Con McGrath’s Role of the Irish in World War II

 

From the shores of Loch Gowna in County Longford, to the Irrawaddy River in Burma – The story of Sean Dermody, who fought with the famous ‘Chindits’ operating deep behind Japanese lines

 

The Chindits, officially known as Long Range Penetration Groups, were elite guerrilla fighters of the British and Indian armies who saw action during the Burma Campaign 1943–1944.

Their leader was the renowned General Orde Wingate, who led his men through tough jungle conditions, in their special operations against Japanese supply lines. Before his death in a plane crash, Wingate had led his men in ‘Operation Longcloth’ in February of 1943, and in ‘Operation Thursday’ in March of 1944. On both of these Chindit expeditions, Longfordman Sean Dermody was active, “one of the very few ranked soldiers to take part in both Chindit expeditions” according to Steve Fogden, who operates a wonderful website dedicated to the Chindit Forces.

Sean Dermody was born in Dring, Purth near Granard, to John Dermody and Rose (nee Doherty). He enlisted in the British Army using his older brother’s name of Bernard, (hence it is now believed he was really born two years after his stated birth of 1921.)

Steve Fogden has observed, judging from his Army number, 3662755, that Sean possibly served at Dunkirk with the South Lancashire Regiment. After returning to England from the beaches of Dunkirk, he was transferred to the 13th Battalion of the King’s Regiment.

In the Far East, Pte. Dermody, (known affectionately as Paddy to his Army comrades) served on Operation Longcloth as Brigadier Wingate’s groom, journeying alongside the Chindit Commander in his Brigade Head Quarters. Sean had struck up a good relationship with Brigadier Wingate during training and this continued on through the operation behind enemy lines in 1943. On the 24th March, Wingate was instructed by India Command to return his troops to India and after holding an emergency conference with his column commanders, decided to end the expedition and head for home.

In 1944, Sean became groom to newly promoted Brigadier Mike Calvert, tasked with looking after his pony named Jean.

Continue reading in this week’s Ireland’s Own