Second Chindit campaign assorted papers

A varied collection of contemporary documents accumulated by Tulloch, and filed together (it is assumed by Tulloch). Peter Mead has commented on some documents at a later date (prob. 1970s).

• /1 Minutes of a conference held at HQ Fourteenth Army and Air HQ, Bengal, 3 Dec 1943, "Employment of Special Force" Copy no. Y [this may be a post-war photocopy];
• /2 Special Force Operations - Codes and code words, issued to 14th Army, marked "Most secret", 21 Dec 1943, signed by Wingate (note says "Agreed by Slim");
• /3 Supreme Commander's [i.e. Mountbatten] personal minute no. p-27. 28 Dec 1943,"Copy for Major General Wingate";
• /4 "Operations in Burma - Spring 1944 Aide Mémoire for C in C [Giffard], 3 Jan 1944. Marked "Most secret";
• /5 Copy of a verbal directive issued by Tulloch to 77 Indian Infantry Brigade [Calvert], 4 Jan 1944, signed by Claude Rome, second-in-command 77 Brigade. Marked "most secret";
• /6 Comment by Commander, Special Force [Wingate] on Aide Mémoire by C in C, 11th Army group [George Giffard], "Operation in Burma: Spring 1944", marked "most secret";
• /7 Copy letter from Wingate to C in C 11th Army Group [Giffard], 5 Jan 1944, enclosed a draft memorandum "Considerations affecting the employment of LRP forces, Spring 1944" marked "most secret";
• /8 Copy letter from Brigadier Bernard Fergusson (16th Brigade) to Wingate, 16 Jan 1944, offering resignation, a "Comment" on the letter, two draft letters from Wingate to Fergusson, 16 Jan 1944. A note by Peter Mead has been attached to the document, saying that Tulloch had notes on a file cover in which these documents were filed: "Bernard Fergusson's resignation letter and Orde's reply. I don't know which reply was sent for certain. I think the first one...";
• /9 Copy letter from Wingate to Mountbatten, 20 Jan 1944, regarding a meeting between Wingate and Slim, which considered provision of four battalions for garrison purposes in Chindit strong points; provision of air transport for airlift etc.
• /10 "Text of General Slim's personal signal WJS.3...", marked "Most secret and personal", 21 Jan 1944: offers one battalion to follow up - "I will decide on purely repeat purely military grounds". This was sent to 11th Army Group (pres. to General Giffard);
• /11 Statement by Wingate at 14th Army Group, 25 Jan 1944, concerning disagreements over back-up forces. Marked "most secret". Note by Tulloch "Agreed as accurate by Gen Slim";
• /12 Copy letter to Lord Mountbatten, 26 Jan 1944, Note "Typed by me O.C.W." marked "Most secret and personal". Encloses the 25 Jan statement, claims Stilwell and Old are supportive of Wingate's plans and that four extra battalions could easily be provided to the Chindits;
• /13 Copy of a letter from Wingate to General George Giffard, 27 Jan 1944, outlines purpose of the garrison troops. This has been annotated by Tulloch;
• /14 Copy letter from Wingate to Mountbatten, 27 Jan 1944, (annotated by Tulloch "After Giffard's arrival"), expresses scepticism about Slim not having additional troops;
• /15 Copy letter from Mountbatten to Wingate, 9 Feb 1944, questions Wingate's proposals for using LRP forces for further action in SE Asia, states he has no plans to move on Hanoi, and points to the competing demands of Operation Culverin [a proposed invasion of Sumatra] mean no spare troops available; requires commitment that he will stick to the agreed strategy;
• /16 Copy letter from Wingate to Mountbatten, 10 Feb 1944, marked "most secret and personal", a very long letter discussing the strategic options including Operation Culverin. Wingate argues that a successful Chindit operation would allow for the creation of airfields for an offensive southwards and eastwards, where could link up with attacks from later phases of Culverin on the Isthmus of Kra; maintains must have 14 and 23 Brigades to make a success of the operation, and maintains some in GHQ Delhi using Culverin (which has been postponed) to deny troops to Wingate [Tulloch has marked that this paper can be found in PRO CAB 106/170];
• 17 3rd Indian Division operation Instruction no.2. issued to Brig. Fergusson, 28 Feb 1944, marked "most secret";
• /18 3rd Indian Division operation Instruction no.3. issued to Brig. Calvert, 28 Feb 1944, marked "most secret";
• /19 3rd Indian Division operation Instruction no.4. issued to Brig. Lentaigne, 28 Feb 1944, marked "most secret";
• /20 Order of battle and Location Statement 4, issued by Special Force HQ, 1 Mar 1944 (photocopy);
• /21 Copy letter from Tulloch to Brig. Lentaigne, 9 Mar 1944, re situation at Chowringhee;
• /22 Order from Wingate to Special Force, 9 Mar 1944;
• /23 Special Situation Report, No 1 on Airborne Operations, Derek Tulloch 9 Mar 1944;
• /24 Special Situation Report,No 1on Airborne Operations, 10 Mar 1944;
• /25 Photostats of Special Situation reports 1-3;
• /26 Photostat of "Summary of glider and personnel in enemy territory", Appendix C
• /27 "Order of the Day from Adv 3 Infantry Division to all columns and HQs, composed by Wingate..." 11 March [1944];
• /28 Wingate's draft of signal for PM; original was sent to General Lushington [Tulloch has dated to 12 March 1944];
• /29 Copy letter from Wingate to Lord Mountbatten, 13 Mar 1944, situation re no.1 Air Commando, and at Broadway [strong point].
• /30 "Forecast of possible development of Thursday" by Commander Special Force [Wingate], 13 Mar 1944, marked "Most secret";
• /31 Derek Tulloch, "Operation Thursday: report of initial airborne movement", 15 Mar 1944;
• /32 Report of Troop Carrier Command Participation in "Thursday Operation", by General William Old (USAF), 16 Mar 1944. 2 copies;
• /33 Operational Instruction to Maj. Blain, Commander Light Plane and Glider Patrols, Special Force. 17 Mar 1944;
• /34 "Covering letter to report airborne movements of two brigades of Special Force in Operation Thursday" signed by Wingate; Tulloch has annotated the document.
• /35 Photocopy "Appreciation of situation in Northern Burma by Commander Special Force for Commander 14 Army" [Slim], 21 Mar 1944, a memorandum by Wingate proposing cuts to communication lines around Pinlebu and proposes to use 14 Brigade to attack in area of Chaungzauk;
• /36 3rd Indian Division Operation instruction no.6 Operation Javelin, signed by Orde Wingate, marked "most secret", 23 Mar 1944, [note added at a later date (by Mead?): "this typescript is not the original as signed by Wingate, though it is an accurate copy." and PRO reference is WO172/4395];
• /37 14th Army Operation instruction No 60 to the Commander 3 Indian Infantry Division [i.e. Lentaigne], 4 Apr 1944, signed by Lt Col G Dalby, 14th Army;
• /38 Report by Brig. D Tulloch on visit to UK September 1944, 5 Oct 1944; this was sent to HQ Special Force;
• /39 Undated copy of a signal from General George Giffard to Wingate, n.d. [March 1944], marked "Most secret", congratulations on the successful start to Operation Thursday.