Battle of Sangshak 20-26 March 1944 cover signed Brigadier Dicky Richards CBE

JS(AC)76c RAF cover dual numbered AF12 as part of the Airborne Forces series commemorating the Battle of Sangshak 20-26 March 1944. Cover depicts a likely scene from the battle with the 50 Indian Para Brigade repulsing a Japanese 'Banzai' attack. Cover bears 25p Definitive stamp and is cancelled with BFPS 2411 postmark for the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Sangshak. Postmark depicts the Airbourne Forces Insignia. Cover has been flown from Heathrow to Bangkok and then onto Rangoon and Burma.

By late February 1944 the Japanese army in Burma had its sights on Delhi in India and was preparing to take two important objectives - Imphal and Kohima. Unbeknown to Japanese intelligence the 50th Indian Parachute Brigade with 152 ( Indian ) and 153 ( Gurkha ) Parachute battalions had been arriving in Kohima to exercise in jungle-warfare. One of the most important battles of the Burma campaign began on the 20th March and raged for 6 days. Casualities were high with 585 fatalities and food, water and supplies ran out resulting in much hand to hand fighting. The Indian Parachute Brigade and their Gurkhas held on until the 5th Indian Division arrived and renforced Imphal and the forces at Sangshak were ordered to 'fight their way back' to Imphal, but managed to slip away into the Jungle during a lull in the fighting. The battle blunted the Japanese offensive and cost the enemy over 2000 men during the course of the six days.

The cover has been signed by Brigadier Dicky Richards CBE.  Official special, numbered and certified on reverse.

BRIGADIER L.F. RICHARDS CBE

Brigadier L.F. (Dicky) Richards was born in London in 1915. educated as an Alleyn scholar at the CFS and then joined a firm of importers and exporters operating mainly in India. In 1935, after three years at their London office, he sailed for India.

Shortly after the outbreak of World War 11 he joined the Indian Army and was commissioned into the 2nd Royal Bn.11th Sikh Regiment Ahmednagar in March 1941. He raised a mixed Indian and British Provost Unit for HQ 10th Indian Division which was then being formed by the new GOC, Maj. Gen. W.J. Slim.

In May 1941 10 Div embarked for operations in Iraq followed by a short campaign against the Vichy French in Syria and then involvement in the Persian uprising in Teheran. By Christmas 1941 Captain Richards and his Provost Unit were back in Iraq where he was invited by the GOC to volunteer to join 50th Indian Parachute Brigade then being formed in Delhi.

In February 1942 he was appointed IO and MTO of 152 Indian Parachute Battalion and served for six years with Indian Airborne including taking part in the operation against fanatical Hur Tribesmen in Hyderabad Sind in 1942, the Battle for Sangshak and the opening of the Imphal-Kohima road in 1944.

He returned to Provost duties towards the end of this tour and was much involved in riot control and peace-keeping, in Quetta and Karachi, during the horrific bloodshed that followed Indian Independence in August 1947. Both he and his wife worked tirelessly for both Muslim and Hindu sects, displaying very high standards of leadership, impartiality, compassion and discipline.

Brig Richards returned to England in 1948 to join the Essex Regiment His vast experience at specialist Provost duties marked him out as an obvious choice to transfer to the newly forming Corps of Royal Military Police which he did at the instigation of the then CIGS. General Sir William Slim, his old boss. During nearly twenty years with RMP Brig Richards displayed outstanding qualities in the areas of operations, discipline and welfare and was rewarded by appointments to the Order of the British Empire, first as Member, then as Officer and finally as Commander.

On his retirement he was able to devote his time lo his first love: the countryside. A countryman at heart he has excelled in all pursuits-fishing. shooting and riding and has been unstinting in his help and encouragement to others by organising saddle clubs and show jumping activities, at times together with sailing club ventures for the Services.