Chindit Special Forces - Victoria Embankment Gardens, London, UK
N 51° 30.198 W 000° 07.442
30U E 699595 N 5709718
A memorial to Chindit Special Forces who fought in Burma during the Second World War.
Waymark Code: WMC8FM
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 08/08/2011
Views: 8
The inscription on the memorial, that stands in Victoria Embankment Gardens (Whitehall Extension), reads:
"The Chindit badge / portraying a chinthe, a mythical / beast, guardian of Burmese temples / from which was derived the name / Chindits. Their motto being / The Boldest Measures / Are The Safest / In memory of all who fought on the first and second expeditions into / North Burma 1943 and 1944 / with the Chindit Special Forces / Formed, trained and commanded by / Major General Orde Charles Wingate, DSO".
The inscription continues:
"Chndits came from the armed forces / of the United Kingdom, Burma, / Hong Kong, India, Nepal, West Africa / and the / United States of America / Air supply and direct operational / support was given by / the Royal Air Force / and / 1st Air Commando Group / United States Army Air Force / and / 10th United States Army Air Force. / Victory was hastened by the Chindits / daring exploits behind enemy lines. / His Majesty King George VI / graciously awarded the Victoria Cross / to / Major Frank Gerald Blaker MC / Highland Light Infantry / attached 3 Bn 9th Gurkha Rifles / Captain Michael Allmand / Indian Armoured Corps / attached 3Bn 6th Gurkha Rifles / Lieutenant George Albert Cairns / Somerset Light Infantry / attached 1Bn the South Staffordshire Regiment / Rifleman Tulbahadur Pun / 3Bn 6th Gurkha Rifles".
Above this inscription, on the plinth is a relief showing a chinthe.
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The rear of the memorial has the inscription:
"In Memory Of / Major General / Orde Charles Wingate, DSO / 1903 - 1944 / Commander Of The Chindits / Killed On Active Service / In Burma 24th March 1944 / A Man Of Genius Who Might Well / Have Become A Man Of Destiny / Winston Churchill / An Important Influence In The / Creation Of The Israel Defence / Forces And The Foundation Of The / State Of Israel
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The right hand side of the memorial lists the units that took part in the 1943-44 campaigns and reads:
"The Following Took Part In
The Chindit Campaigns 1943 – 1944
Royal Army Service Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Corps Of Royal Electrical &
Mechanical Engineers
Corps Of Military Police
Royal Army Veterinary Corps
Indian Engineers : Sappers & Miners
Royal Indian Army Service Corps
Indian Medical Service
3 Bn 2nd King Edward VII’s Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)
3 Bn 4th Prince Of Wale’s Own
Gurkha Rifles
3 Bn 6th Gurkha Rifles
3 Bn 9th Gurkha Rifles
4 Bn 9th Gurkha Rifles
2 Bn The Burma Rifles
Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force
6 Bn The Nigerian Regiment
7 Bn The Nigerian Regiment
12 Bn The Nigerian Regiment
Burma Intelligence Corps
RCAF RAAF RNZAF"
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The left hand side reads:
"The Following Took Part In
The Chindit Campaigns 1943 – 1944
45 Reconnaissance Regiment RAC
Royal Regiment Of Artillery
Corps Of Royal Engineers
Royal Corps Of Signals
2 Bn The Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
2 Bn The King’s Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)
1 Bn The King’s Regiment (Liverpool)
13 Bn The King’s Regiment (Liverpool)
1 Bn The Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Regiment
2 Bn The Leicestershire Regiment
7 Bn The Leicestershire Regiment
1 Bn The Lancashire Fusiliers
1 Bn The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
2 Bn The Duke Of Wellington’s Regiment (West Riding)
4 Bn The Border Regiment
1 Bn The South Staffordshire Regiment
2 Bn The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
1 Bn The Essex Regiment
2 Bn The York & Lancaster Regiment
142 Commando Company
Royal Army Chaplains Department"
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The plinth stands about four metres (14 feet) tall and is made from Portland stone. On top of the plinth is a statue of a chinthe in bronze that stands about a metre (3 feet) high.
Date of Dedication: 10/16/1990
Property Permission: Private
Access instructions: It is in private gardens that are open to the public
Website for Waymark: [Web Link]
Location of waymark:
Victoria Embankment Gardens
London, United Kingdom
Commemoration: Chindit campaings into Burma
Access times: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Include a photo containing, at minimum, the monument and your GPSr. We'd prefer a photo containing YOU at the monument, but we understand that some people are camera-shy.
Also include a bit about your visit here.