NAM.1985-11-16-1

Microfilm of a typescript memoir of the military service of Maj J H Voice, 14th Punjab Regiment, 1938-1947. With images from photo albums illustrating the text. Voice attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst January 1938 to June 1939, sailing for India on H T Somersetshire on 5 Aug 1939. In India he joined 2nd Bn Green Howards at Dagshai, before they moved to Ferozepore. In January 1940 he was posted to 3/14th Punjabis at Jhansi, who were mobilised on 20 September following, the battalion sailing from Bombay in the Rajula to Isamailia. There they became part of the Canal Brigade, being transfered to Port Sudan in mid January 1941, and joining 11th Indian Infantry Brigade under Savory. Voice was wounded at Keren, and moved to Egypt at the end of February 1941. From there he was sent to the Oribi Military Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, where he arrived on 4 Jul 1941. Here his injured leg improved to the extent that he was able to return to England in June 1942, and he disembarked from the Llandovery Castle at Liverpool on 22 Aug 1942. Two operations at the Cambridge Military Hospital followed, and after convalesence at East Grinstead he sailed from Liverpool on the Strathmore, reaching Bombay in May/ June 1943. In India he was posted to the 10/14th Punjabis at Ferozepore, and served with the training centre which aimed to produce a trained soldier in 9 months. In December 1943 he went to command the Recruits Reception Centre at Montgomery, attended a Small Arms Course at Saugor in April 1944, before returning to Ferozepore, where he remained until October 1945 when he joined the 4/14th in Siam. In December 1945 he arrived at Quetta to join the 13th Wartime Staff Course. Having completed it after six months, he acted as Brigade Major at Agra before going on leave in August, reaching Southampton on 22 Aug 1946. He returned to India, married on the Queen of Bermuda, reaching Bombay on 22 Dec 1946, and Ferozepore on Christmas Eve. Early in January he took over command of 9/14 Punjabis in Delhi, the battalion being disbanded in July 1947, shortly after Voice was posted to the 4/14 at Meerut. Here the battalion was engaged on internal security duties in the run up to Indian Independence. Having opted to retire from the Indian Army he was compulsorily retired on 7 Sept 1947, travelling from Rawalpindi to Deolali, and sailed on the Asturias from Bombay early in October 1947. With photographs illustrating the text.

World War Two, Middle East (1940-1945), India (1945-1948)