Historylinks
Ref: 2003_031_002 No: 865 Contributor: Historylinks Year: 2002
Dornoch War Memorial and Muslim soldiers
Cutting from the Northern Times 15/11/2002, adjacent to Dornoch War Memorial article (2003_03_001), concerning Muslim Indian Army WW2 soldiers buried at Proncynain Cemetery, Dornoch.
See also War Memorials, Proncynain Cemetery page on Historylinks Museum website (www.historylinks.org.uk/exhibits.html/)
Open DocumentPicture added on 24 April 2008
This article from the Northern Times draws heavily on Moharir's book on the Royal Indian Army Service Corps (RIASC). I have a copy of the relevant chapter and I think it likely that his quotation of the Lairg WVS letter with its mention of 25 Company is where other subsequent references to this company come from. National Archives War Diaries show that 25 Company was in Lairg from 11 Oct 42 until 4 Jan 43 and did not return there.
My interest in the Mule Companies of the RIASC stems from my step-grandfather having been the Commanding Officer (CO) of the RIASC No. 47 Supply Depot Section from 1939, then Second-in-Command of the whole Indian Contingent before combining both jobs until April 1944 when things packed up. From my research I wrote an article for the Highland Family History Society Journal about Force K6/Indian Contingent and this led to gathering information on RIASC graves in Scotland and, from National Archives copies of extant War Diaries, the activities of the Army Transport companies themselves. The Historylinks website and Dornoch death registrations provided information on the RIASC graves in Dornoch.
I have now confirmed from the War Diaries that there was definitely a RIASC presence in Dornoch in July - October 1943 in the form of the Reinforcement Unit. This fits with the information you have from local reminiscences. [Administrator - see 2009_060] It is also possible that 42 Company was there between 8/7/43 and (at least) 28/8/43. However, it is not possible to be certain if the company was at Lairg or at Lonemore, Dornoch. The Diary is sparse and short of detail. There is no indication that the company was split between the two sites.
I am forwarding separately for your records a summary of RIASC presence in Dornoch and Sutherland collated from the National Archive War Diaries, Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) records and statutory Death Registrations. [Administrator - see 2003_031_003]
My interest in the Mule Companies of the RIASC stems from my step-grandfather having been the Commanding Officer (CO) of the RIASC No. 47 Supply Depot Section from 1939, then Second-in-Command of the whole Indian Contingent before combining both jobs until April 1944 when things packed up. From my research I wrote an article for the Highland Family History Society Journal about Force K6/Indian Contingent and this led to gathering information on RIASC graves in Scotland and, from National Archives copies of extant War Diaries, the activities of the Army Transport companies themselves. The Historylinks website and Dornoch death registrations provided information on the RIASC graves in Dornoch.
I have now confirmed from the War Diaries that there was definitely a RIASC presence in Dornoch in July - October 1943 in the form of the Reinforcement Unit. This fits with the information you have from local reminiscences. [Administrator - see 2009_060] It is also possible that 42 Company was there between 8/7/43 and (at least) 28/8/43. However, it is not possible to be certain if the company was at Lairg or at Lonemore, Dornoch. The Diary is sparse and short of detail. There is no indication that the company was split between the two sites.
I am forwarding separately for your records a summary of RIASC presence in Dornoch and Sutherland collated from the National Archive War Diaries, Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) records and statutory Death Registrations. [Administrator - see 2003_031_003]
Added by Hamish Johnston on 12 May 2012
burgh
[You can read this article by accessing the portable document format copy using the Open Document link at the foot of the description. The copyright of the article and photograph, published as indicated above in the 15 Nov 2002 edition, remains with the Northern Times and you should approach the newspaper for any use you may wish to make of the article. The Northern Times website provides all relevant contact details. Administrator.]