cutting about Commission of Inquiry appointed in October 1952 to inquire into outbreak of disorder in Kohima.
Appendix 6:
‘Account of Delhi after August 15, 1947 during the fighting’. (Description of the refugee Camp at Humayan’s Tomb controlled by J. Walmesley, (q.v.) Lady Arthur Smith, Mrs. B.K. Nehru and Bishop Mukerjee. Psychological attitudes.
‘Disease’, by Peter Steyn. Written, January 1948.
Appendix 7:
A brief article on the Tribal Areas of Assam: The Autonomous Districts, the N.E. Frontier Agency, and Government Development Projects, by Thenphunga Sailo.
Lloyd-Jones (D.E.) Papers: Box 3
1945
2 January Captured a prisoner; turkey and plum pudding dropped from the air. Still marching towards Burma.
10 January Death of C.O. His place possibly to be taken by the 2nd in command, Mohammed Ayub Khan (later President of Pakistan).
22 January Letter about officers and Japanese, and the advance in Burma.
13 February Has majority: the campaign a costly one.
15 February Mentions the Maharaja of Manipur and his brother
18 February About an article in the press mentioning the unit and him.
7 March Japanese in full retreat. Lt. Col Parsons appointed C.O.
15 March With the 19th Indian Division under General Rees.
29 March His unit have freed Anglo-Indians and Anglo-Burmese interned by the Japanese. Japanese have stripped the country. Gurkha officer finds his family in Maymo starving. In the victory parade at Mandalay Fort.
3 April Been entertaining ex-internees and ex-refugees.
11 April Has been in action again.
18 April Major Ayub Khan transferred to old unit.
25 April Old orderly dies in hospital.
5 May Action. Personal. Rangoon fallen.
10 May V.E. day. Spent mostly in action. Does not see the end of Japanese war under 18 months.
18 May Fighting Japanese fierce resistance east of Toungoo.
26 May Monsoon making things difficult. Describes ruin of Burmese through the Japanese inflationary rate of exchange.
29 May Army activities from when he joined the 1st Btn. The Assam Regt.when it was in the 23rd Indian Division, covering the withdrawal of Alexander’s Army, up to the fall of Rangoon.
30 May Expresses disgust at Parliamentary talk of improving Amenities in the East, which he considers very poor.
5 June Still in action. Personal, about conditions.
12 June Complains about no repatriation arrangements for Indian Army. Mopping-up operations.
24 June (2 letters) Regimental 4th Birthday party described. Each tribe did its own songs and dances.
28 June Has led a most successful action.
5 July Concern for Indian troops. Sepoys get no family allowance. Asks for cigarettes from Welsh mission supporters instead of temperance tracts.
12 July Still on ‘mopping-up’.
19 July Mentions Wavell’s talks in Simla failing again.
31 July Demobilisation plans. Japanese war coming to an end.
6 August Has been allotted a Japanese sword.
17 August Feelings about armistice marred by a grenade exploding among his men. No cause for celebration, only gratitude and remembrance.
27 August Has been ill. Personal.
13 September Personal. The Company gave a party for the local children.
21 September Comments on Self-Government in India.
26 September Wants to be present for Dasera which he has always missed.
2 October Effects of mepacrine on malaria.
10 October Been inspecting Japanese P.O.W. camp. Been to Gracie Fields’ show.
14 October Leave assured by posting of Lushai commissioned Officer (Captain Sailo) as 2nd-in-command, a chieftain class. Dasera ceremony of goat-head decapitation taken place at start of festival, a week of celebration.
18 October Dasera ending. Going on leave to Ranikhet. Mentions inflated prices in Bengal, and the starving poor. Plans for life after demobilisation.
1 November Ranikhet: describes leave.
14 November Goes to Cawnpore at end of leave via Lucknow, where there is ‘hartal’ in sympathy with I.N.A. trials. Remarks on I.N.A.
21 November Back in Calcutta. Seeing Test Match: Australians v East Zone.
25 November Comments on Calcutta disturbances. Volunteers to command a Company of British military personnel to keep order. Feels the grievances of striking Corporation workers just. Cricket resumed.
