| AdminHistory | Geoffrey Rawlings was born in March 1918 at Driffield. When he was two years old the family moved to Hull where he was educated. He was turned away in 1939 but then was called up to join the East Yorkshire Regiment at Victoria Barracks, Beverley, in January 1940. He was initially posted to patrol the local coastline for possible enemy invasion, but was soon attached to the Royal Signals which saw him transferred to Burma (now Myanmar). He became a radio operator in the 'Chindits', whose mission was to move behind the Japanese lines and disrupt supply routes ('Operation Longcloth'). Rawlings and other men, commanded by Major Jylkes, travelled over 300 miles behind enemy lines in January 1943 and walked through the jungle towards China to return to the Allied Forces. They were completely isolated and in danger of capture and execution by the Japanese. They had to find food in the jungle and local villages. After six months the soldiers left the jungle, at the time Rawlings weighed 6-8 stone. He was promoted to King's Corporal in the field and mentioned in despatches for bravery. After time spent recovering Corporal Rawlings was sent to the Burmese beaches to help drive the Japanese from the country following their surrender in 1945. He was finally repatriated for family reasons after an air raid on Hull. Mr Rawlings has been an active member of the Burma Star Association throughout his life. |