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6024824
Corporal
Ernest Nice
Royal Norfolk Regiment
2nd Battalion
‘D’ Company
Service Record
Left Glasgow on the 15th April 1942, on the SS ORBITA, sailing via Cape Town, landing at Bombay in June 1942. Immediately started jungle warfare training until 10th April 1944 when his battalion, with the 2nd Division, was flown to Dimapur, Assam in Dakotas. On April 10th they set out to relieve the siege of Kohima. Kohima was of great importance as it was the summit of a pass which was the Japanese route from Burma into India.
 Late April the Royal Norfolks, Royal Scots, and Lancashire Fusiliers left Khonoma and skirting Mt Pulebadze, headed towards Aradura spur, reaching the fringe of the spur on the 3rd May.
They saw their first action on the 4th May 1944 on GPT ridge, Kohima. Ernest was wounded by a grenade and taken to a hill station where he was later transported back to a hospital in India. Ernest was out of action for three months when the British army pushed the Japanese back over the Irrawaddy and was withdrawn from action on the 21st April 1945.
Ernest volunteered to go to Singapore after the Japanese surrender in the hope of finding his cousin Reg Nice (Private Reginald C. Nice 7385571), who was captured when Singapore fell on the 15th February 1942 and sent to Changi. Unfortunately his cousin had already left for home.
Ernest eventually left the Far East on the steam ship HMS Anator when there was a near riot on board from the PoWs when the galley served rice. The HMS Anator landed in Liverpool in October 1945.
Ernest was demobbed February 1946 in Dorset.
Ernest now lives in Ontario Canada where he will be celebrating his birthday on 13th March 2014.
Wishing him all the best on this special day.
Ron - FEPOW Community
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