Major Arthur Huyshe Yeatman-Biggs

‘Huyshi’ joined the regiment in 1928 and served in Palestine and Shanghai. During the Second World War he served with the regiment’s 10th Battalion and was later attached to the 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. This battalion became part of Major-General Orde Wingate’s Special Force (the Chindits).

In January 1944 the Battalion entered Burma. They completed an epic march over the Naga Hills to the River Chindwin, which drew from General Wingate the signal “Well done Leicestershire Regiment – Hannibal eclipsed.” They eventually infiltrated more than two hundred miles behind enemy lines.

Battalion War diary records that about one hour before first light on the morning of May 13th 1944, the battalion was ambushed at their  bivouac on the shores of Lake Indawgyi, by a patrol from the Japanese 53 Division. ‘Huyshi’, another officer, a sergeant major and six privates were killed. Thirteen men were wounded and five were missing.

Memorial plaque, St Peter’s Church, Codford St Peter, Salisbury.

Major Yeatman-Biggs wife donated a tankard to the regiment in memory or her husband. It is inscirbed – Huyshi – Major A H Yeatman-Biggs, The Green Howards, killed in Burma on 13 May 1944 whilst serving with General Wingate’s Special Force “The Chindits”. Presented by his wife.

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