CARTER, Reginald A (#227)

Alan Pollock’s Rough Notes:

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Troop Sergeant Reginald A Carter MM for 3rd CARABINIERS, PRINCE of WALES’s DRAGOON GUARDS; this REGIMENT uniquely spent entire WW2 in INDIA & FAR EAST, their battle honours – IMPHAL, NUNSHIGUMO BISHENPUR, KANGLATONGBI, KENNEDY PEAK SCHWEB0 SAGAING, MANDALAY AVA & IRRAWADDY; sent into front line Dec43 to IMPHAL with INDIAN support mechanics, their long, varied training on STUART & GRANT TANKS came good, disproving ambivalence over tank use in jungle warfare, a much valued aspect in the ADVANCE back into BURMA.

Reg joined the ROYAL ARMOURED CORPS in late 1940 at 18 with 6 weeks of CATTERICK & Gunnery in early BOVINGTON days as Guards mechanization began; sailed from Greenock on STRATHEDEN with 6,000 on board via Freetown, Durban & Bombay, then on to KARACHI & Malir Can beyond SIND to Sgt Major Jack TRIGG, 3 weeks of CARABINIERS’ Regimental history, pith helmets with blue, silver, red & yellow bands; then long. excellent training, first 3 troops of 4 tanks, then 4 troops of 3 tanks, important acclimatisation and disciplines, plus the AHMADNAGAR Cdr courses at the Fighting Vehicle School; main move forward,, shortly after a big draft from 26th HUSSARS Oct43,to ASSAM & Milestone119 were at night, where possible, for security in 1944, on 15 March then ordered to form the BOX at IMPHAL, with Reg still in “C” SQN (supporting 5 IND DIV) at KANGLATOMBI to the north, under Major Tom DIMSDALE with 7 man, 37mm & 75mm LEE TANKS & rather grateful that their recent CO, Lt Col Ralph YOUNGER, had such a passion for gunnery training; often they supported the WEST YORKS infantry, also the SUFFOLKs, 3/14 PUNJABs, KOSBs, DLIs, NORFOLKs & CAMERONs in the hilly terrain, occasionally with HURRICANE support – by the end. the 3rd CARABINIERS would have 101 Officers, NCOs & Troopers dead and have found out how Japs would not surrender & just had to be destroyed; C SQN’s main battles and frequent intermittent skirmishes progressed via IMPHAL, TIDDIM ROAD, ADVANCE to CENTRAL BURMA, ARAKAN YOMAS and PROME, with vital air supply