14 December Back with unit. Sails to Rangoon Going with unit to Kalaw. Describes General Rees’ farewell parade.
19 December Chasing dacoits.
22 December Christmas programme.
1946
10 January Journey to Kalaw with 130 men, 120 P.O.W.’s and stores. Describes making Kalaw camp comfortable. Release news.
20 January Still preparing the camp-site. High opinion of Lushai Christians.
26 January Move down to Meiktila in plains.
31 January Hints at military changes in Burma. Gives some accounts of the fighting he has been in.
6 February Packing to leave Kalaw. Japanese Colonel thanks him. Is given a Lushai shawl.
2 March News they are returning to the hills before the monsoon. Mentions Indian Naval mutiny.
19 March Back to Maymo – best hill station in Burma. Expensive, due to inflation.
25 March May be released in September. Gives description of his tent ready for monsoon.
21 April Tribal dancing on Good Friday.
28 April Says that conditions in Beyond the Chindwin are what his Battalion has been fighting in. (Book by Claud Wingate).
12 May Helping police in raids and arrests in remote areas. People not seen troops before.
23 May As above, arrangements for leaving army.
30 May Has been helping police to deal with crime in Upper and Lower Chindwin. Describes mopping-up process. Goes round with D.S.P. who is a Shan who shows him great kindness.
7 June Back in Maymo, preparing for General’s visit. News that he is coming home, probably in August.
16 June About going home, having turned down invitation to extend service for six months by commanding Jungle Warfare School in Burma.
14 July About returning. Fattening a pig for a farewell party to his Company.
31 July Has orders to leave for Rangoon. Gives details of what has to be done before leaving. (page missing).
Miscellaneous collection of undated letters, notes etc. from collection (10 items).
Lloyd-Jones (D.E.) Papers: Box 2
1943
14 January Airgraph: still in Calcutta.
19 January At Saugor, at Infantry School.
26 January Describes living at Saugor.
21 February Airletter. Has qualified as a small arms instructor. Gives his financial situation. Describes his orderly. More about Saugor.
15-17 March Personal, but describes the characteristics of Indian soldiers which he admires. Has been in the jungle. Describes life in Calcutta. Encloses letter about Insurance Policy.
8 April Veiled allusions to being in bad jungle conditions; asks for various Penguin books.
19 April Has been in Calcutta; implies has been fighting again. In a Battle School as instructor.
29 April Has been slightly injured in explosion during battle course.
13 May Recovered, been on endurance test. Has command of new company. Mentions a shortage of Indian food, but has seen no signs.
27 May On leave in Calcutta; going to Ranikhet.
2 June Ranikhet on leave. Describes the journey and the place.
24 June End of leave; journey back to Assam to. command D. Company; attitude towards station vendors. Learning Burmese. Remarks on negotiations with Indian leaders.
4 July Gives news of daily military life in a camp.
10 July Hospital with ear infection.
26 July Copy of two letters to a Mr. Richards from D.E.L.-J. about leave etc. – a synopsis of the letters home, expresses his attitude towards shirkers.
16 August Describes some of his friends.
10 September Personal and a little about officers.
11 September Describes his former work as Education Officer.
26 September Pathe News has been filming the area. Hopes it will be shown.
5 October Posted back to jungle: Preparations for Gurkha festival.
19 October In jungle: describes his orderly, a Lushai, and the way he builds ‘annexe’ to his tent. Encloses newspaper cutting of Gurkha ambush.
29 October Veiled references to a three day skirmish – slight account of Gurkha dewali.
6 November Shooting game, and using explosive in the rivers to catch fish to add variety to rations.
16 November Discusses plans after demobilisation.
23 November Promoted Quartermaster.
1 December Going on Animal Transport Course in Landsdowne. Describes leave in Calcutta. Comments on Wavell as Viceroy. Mentions famine and the photographs published by The Statesman. Encloses programme of Garrison show at theatre. (B.E.S.A.)
