Honours in Burma

On my return to Rangoon in 1945, I joined the British army as a Captain. The British were then in charge of administration of Burma for about six months.While serving with the military units and working in the operational area during the war, I was awarded "1939-45 STAR" and the "BURMA STAR" by His Majesty, the King of England.

A group photo taken with the choir members of St. Gabriel's Church in 1949, on my departure from Burma to India.

I had also constructed 7 emergency airfields in the forward areas during my posting at Purulia to cater to the immediate needs of the Air Force, if and when the main airfields got bombed out. The World war II ended in April 1945 with the surrender of the Japanese after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

As I was on surplus leave from the Government of Burma, I was asked to report immediately at Rangoon for posting orders. I joined at Rangoon first as a Captain in the British Army which was then in charge of Administration, for about 6 months.

Honoured with the “Burma Star”

For the services rendered by me while serving with or attached to Military units or formations in an operational area during the war and now as Captain in the British Army, I was awarded the ‘1939-45 STAR’ and the ‘BURMA STAR’ by His Majesty the King of England.

Rebuilding in Burma

I was then posted as Works Officer to the Government of Burma and later as Executive Engineer, Rangoon Estate Division II. As most of the major cities in Burma were completely destroyed by the Scorched Earth Policy adopted by the American Air Force just before the Japanese surrender, my main duties as Works Officer to the Government of Burma were to prepare type designs for various offices, residential buildings, schools, hospitals, bridges, culverts etc to be adopted all over Burma. As Rangoon Estate Officer, my duties were to allot residential accommodation at Rangoon to all Government servants who were reporting for duty after the war, by getting the Requisitioned buildings completely repaired and renovated and also putting up new constructions where there was a need. It was a highly responsible job and my services were very much appreciated by the Public Works Minister, U Aung Gain and my Chief Engineer, U Ba Maung Chain.

Choir master and church renovator

During my posting at Rangoon from May 1945 to November 1949, I took a very active part in getting St. Gabriel’s Church and the church residential buildings renovated. This church was desecrated during the Japanese regime. I also organized an active choir by bringing all the choir members for practices and services in my Station wagon, copying out church music for them and acting as their choir master.