WW2 Group to Frank Ormerod – Chindit.

A rally interesting WW2 medal group of 5 comprising of the 1939/45 star, Africa star, Burma star, Defence and 1939/45 war medal in named and addressed box of issue with a host of original photographs.
Frank Ormerod was born in Burnley Lancashire 1920; the son of William and Emily and he had one sister also called Emily after her mother. Sadly, Frank’s mother Emily died quite young and by 1939, his father had remarried to Marrion. Before the war, the whole family were employed in the cotton mills. Burnley was once a major centre of cotton production and in the early 20th century over 70% of the town’s population were employed within the cotton industry. In 1930 frank was employed as a Cotton Cloth Checker.
When war broke out Frank either enlisted or was drafted into the army serving with the Royal Irish Fusiliers and he did most of his training in County Down, Northern Ireland. At some point after September 1941 he was transferred or attached to the first Essex regiment and served in Tobruk, then in the Anglo-Iraqi War as part Habforce and Kingcol, then in Operation Exporter in the Syria-Lebanon campaign, before moving to India with 23rd Infantry Brigade, part of 70th Infantry Division, previously the 6th Infantry Division, which became the core of Brigadier Orde Wingate's Special Force, the Chindits.
The brigade's role changed to Long Range Penetration in September 1943; the 1st Battalion Essex formed 44th and 56th Columns of the Chindits and operated in the Japanese rear during the battle of Imphal, which took place in the region around the city of Imphal, the capital of the state of Manipur in Northeast India from March until July 1944. Japanese armies attempted to destroy the Allied forces at Imphal and invade India but were driven back into Burma with heavy losses. Then in the latter stage of the Battle of Kohima, which was the turning point of the Burma campaign. The Japanese defeat at Kohima and Imphal was the largest up until that date with many of the Japanese deaths resulting from starvation, disease and exhaustion suffered during their retreat.
After the war Frank married Connie in 1947 and although he received his Burma star just after the war he had to wait until 1950 to receive the rest.
Medals to Chindits are scarce and this man needs further research. The Chindit 2nd expedition (Operation Thursday) was a complicated campaign, and I have only touched on the brigade’s action during this time.
The medals are in excellent condition and came in the box of issue, all photographs etc in good used condition.

Code: 31019