9 December Animal management course in Landsdowne.
11 December Landsdowne – describes place and the course, working with mules and ponies – learning to ride. Personal.
17 December Letter to grandfather. Mentions that he is covering same ground as his grandfather covered.
26 December Describes Christmas.
1944
10 January Mentions famine and black market.
16 January Mentions they are totally unaffected by the famine.
25 February Reveals he is in 14th Army on the Indo-Burma border.
12 March Implies he has been in action.
11 April Implies has been in action of a prolonged and heavy nature. Has lost all his personal effects.
15 April Airgraph: has been promoted Captain.
17 May Been recommended for the M.C.
30 May Personal: about deaths on service, his engagement and M.C.
2 July Describes leave in Calcutta, and incidentally his fighting in Assam round Kohima in which he was involved.
12 July Still in ‘civilization’, personal; oblique reference to fighting.
16-28 July Airgraphs: going on leave to Puri. No room in Puri: returned to Calcutta and spending leave in Grand Hotel.
31 July Describes leave in Calcutta. Reveals he has been in bitter fighting for 3 months. Battalion at Jessami, Kherasom and Kohima. Describes the men in a photograph sent home and tells of the men who have been killed and their bravery.
14 August Mentions the fighting and casualties at Kohima.
27 August Speaks of missionaries he has met.
2 September Been in action again. Mentions ending of war in Europe.
19 September In action – does not think war will be over so easily against Japanese. Mostly personal.
26 September Airgraph: mentions demobilisation plans not applying to Indian army.
22 October Mentions lack of NAAFI in the East, and exploitation of situation by British owned shops.
23 November Airgraph from Major Marsden assuring D.L.J.’s parents that he was safe but in a very remote place and could not write.
26 November Oblique description of his actions during silence. Mentions General Slim with admiration. Mentions the memorial stone brought by the Nagas to commemorate the fallen in the 2nd British Division.
22 December Mentions the advance into Burma and that he is connected with it. Letter from Jewellers attached about new regulations for sending home jewelry.
25 December Day spent marching. Lushais sang carols on Christmas Eve. Describes the rest of the day. They have chicken sent by Hindu clerk. Most of villages devasted in wake of the battle.
Lloyd-Jones (D.E.) Papers – Box 1
1941
23 July OCTU Bulford, Wilts. Describes camp and initial clothing and training – new army environment.
9 August Interview for Sudan Colonial Service.
No date Dunbar – further details of life and training of an officer.
September Dunbar. Has put name down for the Indian Army. Describes training. Refused for Sudan Service.
17 September Dunbar. Officers being weeded out. Further training described.
n.d. Sandhurst – further details. Described passing-out parades. (envelope date: 30 November)
2 December Arrangements for leave at Christmas. Japanese attacks mentioned.
1942
5 January Sandhurst – Taken turn as Cadet Company Commander. Getting on well.
9 January Great deal of work. Night exercises. Band Night programme enclosed.
16 January Exercises – bad. weather.
22 January Discusses pro and con of joining Indian Army.
27 January Out on very hard exercise. Decides on joining Indian Army.
4 February Interviewed for Indian Army. Importance of last month at Sandhurst – exams, tests and lectures. 7 February About tests.
14 February More about military exercises etc.
10 March Accepted for Indian Army.
25 March Description of 3 day exercise and assault course.
29 March Tropical kit. Going on 36 hour exercise.
6 May London – leaving for India.
9 May On board prior to sailing.
16 May Voyage. Details of shipboard life.
June Still at sea. Has been via the Cape. Describes their welcome and conditions in detail. Conditions decide many officers to return after the war to live. Return to ship – further details of life.
10 July O.T.S. Mhow. Contrast to luxury of boat and hotel in Bombay. Describes living conditions. Studying Urdu. Prices and pay. Feeling contrast with Wales.
25 July Cram course in Urdu described. Also first impressions of the Indian scene – villages, shops, etc. finance; daily life.
9 August More about learning Urdu. Social life, finances. Mentions beginning of Gandhi’s Civil Disobedience Movement.
21 August Urdu exams.
29 August Sending parcels to England of rationed goods.
19 September Describes new regiment as far as he can with censorship restrictions.
31 October Has been on training course and going to another. In an hotel in Calcutta. Veiled allusions to his whereabouts in the future.
13 November In Poona on a course – recaps leave, courses, etc., hampered through censorship. Been in jungle. Learning to be Company Commander. Describes his orderly.
13 December Letter to his sister Carys. About sending material etc. from India. Personal.
27 December Calcutta – Christmas described. Has been in Shillong.
